10
Arts
Quarter 4 – Module 1:
Theater Arts: Themes and
Elements of Art Applied to
Performance
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LESSON
Philippine-based
1 Theatrical Art Forms
What’s In
Art elements and processes do not apply only to forms of art like visual art,
technology-based art and media-based art, but are also indispensable to performing
arts like theater. The use of musical sounds, songs, dialogue and dance allows how an
idea or theme in a certain performance is conveyed.
What’s New
IN 5 4 3 2 1 …. ACTION!
Directions: Performing artists do rehearse their lines and on-stage actions.
In this activity, perform the listed actions in front of a mirror with the
corresponding situations below.
1. Your right hand is up waving to a loved one who is about to leave.
2. You are tickled with the furry tail of your puppy.
3. Your bag was slashed after you accidentally bumped into a middle-aged man.
4. A crazy woman has a child who is dying due to an illness.
What is It
Theater arts is a collaborative form of art where live performers act on stage
before a group of audience in a specific place carrying out a story. Live performances
like theater plays demand the expertise and collaboration of each member in the
production team as well as the cast to produce a high-quality performance. One of the
best examples of theater plays is Miss Saigon, where Lea Salonga was selected to play
the lead role as Kim.
Theatrical Forms
A. Tragedy
It is a dramatic play portraying the struggle of a strong-willed protagonist
against fate, as predestined by mysterious, divine, social, or psychological forces,
culminating in disaster and usually caused by a flaw in the protagonist’s
character.
B. Comedy
It is a dramatic play of light and humorous character, typically with a cheerful
and happy ending.
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C. Drama
It is a play that is “for real”. The characters represent realistic and everyday
people.
D. Melodrama
It is a dramatic composition characterized by extravagant theatricality and the
dominance of plot and physical action over characterization.
The Elements of Art as Applied to an Original Performance
1. Sound and Music. These two elements set for the audience different moods and
emotions. Through the use of different sounds, they provide different effects to
the play that heighten the emotions of the characters and the audience. The
sound effects also make the play more realistic and exciting. The use of sound
and music in a play entails the incorporation of sound recording and editing
techniques using applications for computers, tablets and Android phones.
2. Gesture, Movement, and Dance. These are bodily movements or actions that
usually express emotions, character, and narrative actions with accompanying
sound or music. Every single gesture, movement or dance step conveys a
meaning or message.
3. Costume, Mask, Makeup, and Accessories. These comprise the visual effects,
of which the main function is to enhance visibility and aesthetic value. They
help make the character appear realistic according to the role he/she portrays.
4. Spectacle. This is something exhibited for view as something unusual, notable,
or entertaining, especially an eye-catching or dramatic public display which
may be regarded as impressive and breathtaking and on stage if visual, lighting,
sound, music, costumes, dance, and special effects are properly manifested in a
play.
Examples of Philippine Plays
Sarswela
It is a type of melodrama in three acts where pieces are both spoken and sung.
Aside from being a significant part of the Philippine history, it was also
employed as a tool to fight against colonization.
Epic Poetry
Dating back to the pre-colonial period and commonly presented during festivals
and gatherings, it is considered by scholars to be the highest point of Filipino
folk literature. The usual topics are romance and adventure.
Duplo
It is a poetic debate presented through song and dance originating from
indigenous courtship customs. In this type of play, poets use proverbs and
riddles to present their suit to the woman of their choice.
Moro Moro
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It is one of the most popular types of theater that and depicts the conflicts
between the Moros and the Christians. Themes like love, and vengeance, and
religion predominate.
Senakulo
It is also known as Passion play. This dramatization of the life and death of
Jesus Christ has been a part of the lives of the Catholics and is celebrated
during Holy Week.
Traditional Folkdance
It is one of the oldest forms of theater and thus an important part of our
heritage today. These are dances that reflect the lives of the people in a certain
place or region and describe their culture and origin.
Bodabil
It is Vaudeville of American origin that became uniquely Filipino with the
localization of the name, Bodabil. It is a variety show consisting of musical
numbers and comedic and dramatic skits with songs and dances. It was
popularized by Filipino artists like Dolphy, Anita Linda, and Atang dela Rama.
Great job! We are done with the discussion on art elements and theatrical forms
as applied in original performance. I hope that you were able to grasp the concepts
that you encountered previously. Now, work on the activities that await you. Good
luck!
What’s More
Activity 1: Let’s Play!
With the given link below, watch an excerpt of Miss Saigon then identify how
the elements of arts are incorporated by answering the questions that follow:
[Link]
Process Questions:
1. What elements of arts were used in this scene? Briefly explain each.
2. How did the characters deliver their lines?
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3. How did the characters portray their role? Did they justify the role they
portrayed?
4. What did you observe with the setting of the play?
5. What sounds and music were used in the play?
6. Was the play spectacular? In what way?
LESSON Elements of Art as Applied to
2 an Original Performance
Activity 1: Watch Me!
Directions: Given the link, carefully watch the video and accomplish the task below
([Link] Otherwise, if you do not have
internet access, you can interview somebody who already watched the play entitled
“Miss Saigon”.
What’s New
Describe the play in terms of:
A. Sound and Music
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
B. Gesture, Movement and Dance
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
C. Costume, Mask, Makeup and Accessories
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
D. Spectacle
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
What is It
Elements of Art as Applied to an Original Performance
In Lesson 1, the elements of theater arts such as music and sound, gestures,
movement and dance, costume, mask, makeup, and accessories, and spectacle were
discussed.
ELEMENTS HOW THESE ELEMENTS
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AFFECT THEATRICAL PLAY
These elements help set the mood of the play.
Sound and Music They add suspense and capture the heart of the
viewers. Adding appropriate sound and music to
the play will make it more meaningful and
impactful such that it will be remembered by the
viewers.
These elements help in communicating the
Gesture, Movement, message to the viewers through the use of proper
and Dance movement, gesture and dance. The role of the
artist can be easily recognized through these
elements.
These elements contribute to the
Costume, Mask, characterization of each performer. They add
Makeup and
realism to the play and make the artists
Accessories
convincing in their roles. It is also one way of
showcasing the local culture or the culture
found in the world of the play.
This element helps in making the play more
visually pleasing. This element is also useful in
Spectacle
letting the audience have a more defined sensory
experience.
These elements of art are indispensable factors that affect the overall impact of
a play. Aside from these elements, there are also principles of arts that an artist needs
to consider in order to come up with a captivating play that is worth watching. These
principles will be elaborated on as you go through this module.
Principles of Art as Applied to an Original Performance
1. Rhythm, Movement. This principle guides the directors and other production
staff of the play on the proper use of music and movement. These elements
should contribute in setting the mood and tone of the play and the scenes.
2. Balance. This principle guides the director on how to achieve the proper balance
and composition in terms of stage blockings, props, backdrops, costume and set
design/set pieces. This will also guide the production staff in setting the right
perspective of the play.
3. Emphasis. This principle guides the director on which part of the play should be
emphasized This will help in communicating to the audience the theme of the
play.
4. Harmony, Unity and Variety. These principles guide the director on how to
put the elements of arts like set design, costumes, spectacle, etc. in
harmony. These elements should complement each other and also have
variation to create a spectacular visual impact on the play.
5. Proportion. This principle guides the director as to how to make the play
more realistic or stylized through proper use of space, height, width and sizes
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of the elements or materials to be used in the play.
What’s More
Activity 1: Visualize Me!
Directions: Imagine yourself being a director of the famous teleserye “Ang
Probinsyano”. Visualize your concept as to you are going to apply the different
elements of arts to the set design, costume, and spectacle of a production of an
original performance and then illustrate your ideas.
Your output will be rated with the use of the following rubric:
Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
Creativity Exceptionally Generally Somewhat Occasionally Not unique,
and unique, unique, detailed, unique, detailed, unique, detailed, or
Originality detailed, and and interesting and interesting detailed, and interesting
interesting work. Takes work. Some interesting work and
work. Takes some creative developing ideas work. Shows ideas or
many creative risks and can be seen in minimal risk risks taken
risks and explores some the artwork, but and copy the are not
explores different a true sense of idea to other original.
several options. originality is not outputs or
options. evident. examples.
Use of Exceptional Good Basic Minimal No
Elements
and
understanding
and
understanding
and application
understanding
and application
understanding
and
What I Have
understand
ing and
Principles application of
the elements of
of the elements
of theatre play
of the elements
of theatre play
application of
the elements of Learned
application
of the
theatre play and principles of and principles of theatre play elements of
and principles arts were arts were and principles theatre play
of arts were applied to applied to of arts were and
applied to original original applied to principles
original performance performance original of arts were
performance performance applied to
original
performanc
e
Craftmansh Work was Work done Work done Work done not Work done
ip done neatly neatly and with neatly and with so neat and slovenly
and with good care and basic care and with minimal with no
exceptional attention to attention to care and care or
care and detail detail attention to attention to
attention to detail detail
detail
Content Work shows Work shows Work shows Work shows Work
and Idea exceptional good basic minimal shows no
understanding understanding understanding understanding understand
of the topic of the topic and of the topic and of the topic ing of the
and the idea the idea were the idea were and the idea topic and
were presented good. basically were minimally the idea
exceptionally presented. presented. were not
presented. related to
the topic.
My Reflections
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________________________________________________________________
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What I Can Do
Directions: On the spaces provided below, answer this: If you were the director of a
play, what three important qualities are you going to consider when choosing the lead
actor/actress for the play? Why?
1. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Assessment
A. IDENTIFICATION
Directions: Complete the following statements by supplying the right word/s from the
box below. Write your answers on a clean sheet of paper.
Bodabil Theater Senakulo
Sarswela Miss Saigon Moro Moro
Spectacle Costume Sound and Music
Playwright Lea Salonga
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1. The one who writes the text of a play.
2. A three-act melodrama that is performed in both spoken and sung words.
3. These are two equally important elements in theater play that set different
moods and emotions for the audience.
4. This play evolves mainly on the sufferings of Jesus Christ before He was laid to
death.
5. A play that depicts a battle between Christians and Moros on love and
vengeance and religious themes.
6. It is worn by the character in order to portray his/ her role.
7. This refers to all visual and other special effects added to create a quality and
realistic play.
8. This is the theatrical play which paved the way to Lea Salonga’s recognition as
a world-class talent.
9. It is a variety show that consists of comedic and dramatic skits in songs and
dances.
10. It is a form of art that combines all other forms of art where a story is told
either through dialogue and actions, and song or dance in a live performance.
B. TRUE OR FALSE
Directions: Write T if the statement is correct or F if the statement is wrong. Write
your answers in your notebook.
11.A play can still be spectacular even if the actors and production members do
not fit in their roles.
[Link] and movement are two different elements in theater play but
complement each other.
[Link] and light effects greatly affect the quality of a play.
[Link] principle on emphasis is used to highlight a certain scene which is
remembered by the audience.
15. Costumes, masks, makeup and accessories do not help at all in the
characterization of the actors.
