Deck 10: Stage Costumes

Question 1

A "laboratory coat" is typical of which of the following categories?

A) style
B) historical period
C) relationships
D) status and personality

Answer 1

status and personality

Question 2

Clothes have always indicated or signaled a number of things regarding the wearer, except for which of the following:

A) flamboyance or modesty
B) character flaws
C) position or status
D) sex

Answer 2

character flaws

Question 3

The objective of costumes are many. For example, costumes help establish the style of the production. Which of the following, however, is NOT one of a costumer's objectives:

A) draw attention to the skill of the designer
B) indicates the historical period of the play
C) works to be consistent with the production as a whole
D) shows relationships among characters

Answer 3

draw attention to the skill of the designer

Question 4

Roman togas and soldiers' helmets primarily suggest which of the following?

A) style
B) historical period
C) relationships
D) status and personality

Question 5

"Stethoscope" suggests which of the following?

A) style
B) historical period
C) relationships
D) status and personality

Question 6

Distinguishing major from minor characters is an analysis of which of the following?

A) style
B) historical period
C) relationships
D) status and personality

Question 7

One of the following is NOT a collaborator of the costume designer:

A) buyers
B) first hand
C) wardrobe supervisor
D) fashion or style editor

Question 8

Bustles or corsets affect which of the following areas?

A) line, shape, and silhouette
B) color
C) fabric
D) accessories

Question 9

Walking sticks and parasols are examples of

A) line, shape, and silhouette.
B) color.
C) fabric.
D) accessories.

Question 10

When costumes are taken from inventory or rented from a costume house, this is known as rendering a costume.

Question 11

When a costume is created in the costume shop under the supervision of the designer, this is known as building a costume.

Question 12

Color can be used to indicate changes in character.

Question 13

While it is often necessary for actors and actresses to make quick costume changes, this is a concern for the stage manager, not the costume designer.

Question 14

Because costumes must stand out from the scenery in order to be seen, costumes are rarely designed to be consistent with the scenic design for a production.

Question 15

Undergarments are not a concern of the costume designer.

Question 16

In addition to the costumes themselves, makeup and wigs are also part of the responsibilities of the costume designer.

Question 17

While fabric affects the silhouette, texture, and bulk of a costume, it has little symbolic value.

Question 18

Only something that actually attaches or pins to a costume piece is considered an accessory.

Question 19

Masks can be used to create stereotypes similar to stock characters.

Question 20

Realistic prosthetic makeup is used both for fantastical creatures like flying monkeys and in creating believable historical characters.

Question 21

The most realistic makeup designs being used in the world of theatre are most often found in Japanese kabuki theatre presentations.

Question 22

Costume designers rarely meet the actors who will be wearing their costumes, leaving those responsibilities to the stage manager.

Question 23

A stitcher is a technician who patterns, pins, and drapes the fabric to fit the individual actor perfectly, whereas a draper is a technician who sews all the costumes.

Question 24

A first hand, a cutter/draper, and a stitcher are essential costume shop personnel working on the building/construction process of a costume.

Question 25

Although masks can help express a character effectively they are not likely to appear at all in a play that is completely realistic in style.

Question 26

Compile a list of costumes seen in daily life, explaining the function and effect of each. Do they have symbolic value? For instance, why is a doctor's coat usually white?

Question 27

Certain special events require special clothes. Discuss the "costumes"
worn for a wedding, prom, or funeral. What are such clothes trying to convey? What considerations might someone weigh in choosing clothes for these events?

Question 28

It is often said that "clothes make the man"
(and the woman). What is meant by this? To what extent do we make value judgments about people on the basis of their physical appearance, and especially their clothes? For instance, following the shootings at Columbine High School, many students across the nation were attacked for wearing black trench coats, or were forbidden to do so. Discuss this in relation to the concept of stereotypes.

Question 29

Select a play read during the semester, and describe the most appropriate costume for each of the major characters.

Question 30

Often, an occupation is associated with certain clothing. Make a list of such occupations. Why is a particular type of clothing used in each?

Question 31

A costume must meet a performer's needs onstage. For instance, it must be flexible and durable if the performer has a sword fight during the course of the play. List other activities performers may be required to do that would affect the way costumes are designed.

Question 32

Discuss the elements of costumes as they relate to characterization onstage. For instance, if you wanted to give the impression of an intensely evil character, what colors might you use? Line? Fabric? To what extent are these choices based on stereotype? Is it acceptable to use stereotypes for artistic purposes?

Question 33

Color can indicate relationships between groups of characters. What instances in life use this technique?

Question 34

Accessories can effectively reveal personality. Discuss examples of accessories that make a definite statement about the person who wears or carries them. Identify several characters from various Hollywood films and discuss a few of the accessories that reveal something about their personalities.