20.
CHAMBER THEATER
21. What is Chamber Theater? Chamber theater is a method of adapting literary works to the stage
using a maximal amount of the works original text and often minimal and suggestive settings In
chamber theater, narration is included in the performed text and the narration might be played by
multiple actors
22. The uniqueness of chamber theater lies in the dual role of each member in the cast-as an
actor/actress as well as narrator.
23. Each participant is thus an actor/actress-narrator. An actor/actress interacts with other
characters yet retains the role of narrator (author) who summarizes, describes, and explains to an
audience.
24. Chamber theater has more realistic costuming and actual movement around the stage Readers
part are typically memorized Still is not complete stage acting and typically has pantomimed props
rather than real ones
25. Proponents Professor Robert S. Breen (1909-1991) introduced Chamber Theater to his Oral
Interpretation Classes at Northwestern University in 1947
26. The skills it develops: creativity variety creation of vocal interpretation use of sense memory use
of movement, gesture, posture, and facial expression overall clarity and entertainment value of
performance
27. Choosing a Selection for Chamber Theater the choice for a chamber theater material is often a
prose narrative: a fable, a legend, modern short story, or even part of a novel. Sometimes a
narrative poem is chosen.
28. CHAMBER THEATER vs. CONVENTIONALPLAY
The chamber theater and conventional play differ on the following aspects:
1. Material/Selection used. The conventional drama has for its selection a play which has expressly
written for that purpose of staging. There is clear-cut delineation of which is dialog and which are
stage directions. Chamber theater makes use of narrative prose or poetry, usually a tale, short story,
or part of a novel.
2. Unit Presentation. In chamber theater, the units of dialog, action, and narration are presented in a
dramatic form as if a part of a play. However, each actor/actress plays a dual role of actor/actress
who speaks his/her lines and a narrator who says the narrative tags. Moreover, there is a formal
(separate) narrator/narrators who stands with a copy in one part of the stage, reading descriptive
passages necessary to the unfolding of the story. The conventional drama does not make use of this
formal narrator, nor does the actor/actress play the second role of narrating.The actors/actresss
dialogs, actions, and interactions unfold the story.
3. Character Interaction. In both styles, character or actors move about freely on the acting area
(stage). In chamber theater, however, the actors/actresses speak directly to one another as in a
play, then turn to the audience for much of the indirect discourse (e.g., narrative tags and
descriptions). It is through this latter function that the actors/actresses in the chamber theater
become narrators.
4. Set, props, lightning, sound effects, etc. Both make use of appropriate props, costumes, lights,
sound effects, etc., but differ in degree. Chamber theater presentations endorse minimal use of
such, especially props and sets where make-believe is preferred whenever possible. In many
chamber theater performances, props and sets are often imaginary except for the bare essentials of
table and chairs. In fact, make-believe and simulated items are encouraged.
33. Characteristics of a Chamber Theater
1. A good plot. The plot should be simple enough to be understood yet with some conflict to make it
interesting. Events are often chronologically sequenced.
2. A clearly defined characterization.This is needed so that the audience can easily differentiate a
personality type from another.
3. Enough dialog.There should be sufficient lines to show the interaction between the characters.
This does not refer to direct dialogs enclosed in quotation marks only. The lines that explain action
or feeling can also be said in the manner of dialog.
4. Scenes easy to portray on stage. Stories with scenes that donot need so much movement (like a
battle scene) or realistic props that are bulky are preferred
