Theatrical Terms

noun a spontaneous or improvised speech or performance

verb to speak or perform without preparation

• The actor was able to ad lib his lines flawlessly during the live performance.
• She had to ad lib a response when asked a question she wasn't prepared for.
• I love watching comedians ad lib during their stand-up routines.
• Sometimes in life, you have to ad lib and make quick decisions on the spot.

noun a playful or silly act or trick

adjective playful or silly in a playful way

• The actor's antic behavior on stage was met with mixed reviews from the critics.
• I can't believe the antic my dog pulled when I left him alone for five minutes!
• That antic at the party last night was wild!
• Her antic of quitting her job without notice left everyone in shock.

adjective A term used to describe a person who flirts or behaves in a flirtatious manner.

• She maintained a coquettish demeanor during the business meeting.
• She was being a bit coquettish with him at the party last night.
• She's always so coquettish when she's trying to get her way.
• The way the sunlight danced on the water had a coquettish quality to it.

noun a fool or simpleton

• The man was known for his extravagant attire, complete with a coxcomb on his hat.
• That guy always wears a coxcomb on his head, thinking he's so stylish.
• Check out that dude with the coxcomb on his cap, trying to look all fancy.
• She always carries herself with a coxcomb of confidence, never letting anyone bring her down.

noun the title given to a woman equivalent to the rank of knight

• The dame was known for her philanthropic efforts in the community.
• That dame sure knows how to throw a great party.
• Check out that dame over there rocking those sunglasses.
• She was a dame of the stage, commanding the attention of all who watched her perform.

noun a means of altering one's appearance in order to conceal one's identity

verb to change or alter one's appearance in order to conceal one's identity

• The spy used a clever disguise to blend in with the crowd.
• She put on a disguise to sneak into the party without being noticed.
• He threw on a disguise to avoid being seen by his ex-girlfriend.
• His smile was a disguise, hiding the pain he was feeling inside.

verb to change the appearance or form of in order to conceal or hide

adjective having a different appearance or form in order to conceal one's true identity

• The spy was able to infiltrate the enemy base by cleverly disguised as a janitor.
• She showed up to the party disguised as a clown, it was hilarious!
• He was totally disguised as a hipster at the concert last night.
• Her true intentions were disguised behind a friendly smile.

noun a malicious possessing spirit in Jewish folklore

• The dybbuk is a malevolent spirit from Jewish folklore that is said to possess living people.
• I heard a spooky story about a dybbuk haunting a family in the old abandoned house.
• Yo, that movie about the dybbuk possession was so creepy!
• The negative thoughts in his mind felt like a dybbuk taking over his emotions.

noun nonsense or foolishness; trivial or useless items

• The speaker dismissed the argument as mere folderol, devoid of any substance.
• Don't pay attention to all that folderol, it's just a distraction.
• Stop with all the folderol and get to the point already.
• The politician's promises were nothing but folderol, meant to deceive the public.

noun a person who is believed to be ill or disabled but is not actually so

adjective existing only in the imagination; not real

• The play 'The Imaginary Invalid' by Molière is a classic French comedy.
• Have you ever heard of 'The Imaginary Invalid'? It's a really funny play.
• I can't believe he's acting like such an imaginary invalid about going to the doctor.
• She always plays the role of the imaginary invalid when she doesn't want to do something.

adjective playfully mischievous

• The professor had a puckish sense of humor that often caught his students off guard.
• She couldn't help but smile at his puckish grin as he teased her playfully.
• The comedian's puckish antics had the audience roaring with laughter.
• Her eyes sparkled with a puckish gleam as she plotted a mischievous prank.

verb to repeat or say aloud from memory

• During the ceremony, each student had to recite a passage from a famous speech.
• My little sister loves to recite nursery rhymes before bedtime.
• I can totally recite all the lyrics to that song, it's my jam!
• The actor was able to recite his lines flawlessly, as if they were second nature to him.

noun a secondary plot or storyline that is subordinate to the main plot in a literary work or film

• The novel contains a complex subplot involving the protagonist's family history.
• There's a side story in the movie that focuses on the supporting character's romance subplot.
• Did you catch that subplot about the secret agent in the TV show? It's so cool!
• The subplot of betrayal adds an interesting twist to the main storyline.

noun a literary genre that blends elements of tragedy and comedy, often featuring a mix of serious and humorous elements

adjective describing something that combines tragic and comedic elements

• The play we watched last night was a perfect example of a tragicomedy, blending elements of both tragedy and comedy.
• I love watching tragicomedies because they always keep me entertained with a mix of sad and funny moments.
• That movie we saw was like a total tragicomedy - it had us laughing one minute and crying the next.
• Life can sometimes feel like a tragicomedy, with unexpected twists and turns that keep us on our toes.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

article a word that is used to indicate whether a noun is specific or nonspecific

• As an actor, it is important to fully embody and live the part you are portraying on stage.
• When you're in character, just relax and have fun with it - really live the part!
• Dude, you gotta totally live the part if you want to impress the casting director.
• To succeed in sales, you have to truly believe in the product and live the part of a confident salesperson.