A number of problems prevented the preparation and publication of this page. We apologize and hope you can get some ideas from some of the lesson plans for the other productions. Such topics such as reviews of the production (below) and the music are applicable to any operetta as are discussion of the characters, the costumes, et cetera. Thank you for your understanding.

Your first lesson should always be the Mandatory Lesson or a review of that lesson. If you have time for only one other lesson, please make that a review of the synopsis (or plot line) of the play. Don Pasquale is singing theatre. For the history of this art form, go to this link.

Language Arts
Critique
Have your students write a column of criticism of the play. (See the synopsis.) Be sure they support their opinion with data from the performance. Be sure to make this assignment before they attend so they can be thinking about it as they watch the performance. Choices could include the music as performed by the orchestra, the music as performed by the vocalists (either collectively or individually), the dancing, the sets, the staging and the directing. Have your students read several critics' newspaper columns before they attend the performance so they can be familiar with the professional’s manner of critiquing.

Have your students’ revise or rewrite a portion of the play that they either did not like or that they felt would be strong/funnier/better if written differently. Have the remainder of the class offer opinions on whether they think the revision is an improvement.

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Revised November 2006
Please credit Lyric Opera San Diego when using this material.