DramaDrama

A drama is a story enacted onstage for a live audience.

What Is Drama?What Is Drama?

Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict.

Climaxpoint of highest tension;

action determines how the conflict will be resolved

Resolutionconflict is resolved;play ends

Complicationstension builds

Expositioncharacters and conflict are introduced

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

ConflictConflict is is a struggle or clash a struggle or clash between opposing characters between opposing characters or forces. A conflict may or forces. A conflict may develop . . .develop . . .

between characters who want between characters who want different things or the same different things or the same thingthing

between a character and his or between a character and his or her circumstancesher circumstances

within a character who is torn within a character who is torn by competing desiresby competing desires

A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily.

• Tragedies pit human limitations against the larger forces of destiny.

right and wrong

justice and injustice

life and death

TragedyTragedy

• Most classic Greek tragedies deal with serious, universal themes such as

The protagonist of most classical tragedies is a tragic hero. This hero

• is noble and in many ways admirable

• has a tragic flaw, a personal failing that leads to a tragic end

rebelliousness

jealousy

pride

TragedyTragedy

A comedy is a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict.

boy meets girl boy loses girl boy wins girl

ComedyComedy

The main characters in a comedy could be anyone:

nobility servantstownspeople

ComedyComedy

• Comic complications always occur before the conflict is resolved.

• In most cases, the play ends with a wedding.

ComedyComedy

Quick Check!Quick Check!

What is the difference between a comedy and What is the difference between a comedy and a tragedy?a tragedy?

Give an example of a conflict in a play or Give an example of a conflict in a play or movie.movie.

When does the exposition occur in a play?When does the exposition occur in a play?

When you read a play, remember that it is meant to be performed for an audience.

Stage DirectionsStage Directions

Playwright describes setting Playwright describes setting and charactersand characters’’ actions and actions and manner.manner.

[Wyona is sitting on the [Wyona is sitting on the couch. She sees Paul and couch. She sees Paul and jumps to her feet.]jumps to her feet.]

Wyona.Wyona. [Angrily.] What do [Angrily.] What do you want?you want?

Performance of a PlayPerformance of a Play

PerformancePerformance Theater artists bring the Theater artists bring the

playwrightplaywright’’s vision to life s vision to life on the stage.on the stage.

The audience responds to The audience responds to the play and shares the the play and shares the experience.experience.

Stages can have many different sizes and layouts.

“Thrust” stage

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

• The stage extends into the viewing area.

• The audience surrounds the stage on three sides.

“In the round” stage is surrounded by an audience on all sides.

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

Proscenium stage

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

• The playing area extends behind an opening called a “proscenium arch.”

• The audience sits on one side looking into the action.

upstage

downstage

stage leftstage right

Quick Check!Quick Check!

What are the 3 types of stages we mentioned?What are the 3 types of stages we mentioned? What is this an example of?What is this an example of?

Sarah: [looking around eagerly] where is Ella?Sarah: [looking around eagerly] where is Ella?

Scene design transforms a bare stage into the world of the play. Scene design consists of

• props

• sets

• costumes

• lighting

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

A stage’s set might be

realistic and detailed

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

abstract and minimal

A lighting director skillfully uses light to change the mood and appearance of the set.

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

The costume director works with the director to design the actors’ costumes.

• Like sets, costumes can be

detailed minimal

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

Props (short for properties) are items that the characters carry or handle onstage.

• The person in charge of props must make sure that the right props are available to the actors at the right moments.

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

The characters’ speech may take any of the following forms.

Dialogue:Dialogue: conversations of characters onstage conversations of characters onstage

Monologue:Monologue: long speech given by one character to otherslong speech given by one character to others

Soliloquy: Soliloquy: speech by a character alone onstage to himself or herself or speech by a character alone onstage to himself or herself or to the audienceto the audience

Asides: Asides: remarks made to the audience or to one character; the other remarks made to the audience or to one character; the other characters onstage do not hear an asidecharacters onstage do not hear an aside

The CharactersThe Characters

Quick Check!Quick Check!

What is an example of a prop?What is an example of a prop? What is the difference between a soliloquy and What is the difference between a soliloquy and

a monologue?a monologue? What is the difference between an aside and a What is the difference between an aside and a

soliloquy?soliloquy?