Yes a play What is the difference between a play and a movie Arent they basically the same Movies vs plays Audience for a movie is not present during the performance A movie can only be watched on a screen ID: 620342
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Slide1
THE ELEMENTS OF A PLAY
Yes, a playSlide2
What is the difference between a play and a movie?
Aren’t they basically the same?Slide3
Movies vs
plays
Audience for a movie is not present during the performance
A movie can only be watched on a screen
Movies are driven by images. Characters do not need to explain things that can be plainly viewed
Actors are expected to perform exactly as they are directed
In a play, audience is present so actor must exaggerate or “perform for the back row”
A play may be read or watched in a theatre
A play relies heavily on dialogue.
A
character may speak a monologue to describe a situation
Actors have more creative control with dialogue, movements, gestures, etc.Slide4
The biggest difference is that plays are a form of literature.
A play is written to be performed, not like a book.
Both require a “willing suspension of belief”
The use of language in a play can be dramatic when its used as part of the action
Plays rely heavily on imitations of reality, not recordings of reality Slide5
A brief history of theatre
Humans have always been performers. In ancient times, people would gather to watch dances, rituals and ceremonies that revolved around gods or to describe the hunt
Sophocles (496 - 406 BC) was a Greek playwright who made plays very popular in Greece, especially in Athens
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616 AD) wrote plays for entertainment and categorized them into tragedy, comedy, or history. His plays are still popular and are still performed in the theatre settingSlide6
How to write a play?
A play is an effort of collaboration – many people are involved and use their individual talents to contribute to the play
Plot – The story, main idea, or sequence of events that allows the audience to follow the situations and how the situations change
Characters – the actor’s mannerisms must fit the period, place, social class, and culture. The speech of the character must be appropriate for the age, sex, personality and circumstanceSlide7
Other essentials for a play
Conflict – there must be at least a protagonist and an antagonist. Other characters can contribute to the buildup of suspense or for additional drama
Setting – Where? When? Does the play take place indoors or outside? How can the use of lighting, props, and costumes help set the scene?
Dialogue – Crucial for explaining scenarios to the audience. This is how we get to know the characters and what is going on. Not just what you say but HOW you say it
Stage directions – Since events must take place, the writer of the play must direct the actions of the characters: e.g. (Joe flexes his muscles and saunters over to a pretty lady at the bus stop)Slide8
What is the format of a play?
Plays are broken down into acts and scenes. Between acts, the lights go down and the stage crew sets up for the following act. Actors sometimes change costumes in between acts.
Act 1
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Act 2
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
etc…Slide9
What else?
A play must follow a logical sequence of events in which the characters are established, face obstacles and (hopefully) overcome those obstacles.
Gestures have meaning and help to describe a character
Abstraction and symbolism can be used to make the play flow. Dream sequences, montage techniques can help express the passing of time
Since we don’t actually have a castle or a kitchen we use sets which are created by designers. Slide10
The basic frame of a play
Exposition
– introduction of characters with past and present situations
Complication
– thickening of the plot
Reversal – when the protagonist’s situation flips from good to bad or bad to good
.
Climax – when the audience emotion is most intense. Usually coincides with the conflict or the
reversal
Resolution
– loose ends are tied up and explanations/secrets are
exposedSlide11
Who is involved?
Production team – set designers, makeup, costume, music, props, music. Written plans with visuals. There must be a written component to each plan. Be creative.
Promotion team – writing letters to other schools or places in the community for funding and a place to put on a play. Making ads like posters for social media, website, newspaper (NUVO)
Director – running group meetings, holding the contract, responsible for the written portion of the play. He or she will put all the pieces together
Each person is responsible for creating 1 character and writing the dialogue and a description of the character.Slide12
Curtain Call
Remember: All the world’s a stage and we are merely players.