Chapter 9: Creating the World of the play

Creating the World of the play Playwright Creates the script and purpose of the work Will it be to move people? Entertain? To be challenged? To be inspired? To be amused? To satirize? A combination? Will it be based on history? Will it be biographical? Will it be based out of the playwright’s life? Will it be imaginary, fantasy?

Creating the World of the play The playwright chooses the order of the events of the play. Can have an affect on the action Chooses the degree of seriousness to take toward the subject. Comic, tragic, sympathetic, satiric, cynical, celebratory

Creating the World of the play The subject and verb of drama The subject is always people The verb is the action of the play Can be test or challenge Fight for a person, fight for kingdom Intellectual or moral test

Creating the World of the play Rules for action Limited space- Stage space and setting of the play Limited Time Time it takes for the performance to be completed Generally with some exceptions is 2 to 3 hours Time limit in the play itself Elapsed time in the play can be a few hours to a few days Strongly opposed forces Protagonist vs. Antagonist People who are bound to clash Family members have built in rivalries

Creating the World of the play A Balance of Forces Hard fought and relatively equal contest between forces Incentive and Motivation What will be “won” by winning the contest?

Creating the World of the play Plot – arrangement of events The selection or order of scenes in a play Based on a story A selection and arrangement of scenes taken from a story for a presentation onstage. Story – narrative account of what people do Full account of an event, or series of events, usually told in chronological order. Oedipus story includes the Sphinx, death of Laius, Oedipus childhood etc.

Creating the World of the play Dramatic Characters Playwright emphasizes some personality traits and eliminates others. Dynamic and interesting Dramatic Structure The opening scene Sets tone and style Clue to what lies ahead Sets the wheels of action in motion. Poses an initial problem Establishes an imbalance of forces

Creating the World of the play Obstacles and Complications Obstacles – impediments put in a character’s way. Complications – outside forces or new twists in the plot introduced at an opportune moment. Crises and Climax Crisis -a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something, esp in a sequence of events or a disease Climax – Final and most significant Crisis.

Creating the World of the play Point of View Is the bottle half-full or half-empty? Tells us how to interpret the words and actions of the characters we see onstage; it provides a key to understanding the entire experience. Playwright has the initial point of view – tragic, comic, satire, etc. The director and performers then transmit to the audience.

Creating the World of the play Society’s Point of View Close relationship between Theatre and Society Tragedy – Greece and Renaissance Both societies incorporated 2 ideas Human beings as capable of extraordinary accomplishments The world is potentially cruel and unjust. Human beings are exalted above everything else – can achieve anything Golden age – science, commerce, politics, art In contrast – life can be cruel, unjust, and meaningless

Creating the World of the play Eighteenth century – the Age of Enlightenment Nineteenth century – the Century of progress Men and women (groups) can analyze any problem and, by applying intelligence solve it. An age of unbounding optimism in which no problem is thought insurmountable, and a sense of moral justice runs strong, is no one in which tragedy can easily emerge.

Creating the World of the play Genre – Plays that share a particular point of view are frequently considered as forming a group. French – category or type Comedy, tragedy, melodrama, etc. Many plays do not fit into one category neatly. It is important to study the types but keep in mind that a play can have elements of several different genres.

Creating the World of the play Summary Play has a purpose – entertain, inform, etc Playwright creates the initial point of view Action is created by a test or conflict Obstacles and complications produce tension. Structure to play View point of society influences the genre of the play.