The Play’s the Thing

Share  What was your favorite live theatre performance? Why/ What made it your favorite? What was it about?

Types of plays Tragedy Tragedy Drama Drama Morality Play Morality Play Melodrama Melodrama Satire Satire Comedy of Manners Comedy of Manners Sentimental Comedy Sentimental Comedy Farce Farce

Tragedy  Oldest  Must be serious  3 unities:  Must take place in one day  Must take place in one location  Must not have sub-plots  Tragic Hero: high stature/tragic flaw  Fate or destiny forces a climax  The hero is destroyed by his choice

Comedy A play with a happy ending or the hero gets what he wants (even if it’s not funny)

Drama Any serious play Any serious play Character development and theme are important Character development and theme are important

Melodrama Serious subject Serious subject Plot more important than character and theme Plot more important than character and theme

Sentimental Comedy Light and funny Light and funny Plot and character are more important Plot and character are more important Situations are heightened but believable Situations are heightened but believable

Farce Broad comedy Broad comedy Very physical and “over-the-top” Very physical and “over-the-top” Fast-paced Fast-paced

Theatre of the Absurd Defined by an underlying theme of the meaningless nature of life Defined by an underlying theme of the meaningless nature of life

Comedy of Manners Emphasis is on language and character dialogue Emphasis is on language and character dialogue Characters are upper class Characters are upper class

Satire Playwright uses comedy to make fun of society and make social commentary Playwright uses comedy to make fun of society and make social commentary

Parody A funny recreation of a popular play/song/movie in order to make fun of it A funny recreation of a popular play/song/movie in order to make fun of it

Musical Comedy/Musical Plays with songs sung by the cast are are integrated into the action Plays with songs sung by the cast are are integrated into the action

Social Drama A serious play that features a current social problem in its theme A serious play that features a current social problem in its theme