the setting characters dialogue actions themes and textures How to read a play o Start with the title understand what t is going to be about o Cast of characters personalities the order will set the level of importance for that character o Stage directions everything that is not dialogue o Given circumstances Facts about the world of the play that are given o Themes Plot the order of incidents in the play Composed by actions o Linear climactic plot cause and effect Ex DOAS o Episodic plot what happens in one episode doesn t affect another Ex family guy o Cyclical plot begin and end in the same place Story sets the scene and is what actually happened exposition things that happen before the play begins o Point of attack point in the story where the playwright begins the plot o Complications or obstacles o Climax point of the greatest dramatic tension Ex in DOAS it s the fight between Willy and Biff o Denouncement falling action or resolution Types of characters o Protagonist desires sustain the dramatic action Willy o Antagonist creates complications for the protagonist Willy society Biff o Raisonneur speaks for the author other than the protagonist Biff o Foil contrast to another character Charley o Stock characters common and predictable types that reappear Dramaturgy o Dramaturgs good at analyzing plays interested in context and conversation o Different situations Literary managers Full time position they maintain script library for theatre and help with the season selection Production dramaturgs Hired for one play Do a lot of research on the playwrights context for the play major productions context for this production and visual images Communicating with the production team directors actors designers marketing Communicating with the audience lobby display program notes pre and post show talk backs New play dramaturgs Working with the playwrights Listen ask questions help develop o Adaption vs Translation Adaptation is when for example a story is turned into a play production Challenges of adaptation Stories are written with description Plays are described with dialogue and setting how do you get thoughts on the stage Play setting needs to be clear Size of the cast References of specific places Translation is a form of adaptation is helps to understand the true meaning Plays are translated into different forms such as from old English to contemporary ways for better understanding
View Full Document
Unlocking...