ch.4 (7th ed) ch. 3 (8th ed) -- creating the blueprint

Chapter 3

Theatre productions typically begin with the script, or text Provides a plan for a production

3© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Selecting the specific Subject of the play Determine Focus and Emphasis Establish Purpose Develop Dramatic Structure Creating Dramatic Characters Establish Point of View (will discuss in

next chapter)


Selecting the specific subject of the play The subject matter

for drama is always human beings

Determine what aspect of human existence to write about

5

Luis Valdez (center) author of Zoot Suit, with Edward James Olmos and his brother and musician Daniel Valdez. Play is about racial violence in LA in 1943© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Determining focus Decide who and

what to focus on How to interpret the

characters and events

6Playwright, David Mamet© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Establishing purpose Purpose may be:

▪ Casual or unconscious, or▪ Conscious and deliberate


Establishing purpose continued Different purposes:

▪ To entertain▪ To probe the human condition▪ To provide an escape▪ To impart information (to teach)


Developing dramatic structure Every work of art has some type of structure

▪ When does the play begin?▪ How are the scenes put together?▪ How does the action unfold?▪ What is the high point of action?▪ What is the conflict and tension?

The structure of a play is analogous to that of a building

© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9

Essentials of Dramatic Structure The story must be turned into a plot The plot involves action The plot includes conflict There are strongly opposed forces A reasonable balance is struck between the

opposed forces


Story must be turned into a plot

Story = full account of an event or series of events, usually in chronological order

Plot = selection and arrangement of scenes from a story


Plot involves action

Action = the central, unifying conflict and movement through the drama

▪ According to Greek philosopher, Aristotle, action is a sequence of events linked by cause and effect, with a beginning, middle and end.


Conflict – tension between two or more characters that

leads to crisis or a climax; a fundamental struggle or imbalance underlying a

play. Collision or opposition of persons or forces in a

drama that give rise to dramatic action


There are strongly opposed forces Closely related to conflict Powerful adversaries for each other and each

character determined to achieve their goals

A reasonable balance is struck between the opposed forces

Must be equal or closely matched


Sequence in Dramatic Structure Begin with the opening scene

▪ Starts the action and sets the tone and style▪ Tells whether we are going to see a serious or a

comic play and whether the play will deal with affairs of everyday life or with fantasy

Obstacles and complications block a character’s path

Crises and Climaxes


Obstacles and complications ▪ Obstacles - that which delays or prevents the

achieving of a goal by a character; an obstacle creates complications and conflict

▪ Types of obstacles:▪ Self▪ Other People (always strongest)▪ Nature▪ Circumstance

▪ Complications – introduction of a new force that creates a new balance of power and entails a delay in reaching the climax


Crises and Climax As a result of conflicts, obstacles and complications,

dramatic characters become involved in a series of crises.

Crises – a point within a play where the action reaches an important confrontation or takes a critical turn.


Crises and Climax

In the tradition of a well-made play, a drama includes a series of crises that lead to the final crisis, known as the climax

Climax – Often defined as the high point in the action or the final and most significant crisis in the action – limited results – win or lose (not always so clear cut)


Climactic Plot Construction (or Intensive) Dramatic structure in which there are few scenes, a short time

passes, there are few locations and the action begins chronologically close to the climax

Episodic Plot Construction (or Extensive) Dramatic structure in which there are many scenes, takes place

over a long period of time, in a number of locations, usually with subplots


Climactic Plot Construction First used in 5th century B.C.E. Greece Also called intensive

The Plot Begins Late in the Story Scenes, Locales, and Characters Are Restricted Construction Is Tight


The Plot Begins Late in the Story – toward the very end or near climax

▪ Because the plot deals with a culmination of events, climactic form is sometimes called “crises drama” or “drama of catastrophe”


Because so much happens before the play begins, details about past must be provided during course of the play. This is called:

Exposition – imparting of information necessary for an understanding of the story but not covered by the action on stage.


Scenes, Locales and Characters are Restricted

▪ Limited Scenes – limited number of long scenes or perhaps only one act, or three acts with each act being one long scene.

▪ Covers a short amount of time, perhaps a few hours or at most a few days

▪ Limited Locations – one room or one house

▪ Limited Characters – usually 4 or 5 main characters


Construction is Tight

▪ Events are ordered in an orderly compact way with no loose ends. Plot is linear and moves in a single line

▪ A chain linked by cause and effect

▪ Aim of climactic structure is to make events so inevitable that there is no escape, at least not until the last moment when deus ex machina may intervene


Deus ex machina – Literally, “god from a machine,” a resolution device in classic Greek drama; hence, intervention of supernatural force, usually at the last moment, to save the action from its logical conclusion. In modern drama, an arbitrary and coincidental solution.


Episodic Plot Construction

▪ Emerged during the Renaissance in England and in Spain

▪ Plot begins early in the story and moves through a series of episodes

▪ Longer period of time - weeks, months even years.

▪ Many short, fragmented scenes; sometimes alternates long and short


Episodic Plot Construction Continued

People, Places, and Events Proliferate

There May Be a Parallel Plot or a Subplot

▪ Subplot – secondary plot that reinforces or runs parallel to the major plot in an episodic play


Episodic Plot Construction Continued

Contrast and Juxtaposition Are Used▪ Public scenes alternate with private; long scenes alternate with short

scenes; dramatic scenes alternate with comedic ones

The Overall Effect Is Cumulative

Combinations of Climactic and Episodic


Other Forms of Dramatic Structure Ritual as Structure

▪ Ritual – specifically ordered ceremonial event, often religious; some repetition or reenactment of an event or transaction that has special meaning

Patterns as Structure Cyclical Structure Serial Structure


Other Forms of Dramatic Structure continued Avant-Garde and Experimental Structures

▪ Interest in ritual and ceremony▪ Emphasis on nonverbal theatre▪ Reliance on improvisation▪ Stress on the physical environment of theatre▪ Stress on each audience member’s developing

his or her own interpretation of the work being presented

Segments and Tableaux as Structure30© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Types of Dramatic Characters Extraordinary Characters

▪ Heroes and heroines▪ Larger than life▪ Historically, have been kings, queens, generals,

members of nobility▪ Present some form of extreme of human behavior


Types of Dramatic Characters continued Representative or Quintessential Characters

▪ Three-dimensional, highly individual, ordinary▪ Embody the characteristics of an entire group

Stock Characters▪ Symbolize a particular type of person to the

exclusion of virtually everyone else▪ Appear particularly in comedy and melodrama▪ Famous examples of stock characters are those in

Commedia dell’arte


Commedia dell’arte – Form of comic theater, originating in 16th century Italy, in which dialogue was improvised around a loose scenario calling for a set of stock characters. Wore masks and often same costumes. Capitano – Bragging soldier Dottore – Pompous character Pantalone – Elderly merchant Harlequin –Servant – most popular – cunning and

stupid – at heart of every plot complication


Types of Dramatic Characters continued Characters with a Dominant Trait

▪ One aspect of this character dominates, making for an unbalanced, and often comic, personality

Minor Characters▪ Play a small part in overall action▪ Appear briefly and serve to further the story or to

support more important characters


Types of Dramatic Characters continued Narrator or Chorus

▪ Generally, a narrator speaks directly to the audience▪ Comments on the action▪ Greek drama used a chorus that commented, in

song and dance, on the action

Nonhuman Characters▪ Often animals that are supposed to draw parallels

with the human experience


Juxtaposition of Characters Protagonist: leading character, chief or

outstanding figure in the action Antagonist: character who opposes the

protagonist Foils or counterparts to the main characters


ch.4 (7th ed) ch. 3 (8th ed) -- creating the blueprint

Education

mcgrawhill companies

action action

dramatic action

plot story

opposed forces

dramatic characters

purpose purpose

conflict tension