THE PLAYCREATING THE WORLD, STRUCTURING THE SCRIPT
The Playwright
creates the blueprint
determines the order of events
a grammar of theatre- would include the subject- as people (dramatic characters)
the subject’s verb- action (drama)
Action
to act- to perform- doing (doing something)
drama- from Greek word- dran- to do
Conventions of the Dramarules of the play or performance
limited space
limited time
strongly opposing forces- the protagonist and antagonist
a balance of forces
incentive and motivation
Dramatic Structure
plot vs story
story is narrative (what people do)
plot is the arrangement of events selection and order of scenes— based on the story
dramatic characters
OPENING SCENEsets tone and style for everything that follows
OBSTACLESobstacles and complications are impediments put in the
character’s way/path
CRISIS, CLIMAXThere are a series of crises, and the final crisis is the climax
And the issues of the play are resolved- happily or sadly- either one
POINT OF VIEWtragic, comic, mixture of both?
Dramatist’s point of view
Society’s point of view
Genre- not so cookie-cutter
DRAMATIC FORMSCLIMACTIC, EPISODIC, HYBRID
The Climatic
plot begins late
consider a Dollhouse
series of obstacles, little climaxes- leads to final climax
resolution- happy, or sad
Episodic
people, places, events
may be a plot, or subplot
juxtaposition, contrast occur
across time (eras, even)
Examples
The Greek Chorus-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quLkooLxsO4
EPISODIC STRUCTURE
▸ people, places, events
▸ may be a plot, or subplot
▸ juxtaposition, contrast occur across time (eras, even)
POSTMODERN FEMINIST PLAYWRIGHT (B. 1938)
CARYL CHURCHILL
HIGHLIGHTS OF CHURCHILL’S WORK
PLAYS
▸ CLOUD NINE (1979)
▸ TOP GIRLS (1982)
▸ FAR AWAY (2000)
▸ A NUMBER (2002)
▸ LOVE AND INFORMATION (2012)
TEXT
POSTMODERN
▸ 1: of, relating to, or being an era after a modern one postmodern times a postmodern metropolis
▸ 2 a : of, relating to, or being any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and forms (as in architecture) or by ironic self-reference and absurdity (as in literature)
▸ b : of, relating to, or being a theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language - postmodern feminism
source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postmodern
TEXT
FEMINISM
▸ the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes” and “organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests.
source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-of-the-year-2017-feminism
TEXT
TOP GIRLS▸ take a look at article- about Caryl Churchill
▸ postmodern writing exercise
▸ watch Top Girls - part 1
▸ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGWD0r0f9Go