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