Understanding Drama: Elements and Performance

1. Drama

2. What Is Drama? A drama is a story enacted onstage for a live audience.

3. What Is Drama? • Origins of Drama • The word drama comes from the Greek verb dran, which means “to do.” • The earliest known plays . . . • were written around the fifth century B.C. • produced for festivals to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility

4. The Elements of Drama The elements of drama, by which dramatic works can be analyzed and evaluated, can be categorized into three major areas: literary elements, technical elements, and performance elements. Literary elements Technical elements Performance elements

5. Literary Elements Plot: the series of events that take place in a play. There are 6 stages in a plot structure: Initial incident- the event that “gets the story going” Preliminary event whatever takes place BEFORE the action of the play that is directly related to the play Rising action: a series of events following the initial incident and leading up to the dramatic climax. Climax: the turning point or high point of a story, when events can go either way Falling action: the series of events following the climax. Denouement or Conclusion : another term for the ending-it is the French word for “unraveling”).

6. Dramatic Structure Like the plot of a story, the plot of a play involves characters who face a problem or conflict. Climax point of highest tension;action determines how the conflict will be resolved Complications tension builds Resolution conflict is resolved; play ends Expositioncharacters and conflictare introduced

7. Literary Elements Character: a person portrayed in a drama, novel, or other artistic piece. Exposition is the “who, when, where and what” part of the play. Story organization: beginning, middle, end Conflict: the internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or interests that creates dramatic tension. Suspense: a feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement on the part of the audience.

8. Literary Elements Theme:the basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception that binds together a work of art. Language: in drama, the particular manner of verbal expression, the diction or style of writing, or the speech or phrasing that suggests a class or profession or type of character. Style: the shaping of dramatic material, settings, or costumes in a deliberately nonrealistic manner.

9. Literary Elements Soliloquy: a speech by a single actor who is ALONE on stage Monologue: a long speech made by one actor; a monologue may be delivered alone or in the presence of others.

10. Dramatic Structure Conflict isa struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces. A conflict may develop . . . • between characters who want different things or the same thing • between a character and his or her circumstances • within a character who is torn by competing desires

11. Tragedy A tragedy is a play that ends unhappily. • Most classic Greek tragedies deal with serious, universal themes such as right and wrong justice and injustice life and death • Tragedies pit human limitations against the larger forces of destiny.

12. Tragedy The protagonist of most classical tragedies is a tragic hero. This hero pride • is noble and in many ways admirable rebelliousness • has a tragic flaw, a personal failing that leads to a tragic end jealousy

13. Comedy A comedy is a play that ends happily. The plot usually centers on a romantic conflict. boy wins girl boy loses girl boy meets girl

14. Comedy The main characters in a comedy could be anyone: nobility townspeople servants

15. Comedy • Comic complications always occur before the conflict is resolved. • In most cases, the play ends with a wedding.

16. Modern Comedy • Modern Comedies • In modern comedies, the genders in this romantic plot pattern sometimes are reversed.

17. Modern Drama A modern play • may be tragedy, comedy, or a mixture of the two • usually focuses on personal issues • usually is about ordinary people

18. Modern Drama Modern playwrights often experiment with unconventional plot structures. long flashbacks music visual projections of a character’s private thoughts

19. Performance of a Play When you read a play, remember that it is meant to be performed for an audience.

20. Performance of a Play • Theater artistsinclude • Actors • Directors • Lighting technicians • Stage crew

21. Technical Elements Scenery (set): the theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate environment Costumes: clothing and accessories worn by actors to portray character and period. Props: short for properties; any article, except costume or scenery, used as part of a dramatic production; any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance, from a telephone to a train.

22. Technical Elements Lights: the placement, intensity, and color of lights to Help communicate environment, mood, or feeling Sound: the effects an audience hears during performance to communicate character, context, or environment Makeup: costumes, wigs, and body paint used to transform an actor into a character.

23. Setting the Stage Stages can have many different sizes and layouts. • “Thrust” stage • The stage extends into the viewing area. • The audience surrounds the stage on three sides.

24. Setting the Stage “In the round” stage is surrounded by an audience on all sides.

25. Setting the Stage Proscenium stage • The playing area extends behind an opening called a “proscenium arch.” • The audience sits on one side looking into the action. upstage stage right stage left downstage

26. Setting the Stage Stages in Shakespeare’s time were thrust stages.

27. Setting the Stage Scene design transforms a bare stage into the world of the play. Scene design consists of • sets • lighting • costumes • props

28. Setting the Stage A stage’s set might be realistic and detailed abstract and minimal

29. Setting the Stage A lighting director skillfully uses light to change the mood and appearance of the set.

30. Setting the Stage The costume director works with the director to design the actors’ costumes. • Like sets, costumes can be minimal detailed

31. Setting the Stage Props (short for properties) are items that the characters carry or handle onstage. • The person in charge of props must make sure that the right props are available to the actors at the right moments.

32. Performance Elements Acting use of face, body, and voice to portray character Character motivation: the reason or reasons for a character’s behavior; an incentive or inducement for further action for a character Character analysis: in responding to dramatic art, the process of examining how the elements of drama—literary, technical, and performance—are used empathy: the capacity to relate to the feelings of another.

33. The Characters The characters’ speech may take any of the following forms.

34. The Audience Finally, a play needs an audience to experience the performance understand the story respond to the characters

35. Performance Elements Speaking: the mode of expression or delivery of lines Breath control: proper use of the lungs and diaphragm muscle for maximum capacity and efficiency of breath for speaking Vocal expression: how an actor uses his or her voice to convey character Inflection: change in pitch or loudness of the voice. Projection: how well the voice carries to the audience Speaking style: the mode of expression or delivery of lines Diction: selection and pronunciation of words; clarity of speech.

36. Performance Elements Nonverbal expression: Gestures any movement of the actor’s head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, or foot to convey meaning Body alignment physiologically correct posture and use of the body to ensure the maximum capacity and efficiency of breathing and movement Facial expression physical and vocal aspects used by an actor to convey mood, feeling, or personality Character blocking the path formed by the actor’s movement on stage, usually determined by the director with assistance from the actor and often written down in a script using commonly accepted theatrical symbols Movement stage blocking or the movements of the actors onstage during performance; also refers to the action of the play as it moves from event to event.

37. The End

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