Transcript Our Town - Kroll Patrol

The Basic Elements of a
Dramatic Production
AND
An Introduction to
Our Town
Terms of a Dramatic Production
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Drama
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A story told by means of a dialogue and action
which presents a single and simple problem that is
settled during the play – a few characters.
It is divided into acts which are divided into scenes
with are made up of actions and words.
Purposes are:
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(1) to instruct
(2) to protest
(3) to amuse
(4) to appease the gods
(5) to show what people are like
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Plot – the action of the play, what happens; three parts
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Exposition – the opening part of the play
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Sets the action in time and place
Acquaints the audience with the characters
Reveals and begins the conflict
May foreshadow the end of the play
Complication – the development of conflict; climax
Denouement – the falling action – the resolution, it follows the
climax. At this point, all loose ends are tied up and the play is
“rounded out and finished.”
Climax – the point in the play where the outcome
becomes inevitable. The highest point of action. The
most exciting part of the action or the most important.
The particular moment where the antagonist and the
protagonist finally dash for the last time.
Characters
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Protagonist
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Antagonist
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The main character
The character representing the conflict
Motivation
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The reasons for the actions in the play. It is
expected to be logical, the actor is expected to be
“in character.”
Conflict
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Conflict – a struggle between two opposing
forces
Interpersonal Conflict
 Human vs. Human
 Human vs. Nature
 Human vs. Society
Internal Conflict
 Human vs. Self
Man v. Man
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Involves conflict between people
Man v. Nature
• Involves conflict between an individual and
the natural world
Man v. Self
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Involves characters’ psychological conflicts
with themselves
Man v. Society
• Involves conflict between an individual and
larger groups
Types of Drama
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Two main categories are:
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Comedy – in which the characters undergo
embarrassments or discomfitures which are on the
whole so managed that they interest and amuse
without engaging our profoundest sympathy, and
in which the action turns out well for the chief
characters
Tragedy – generally applied to the representation
of serious actions (Romeo & Juliet) which turn out
disastrously for the chief character(s).
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Melodrama
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Characters act with very little motivation
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(1) has too many ups and downs
(2) contains no transitions
(3) characters are too one dimensional --- bearing little
relationship with each other
(4) situations are highly impossible; solutions are
incredible or conflicts are overemphasized (You Can’t
Take it With You)
Setting
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The scenery or location of the action:
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It can:
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Reveal
Provide atmosphere
Influence actions of the characters
Or symbolize what is going on
Characters/Characterization
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The people in the play
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We get to know them:
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Through the actions of other characters
By their speech, what they say and how they say it
By the setting or surroundings in which we see them
Their actions and reactions
Through their thoughts if they have a soliloquy
Soliloquy & Dialogue
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Soliloquy – a situation in which the audience
“overhears” a character speaking to himself
Dialogue – what we read, the speech of
characters. It does several things:
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It must advance the action of the play, it must have relevance to
the action
It can reveal past events, predict coming events, given
information, give hints, reveal character.
It should be distinct from that of other characters. You should be
able to tell who is talking without having to look at the name.
The speech should be life-like and convincing. It shouldn’t
sound put-on or fake.
The Stage
BACKSTAGE WALL
Upstage
Right
Upstage
Center
Upstage
Left
Right
Center
Left
Downstage
Right
Downstage
Center
Downstage
Left
AUDIENCE
Terms concerned
with dramatic production
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Backer – one who finances a production
Props – personal effects and movable property
Producer – in complete charge of everything
Director – guides actors in their performances
Critic – evaluates play against other works
Billing – place of name on marquee
Terms concerned
with dramatic production (cont’d)
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Cast – group of actors
SRO – Standing room only
Dramaturgy – the art of writing plays
Stage space – the cubic volume of stage area
Farce – a satirical play in which the manners
and customs of a period are held up to ridicule
Our Town Setting
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Grover’s Corners, NH
Classic “Small Town, USA”
1901-1913
Based on Peterborough, NH
Serves as a microcosm of the
world at large
Microcosm – a miniature world
Themes
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Life is Precious and Should Be Cherished
Death Gives Meaning to Life
Nature Is the Force that Controls the Destiny
of Humanity
Immortality Is Gained Through Union with
That Which Is Eternal in Every Individual
Main Characters
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Stage Manager
The Webbs (Emily’s
family)
The Gibbs (George’s
family)
Simon Stimson
Professor Willard
Louella Soames
Literary Elements & Techniques
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Antirealism
Dramatic irony
Narrator
Pantomime
Staging
Style
Symbol
Major Symbols
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Stage Manager’s watch
Trains
Tombstones
Blooming flowers
Moon
Mountains
Lakes
Gardens
Stage Manager himself?
Conventions
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Stage Manager (functions as “Greek chorus”; breaks
the “4th wall”)
“Mise en scene” (no scenery or props)
Fantasy element (time travel; speaking from the dead)