Transcript DRAMA REVIEW A Visit to a Small Planet by Gore Vidal.

DRAMA REVIEW
A Visit to a Small Planet by Gore Vidal
WHAT IS A PLAY

A play is a prose
(conversational) or verse
(poetic) piece of writing that
is meant to be represented
by actors pretending to be
the characters and
performing the dialogue
and action of the story
PEOPLE NEEDED TO PUT ON A PLAY
Director—in charge of all
actors in a play and their
movements on stage
 Prop Master—in charge of
setting up the set with
props (objects that help
set up the setting) and
building particular
structures that are
needed for the play

Costume and Makeup/Hair
Designer—in charge of
creating all costumes and
designing the makeup and
hair styles of the
characters/actors
 Lighting Technician—in
charge of creating the
mood with different
lighting and shadow effects
 Sound Technician—in
charge of creating and
making certain sounds
that are needed in a play

PEOPLE NEEDED TO PUT ON A PLAY

Major Characters/Actors—
these are all the primary
or most important
characters/actors in a
play—these are the
starring roles
Protagonist—the main
character in a play around
whom the action centers
 Antagonist—the main
character who opposes or
competes with the
protagonist


Minor Characters/Actors—
these are all the
secondary
characters/actors in a play
ORGANIZATION OF A PLAY (DRAMA)—
STRUCTURE OF A PLAY
 Plays
are broken up
into Acts and scenes
 Each scene is made up
of lines
 Two or more scenes
make up an Act
 There might be more
than one Act in a
play—often there are
anywhere from three
to five Acts.
ORGANIZATION OF A PLAY—
HOW IS THE PLOT SET UP

 The
three Acts of a
drama or play
usually divide the
plot into beginning,
middle, and end


Act 1—the introduction and the
rising action of the plot is found
here—the first Act introduces the
characters, setting, and the basic
conflict (the main problem of the
story)
Middle Acts—this is where the
conflict and the characters are
developed; there may be added
complications that makes the story
more exciting
Last Act—the climax, the falling
action, and the resolution of the plot
is found here—this is where the
conflict is solved (climax—highest
point of excitement in the story) and
all loose ends of the story are tied up
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA—
TERMS USED WHEN DISCUSSING DRAMA



Dialogue—
conversation between
characters
Script—The written
part of the play which
can be read by the actors
or readers
Footnotes—notes to the
reader that are found at
the bottom of the script
in a play which tells the
reader the definition of
a vocabulary word to
help them understand
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
STAGE DIRECTIONS
Stage directions are set off in either (parenthesis) or
italics or by (both)—stage directions are notes that are
included in the script to guide actors and help
readers picture the action and setting
 Stage directions are parts of the play that are not
said by the actors—instead stage directions are used
to describe costumes, the set, and character’s
movements on stage
 Stage directions provide suggestions for props,
lighting, music, and sound effects
 Examples that would be described in the stage
directions—the sound of a knock, what a character
looks like, when a character enters or exits, who is
accompanied by a character

DRAMATIC DEVICES
STRATEGIES THAT WRITERS OF DRAMA USE
Ways of Speaking



Aside—a short speech that
allows a character on stage to
share his thoughts or
feelings with the audience
without being heard by the
other characters on stage
Soliloquy—a long speech
made by a character alone on
stage where the character
acts in an exaggerated
manner about a problem
Monologue—a long speech
made by a character that is
overheard by other
characters
DRAMATIC DEVICES
STRATEGIES THAT WRITERS OF DRAMA USE
Irony—The Opposite of
What is Expected



Verbal Irony—when a
character says something
about another character, yet
means the opposite
Dramatic Irony—when the
reader or audience learns
information that certain
characters do not know
Situational Irony—when a
reader or character expects
one thing to happen, but
something entirely
differently occurs
DRAMATIC DEVICES
STRATEGIES THAT WRITERS OF DRAMA USE
Characterization—
How the Audience/Reader
Learns about a Character
Readers learn about a
character through the
character’s own words
 Readers learn about a
character through the
character’s own actions
 Readers learn about a
character through the
words of another
character

DRAMA ASSESSMENT REVIEW…

All of the following elements are part of scene or
set design in plays except…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Costumes
Lighting
Props
Stage directions
DRAMA ASSESSMENT REVIEW…

In a soliloquy a character…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Behaves in an exaggerated manner
Provides a contrast to another character
Is based on a stereotype
Plays a subordinate role in a dramatic work
DRAMA ASSESSMENT REVIEW…

A foil is a character who…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Behaves in an exaggerated manner
Provides a contrast to another character
Is based on a stereotype
Plays a subordinate role in a dramatic work