Stage Play

Reporter: Ruth Klaribelle C. Villaceran BSED 4 - English

What is a Stage Play?

A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. The term "play" can refer to both the written works of playwrights and to their complete theatrical performance.

Elements of a Stage Play

setting time and place historical period, the moment, day and season character/s people in the play plot series of events of the play
natural / climactic episodic

Categories of Plot Structure: Climactic

Plot begins late in story, closer to the very end or climax Covers a short space of time, perhaps a few hours, or at most a few days Contains a few solid, extended scenes, such as three acts with each act comprising one long scene Occurs in a restricted locale, one room or one house

Categories of Plot Structure: Climactic

Number of characters is severely limited, usually not more than six or eight Plot in linear and moves in a single line with few subplots or counter plots Line of action proceeds in a cause and effect chain. The characters and events are closely linked in a sequence of logical, almost inevitable development

Categories of Plot Structure: Episodic

Plot begins relatively early in the story and moves through a series of episodes Covers a longer period of time: weeks, months, and sometimes years Many short, fragmented scenes; sometimes an alternation of short and long scenes May range over an entire city or even several countries

Categories of Plot Structure: Episodic

Profusion of characters, sometimes several dozen Frequently marked by several threads of action, such as two parallel plots, or scenes of comic relief in a serous play Scenes are juxtaposed tone to one another. An event may result from several causes, or no apparent cause, but arises in a network or web of circumstances

Elements of a Stage Play (cont)

theme unifying element that defines the dramatized idea of the play; the over- all sense or implication of the action style mode of expression or presentation of the play

Major Dramatic Attitude

realism accurate, detailed and life- like description in a play where things are presented as real as can be in actual life non realism stylized whereby an artist uses his imagination in projecting his ideas

Types
tragedy the main character is brought to ruin or suffers a great sorrow ; raises vital points about man, his existence, his morals, and his social and psychological relations
Examples: Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, and Juliet

Types
comedy brings laughter where the protagonist leaps over all difficulties placed in his way
Examples: All's Well That Ends Well,Cymbeline,The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing

Types
melodrama drawn from tragedy; concludes in a happy resolution which happens when the power of the villain is neutralized or combated
Examples: Pygmalion, Ariadne auf Naxos, Medea, A Tale of Mystery, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Types
farce bring laughter for the sake of laughter; makes use of grossly embellished events and character examples: The Comedy of Errors, Noises Off, What the Butler Saw

REFERENCES:
http://melodramatic.askdefine.com/ http://shakespeare.about.com/od/theplays/a/Tra gedy_Comedy_History.htm http://homepage.smc.edu/adairlynch_terrin/ta%205/elements.htm http://plays.about.com/od/glossary/g/farce.htm