The Power of the Play
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The Power of the Play
Imagine yourself sitting in an auditorium. The lights dim, large red curtains part on the stage, and music begins to swell from the orchestra pit. A spotlight falls upon the actors on the stage, and the play begins. Every detail of a modern play is designed to make the audience think or feel something deeply. Playwrights—just like novelists, photographers, poets, and artists—use a variety of techniques to move the audience.
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Plays are unique from other texts, though. They are designed to be performed in front of a live audience, and that is partly why plays can be so powerful. The actors are so close to the audience, that the world on the stage can seem real, and if they do their jobs well, actors can make us feel a part of that world.
Have you ever seen a play script or participated in a play (either on stage or backstage)? If so, you know that plays are written very differently from any other type of text. They are often written very minimally. This means that the stage directions showing how the characters should move or behave, or how the set should be designed, often contain just enough information to guide the director and actors but still allow them some freedom to make the play come to life in their own way.
Have you ever seen a play script or participated in a play (either on stage or backstage)? If so, you know that plays are written very differently from any other type of text. They are often written very minimally. This means that the stage directions showing how the characters should move or behave, or how the set should be designed, often contain just enough information to guide the director and actors but still allow them some freedom to make the play come to life in their own way.
Because scripts are typically very stripped down and minimal, everything in the script becomes extremely important and sometimes symbolic. The set, the wardrobe, the characters’ words and movements, all contain a great deal of meaning. Everything in the script is important, so pay close attention to details.
When you read a script for a play, you will need to do some imagining. Use the hints from the playwright (stage directions, setting descriptions, etc.) to help you picture what would be happening on stage.
When you read a script for a play, you will need to do some imagining. Use the hints from the playwright (stage directions, setting descriptions, etc.) to help you picture what would be happening on stage.