Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Elements of Drama One Act Play
Elements of Drama One Act Play
WHAT IS DRAMA?
Drama is a literary composition to be acted by players on a stage before an audience.
Its successful portrayal depends on the cooperation that must exist among writers, actors,
producers and audiences in accepting the limitations and the conventions of the stage.
Since the turn of the twentieth century, modern drama has become the greatest form
of mass entertainment in the western world. Experimentation and innovation are basic to this
century’s dramatist. Through movies and television, everyone has experienced the excitement
and emotional involvement that gives the drama its important place in our lives today.
The drama is difficult to read because it is meant to be seen, not read. It demands
much imagination and attention on the part of the reader to enable him to hear the tones and
see the actions of the actors against an imaginary background. The reader has only the
dialogue form which to visualize the costumes, the situation, the facial expressions, and the
movements of the actors.
The drama is also difficult to write because the playwright must be aware of the
interests and opinions of the actors and producer as well as his audience. He must also
recognize the limitation of the stage and work within the many conventions and restrictions it
imposes on the actions of his characters and the locations of his settings.
The literary elements of the drama include setting, plot, characters and theme.
Essential to the effective presentation of these elements are conflict, structure, suspense
and atmosphere. Each of these elements are inherent in any narrative composition, but
drama adds extra elements of stage direction, lighting effects, and the visual presence of
the actors, the set and costumes.
A. Setting
The setting of a drama presented on stage must be adapted to the limitations of the stage
area. The playwright must confine his locations to scenes that can be constructed on the
stage and limited to as a few changes as possible. The actions must be physically
restricted on the stage, and depend on dialogue, lighting, and sound effects to carry the
1
actions and events that cannot be presented visually. It is this physical confinement that
makes writing plays more difficult than any other narrative form.
B. Plot
The plot of the drama, although limited in its physical actions and changes of location
or scene, is similar to that of the novel or short story. It must have the same
characteristics of development and structuring, and depend on conflict, suspense and
mood to carry the action forward.
1. Technical Divisions – Acts and scenes are the divisions of a play. Shakespeare’s
plays are mainly five acts in length, with many changes of scene with each act.
However, the modern theatre audience is accustomed to sitting for only two to
three hours to watch a play. This means the average modern play must be limited
to three acts, which also has the benefit of keeping set changes minimum. A few
modern plays run longer and have five or six acts.
2
3. Developing the Action
4
to their individual characters. If dialogue is unrealistic, it must still reveal
their character.
Characters must be strongly drawn, consistent and believable. Sudden
changes in character, inappropriate gestures, wrong dialogue, mistimed
facial expressions or smiles when the mood is sad or hostile must be
avoided if the play is to be consistent in its portrayal and effective
emotionally and intellectually for the audience.
D. Conflict
Drama is created by conflict. It usually involves opposing forces, sometimes
external and physical, sometimes internal and psychological. There may be a clash of
wills in a conflict of purposes, or there may be a mental or emotional conflict within on
person.
E. Theme
Theme in a drama is similar in its aspects to those of the short story or novel.
1. Action or plot
2. Character
3. Thought
4. Language
5. Song and Dance
6. Spectacle or Visual Excess
Action or plot – For Aristotle, a play’s action is of the utmost importance. By the
term unity of action, he means that the best drama, particularly tragedies,
are limitations of an action that is unified and complete. In this instance,
unified means that all the scenes in the play are linked together by
“probability and necessity.” That is to say, unlike the historian or journalist
who reports events that may be the result of accident or anomaly, the
skillful tragedian introduces only those incidents that follow probably or
logically from those that precede them. Different plots or actions demand
different kinds of characters thought, and language, but all of these
elements of drama, originate in a plays action. This action is constructed
5
in a play, which in turn provides the blueprint for performance or the
script.
Character - Aristotle believed that dramatic action was so significant that a tragedy
“cannot exist without a plot, but it can without characters,” citing epic
poems of his age as examples. Nevertheless, the history of drama since
Aristotle often appears to suggest just the opposite: that the most
influential plays are so influential precisely because they create unique
characters or “personalities.’
Though and Language - Language in drama is generally communicated in one of
the three forms: dialogue, monologue (including asides or direct addresses
to the audience), and soliloquies. Dialogues like that in André’s Mother,
frequently accomplishes several things at once: It reveals something about
the characters speaking; it usually reveals something about his /her attitude
towards the characters with whom he or she is speaking and about the
topics they are discussing; it may aid in advancing the plot, either by
providing necessary exposition of the past or foreshadowing of the future;
it may contribute for the or rhythm of the play; it may help orient the
audience to the fictive space in which the action occurs; it may imply a
larger, meaning, in topic, or issue the play will develop as the action
progress.
TYPES OF DRAMA
A. Historical
B. Tragedy
C. Comedy
D. Social Criticism
E. One Act Play
A. HISTORICAL DRAMA:
6
1. The Medieval Mystery play dealt with stories of the bible and its
characters. God’s enactments were dramatized for the congregations who
were unable to read or understand the Latin Services.
2. The medieval Miracle Play dramatized the lives of the saints.
3. Chronicle Plays, like the Miracle plays, dealt with the lives of the saints.
4. Masques originally were adaptations of pagan ceremonies in which the
actors, wearing masks paraded through the streets and moved in and out of
houses, dancing silently and then moving on. Masques became rather
elaborate productions during the Elizabethan period. Costume, dancing
and singing were more important than the action. Usually allegorical, the
actors personified religious, political, satirical or moral qualities.
B. TRAGEDY
Is drama which involves the ruin of the leading character(s). Examples are
Shakespeare’s tragedies, Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello. Modern tragedy includes
Death of a Salesman.
7
ensuing insanity, and Macbeth in battle at the hands of Macduff whose
family Macbeth also murdered.
4. Modern Tragedy- combines all forms of tragedy and uses plays from each
of the previous centuries. Shakespearean plays continue to find large
audiences; and modern tragedies, based on the same Greek and
Shakespearean use of the tragic hero with his tragic flaw have become
classics of the twentieth century.
C. Comedy is drama which involves real but temporary difficulties of the leading
characters. The ending is happy in that the conflict is resolved to the advantage of
the protagonist(s). There are several types of comedy:
1. Farce is comedy which depends wholly on laughable situations. It
involves ridiculous or hilarious complications. The antics of the Three
Stooges are farce.
2. Fantastic Comedy deals with impossible situation in terms of ordinary
human nature. An example is Peter Pan.
3. Comedy of Manners treats of polite society satirically and superficially.
Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan or James Barrie’s Admirable
Creighton are good examples.
4. Tragi-comedy is drama which does not involve death or disaster but
which verges on tragedy or bitter satire. Serious in theme and plot, tragic-
comedy seems to be leading to catastrophe, but an unexpected turn of
events leads to a happy conclusion. Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice uses
this to present this infamous Shylock.
5. Melodrama depends on exciting scenes, overly dramatic characters and
situation, and highly charged emotional reactions, while paying little
attention to human values or reality. It aims at emotional thrills, but not
laughter.
6. Burlesque depends on laughable or exaggerated imitations of well known
characters or events.
D. Drama of Social Criticism
8
This category includes plays in which social, economic or political problems
and themes are portrayed. Many modern plays on stage, screen, and television fall
into this category.
One-Act Plays
Is similar to a short story in its limitations. There is a complete drama within
one act. It is brief, condensed, and single in effect. One situation or episode is
presented, permitting no minor plots or side actions that may distract attention for the
single purpose and effect being developed. Characters are few in number, quickly
introduced, and very limited in character development. Dialogue and plot must carry
the action forward smoothly and quickly.
A one-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over
several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. In recent years the 10-minute
play known as "flash drama" has emerged as a popular sub-genre of the one-act play,
especially in writing competitions. The origin of the one-act play may be traced to the very
beginning of drama: in ancient Greece, Cyclops, a satyr play by Euripides, is an early
example.
Like all drama, one act plays are made up of the same elements that are necessary for
short stories : Theme, Plot, Character, and dialogue.
Theme
The one-act needs to have a theme or thought just as a full-length does. What is the play
about? Revenge? Self-discovery? Whatever your choice, it needs to be clear in your mind
what your theme is. In a full-length play, all characters, plots, and subplots need to point to
and support the theme. The one-act is not much different, except the subplots will likely be
absent.
Plot
This is much different in the one-act than in the full-length. For a full-length play, the plot is
the series and sequence of events that lead the hero (and the audience) on the journey. In a
one-act play there is really only time for one significant event. This is the determining place
for the hero, where all is won or lost. Events that lead up to this must be incorporated into the
script without the benefit of the audience seeing them. And any events that follow must be
inferred or understood by the audience that they will occur.
Character
9
There is really only enough time in this to get to know one character well -- the hero. In the
short time that the one-act play is going, it is the hero's event that the audience is
experiencing; again, there isn't time for more than that. Some characteristics of the supporting
characters, including the antagonist, will need to be portrayed for the story to move forward,
but it is the character of the protagonist that is vital to the story line.
Dialogue
Economy is the key here. Each line must be crafted carefully to focus on the theme, the
incident, and the character of the protagonist. The dialogue need not be terse, but must be
concise and full of meaning. Any lines that do not point to the focus of the play should be
carefully considered whether they are needed.
10
discover how it entertains, moves, pleases, frustrates, or otherwise affects us. In interpreting a
play, we try to discover what it might mean for others as well. We ask ourselves not so much:
How do I respond to the speech and actions of the characters?” but instead “ What do their
speech and actions signify: what do they mean?”
11
In the planning of a production there are several important steps.
Prompt book- is one of the important techniques to be learned from the project. It is
important because the production of a play is not a haphazard affair, but rather the
result of organized planning, effective leadership, and coordinated responsibilities,
without which there is chaos. The prompt book for a major production is compiled
and kept by the director. It is a working handbook of all of the details connected with
the play.
Director
A. Supervise the preparation of the prompt book, which will contain
1. Cast of characters and staging responsibilities.
2. Interpretation of the play—theme, mood, major conflict, climax
3. Style of production
4. Ground plan
5. Breakdown of the play
6. Rehearsal schedule
7. Prop plot
8. Costume plot
9. Make-up plots
10. Cue sheets for curtain , sound music, lights
11. Complete script with movement and business
12. Publicity management
13. Record of other details
14. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of entire cast
B. Supervise rehearsals
12
1. Conduct reading rehearsal, in which the play and character
relationships are discussed and agreed upon.
2. Study the principles of movement and design; be responsible for
unity, tempo and projection.
II. Stage Manager
A. Draw the ground plan and make set sketch or model set if needed.
B. Set up the stage for rehearsals and production.
C. Supervise all backstage activity during rehearsals and production.
D. Hold the prompt book during the rehearsals.
E. Be familiar with the movement and business of each character so that you can
take an actor’s play during the rehearsal.
F. Make the cue sheet for curtain.
13
D. Be responsible for the cleanliness of the make-up room and for returning make-up
supplies.
VII. Publicity Manager
A. Organize the development of publicity as to kind, amount, and tme.
B. Make the posters and programs.
C. See that royalty is paid, if this is required.
D. Make necessary preparations if other cases or guests are to be invited.
E. Provide ushers, a host for invited guests, and an announcer for the
production.
14
A Report
Presented to:
Prof. Rosario Dumagpi
Division of Professional Education
University of the Philippines Visayas
Submitted by:
Ma. Luisa P. Alba
M Ed. ESL- II
August 14, 2010
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- “Aristotle’s Six Elements of Drama” (n.d.) Retrieved last August 8,2010 from
http://www.kyshakes.org/Resources/Aristotle.html
15
- “One Act Play” (n.d) Retrieved last August 8,2010 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-act_play
- “What’s in a One Act Play” (n.d.) Retrieved last August 8,2010 from
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/playwriting/72788/1#ixzz0ufadW0I2
16