Progressions of a Play

The smallest progression in a play is a beat. If

we were to describe a complete play as a
house, the beats would be the steps entering
the home and the movement in every room of
the house. There are many beats in a complete
play. In these beats we search for the
moments that progress the play.
The next progression is a unit. In this analogy, a
unit would be the details and purpose of a
room (Ex. Kitchen, Bathroom, Basement etc.,).
We go into different rooms for different
reasons or objectives. In a unit, the character is
seeking an objective. In the play Ruined by
Lynn Nottage, in Act 1, Scene 1, Christian’s 1st
objective: PLEASE (soften her up) MAMA w/
lipstick and flirting. 2ND objective GET SOPHIE A
HOME 3rd SEAL THE DEAL (chocolate, cigarettes,
whatever it takes).
A scene in a play would be the physical walls
and doors that separate each room. Without
walls it would be difficult to determine where
you are in the house. Just as walls let you know
what room you are in, scenes let you know
where you are in the play. Most likely there is a
door in each room. For a scene, the door would
be the event. I will ask you from time to time,
‘What was the event of the scene?’ ‘What
would be missing out of the play if this scene
were not there? Without a defining event in the
scene, the scene is not a determining factor to
the play.
Acts would be the book after St John. LOL.
Making sure you are still with me. Acts would
be levels in the home (basement, first and
second floor and attic). When we go to another
level there are steps that lead you there. As we
go up the steps, we slowly receive information
about what is up there. We may not have
made up there completely. However, as we get
closer details become more vivid. The final step
before you make it to the next level is the
climax. We look for the Climax in an Act. There
may be many climatic moments in a play, but
there should be a strong climax that separate
the acts.
Finally, we have the play as whole. This is
everything that we have previously talked
about. In addition to that, we have the style of
the home and decoration. Is it a ranch, flat or
colonial? Whether comedic, dramatic, or
musical: What do we take from it? WHAT IS
THE THEME OF THE PLAY? WHAT WAS THE
PLAYWRIGHT TRYING TO CONVEY? We look are
looking for the THEME OF THE PLAY.

CONCLUSION:
A play has acts.
Acts have scenes.
Scenes contain units.
Units have beats.

Beats have moments.

Unit contain objectives.
Scenes have events.
Acts have climaxes.
Plays have themes.

As we continue to read: Think about moments,

objectives, events, climaxes, and themes.
God Bless
Take Care,
Will