ONE-ACT PLAY

ONE-ACT PLAY
A short play taking place
in one location, to be set
over a period of no more
than one day and have one
central plot.
 Time/Duration

Usually runs for about 10-

40 minutes but should feel
complete
  CHECKLIST
 One
location
 One time
 One central
plot
 Characters (4 or less)
 Conflict should be
resolved
  CHECKLIST
Character development
through dialogue; no narrator
Complete plot: beginning,
middle and end
Follows a short story
 Setting
The setting for one act play is
just one scene/location.
Developing the scene is
crucial for audience to
experience everything about
the story.
 Characters

Limit characters to 4 or fewer

to avoid complex
developments.
 Characters
STATIC
DYNAMIC
-
unchanging -changing
- no -has
character character
developmen developmen
t t
 Characters
INDIRECT
DIRECT -thoughts are
- thoughts and revealed
characteristics through
are described actions/dialog
ues
 Characters

ROUND FLAT
- interesting -uninteresting
- has - Support the
depth/complex main character
personality
 Characters

FULLY FLESHED-OUT
CHARACTERS
Have a clear idea of your
characters’ motivations,
desires and personalities.
 Characters

FULLY FLESHED-OUT
CHARACTERS
SHOW rather than TELL
 Conflict

It should be resolved within

the short-time frame of the
play.
 Plot

 Simple and
comprehensible
 Beginning, middle and
end
 NOTES

There are no breaks in

the action, that is, it is
continuous since it’s a
short play; no intervals.
 NOTES

Action begins right at

the start of the play.
 NOTES

It must present a
question which the
audience eagerly
awaits the answer.
 NOTES

There is an influence of
realism.
 NOTES

There is no full
development of
character.
 NOTES

Its language is simple

and can be followed
without any strain.
 THE WORLD IS AN APPLE
By: Alberto S. Florentino

1. Characters
2. Checklists observed
3. Conflict
4. Moral/Theme of the
story
 THE WORLD IS AN APPLE
By: Alberto S. Florentino
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS?

MARIO

GLORIA

PABLO
 CONFLICT

Mario lost his job

because he stole
an apple.
 “You should have tried t
o
bring home pandesal, or
rice,
or milk – not those delic
ious
apples. We’re not rich. W
e
can live without apples.
”
Thematic Concept

POVERTY

LOVE

CHOICE