The Structure of Drama

“The Play is the Thing”

Drama, brought to life by the actors; expressed through the mediums of color, light, and movement against the background of stage and scenery; and unified by the creative vision of the director.

A play has the four narrative essentials: Exposition, Plot, Character, and Theme.

The Exposition

As soon as possible after the play begins, the audience knows what kind of play is being presented, where and when its is taking place, who the leading characters are, and in what situation and conflicts they find themselves.

The process of putting them before the audience is called the exposition. A skillfully written exposition is brief and unobtrusive. It tells us the Where, When, Why and Who without us realizing we have been told anything

Plot

The Plot of a play is the series of related events that take place before the audience. It is the working out of the major conflict.

Initial Incident

The Initial Incident opens the play. It’s the first important event that sets the plot moving, and it is the point from which the rest of the plot develops.

Makes the audience want to know what happens next.

The Rising Action

The rising action is the series of events following the initial incident.

Each situation developing out of the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist lifts the action to a higher level of interest and suspense.

The Climax

The climax is the turning point of the play toward which the rising action leads.

The moment that determines what the outcome of the conflict will be.

The Falling Action

The falling action is the series of events following the climax.

Usually shorter than then the rising action, but the incidents must be of real significance

The Conclusion

The end of the play must be the logical outcome of all that has gone before.

Characters

The characters in a play should be compelling people who hold the center of interest throughout the drama.

Characters in a play must be vivid in personality, with their dominant traits clearly brought out in their speeches and actions.

Theme

The Theme is the basic idea of the play

Dramatizes through the conflicts of character with one another or with life events.

The theme is the specific idea that gives unity and purpose to everything that happens in the play