Chapter 6Chapter 6

The Playwright and the The Playwright and the ScriptScript

The One Who BuildsThe One Who Builds

The root word wright in playwright comes from the Middle Ages and means “one who builds.” A shipwright builds ships; a wheelwright builds wheels. A playwright builds plays.

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The Primary ArtistThe Primary Artist

Theatre begins with the playwright, the artist who conceives the theme, the characters, the dialogue, and the story. Playwrights are so important to the process that many theatre professionals call them the “primary artist.”

“The writer is the person who was there when the paper was white.”-- Moss Hart, playwright

The Playwright’s Life and The Playwright’s Life and WordsWords

• CopyrightCopyright• What are some of the basic What are some of the basic

differences between playwrights and differences between playwrights and screenwriters?screenwriters?

• Closed shop unionClosed shop union• Open show unionOpen show union• If screenwriters can make so much If screenwriters can make so much

more money, why become a more money, why become a playwright?playwright?

The Art of PlaywritingThe Art of Playwriting

•DialogueDialogue

•Stage Stage directionsdirections

•ParentheticalsParentheticals

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The Theme in a PlayThe Theme in a Play

Themes are statements about the Themes are statements about the central ideas that generate the life central ideas that generate the life of the playof the play

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The Theme in a PlayThe Theme in a Play

• Themes that are revealed through Themes that are revealed through action are theatrically more interesting action are theatrically more interesting than those that are explicitly stated.than those that are explicitly stated.

• Themes are often open to interpretation Themes are often open to interpretation by the directors, designers and actors by the directors, designers and actors and by the audience as well.and by the audience as well.

Characters in ActionCharacters in Action

Characters come to life not by what they feel and think but by what they say and do.

Actions are the characters’ deeds.

SARA KRULWICH/The New York Times/Redux Pictures

Conflict as CatalystConflict as Catalyst

Plays are about people with needs and desires and obstacles preventing them from what they want.

Desire + obstacle x lack of compromise = conflict

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The Art of LanguageThe Art of Language

Dialogue begins with the need to talk. Dialogue begins with the need to talk. How is this realized by the playwright?How is this realized by the playwright?

1. text2. subtext3. listening4. imagery5. music a. rhythm

b. tempoc. tone

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GenreGenreA category of an artistic work that has a A category of an artistic work that has a

particular form, style, or subject matterparticular form, style, or subject matterThe rules of the world of the playThe rules of the world of the play

Plotting the StoryPlotting the Story

Many plays and screenplays follow a Many plays and screenplays follow a blueprint: blueprint: Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet, A Raisin in the Sun, Juliet, A Raisin in the Sun, and and Star Star Wars.Wars.

Formula PlotsFormula Plots

1. Beginning1. Beginning

A.A. Exposition or back storyExposition or back storyB.B. Protagonist and antagonistProtagonist and antagonistC.C. EventEventD. DisturbanceD. DisturbanceE.E. Point of AttackPoint of AttackF. Major Dramatic QuestionF. Major Dramatic Question

Formula PlotsFormula Plots

2. The Middle2. The Middle

A.A. Rising ActionRising ActionB.B. ConflictsConflictsC.C. CrisisCrisisD.D. ComplicationsComplicationsE.E. Dark MomentDark Moment

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Formula PlotsFormula Plots

3.3. The EndThe End

A. Enlightenment

B. ClimaxC. Denouemen

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Plots Outside the FormulaPlots Outside the Formula

Writers who abandon formula often try to look at life the way it is, or as they perceive it, rather than fit it into a standard structure:

• Waiting for Godot• ‘night Mother• Pulp Fiction

Joan Marcus

What the Playwrights SayWhat the Playwrights Say

“We’re one of the last handmade art forms. We’re one of the last handmade art forms. There’s no fast way to make plays. It takes just as There’s no fast way to make plays. It takes just as long and is just as hard as it was a thousand long and is just as hard as it was a thousand years ago.”years ago.”

Steven Dietz, playwrightSteven Dietz, playwright

“The very impulse to write, I think, springs from an inner chaos crying for order, for meaning, and that meaning must be discovered in the process of writing or the work lies dead as it is finished.”

Arthur Miller, playwrightArthur Miller, playwright

Curtain CallCurtain CallIn the theatre, the playwright is the Primary Artist. Yet, unlike the actors, director, designers, or producer, the playwright is the only member of the In the theatre, the playwright is the Primary Artist. Yet, unlike the actors, director, designers, or producer, the playwright is the only member of the theatrical ensemble that can be long dead.theatrical ensemble that can be long dead.

A playwright’s life may be difficult, but they know the joy of sole authorship and find great satisfaction in communicating their ideas without alteration.