Elements of Drama

1
Elements of Drama
All the world's a stage, And all the men and
women merely players They have their exits and
their entrances And one man in his time plays
many parts.. (As You Like It)
2
Diagram of a Stage
Upstage
Stage Right
Stage Left
Center Stage
Downstage
Tip-Stage left right are from the actors POV
Pit
Audience
3
Stage Directions

• Define movements on the stage
• Define how a line should be delivered
• Ex (The dancers enter stage right.)
• Ex (Laughing wickedly)
• Stage directions are typically written in italics

4
Dialogue

• A conversation between characters in a literary
  work.
• The speech of the actors in the play

5
Function of Dialogue

• Dialogue brings characters to life by revealing
  their personalities and by showing what they are
  thinking and feeling as they react to other
  characters.

6
Monologue

• A long speech spoken by an actor
• One person speaking

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v27D4k3dCXPgfeature
player_embedded
7
Soliloquies

• A speech by an actor who believes he/she is
  alone.
• Thinking aloud
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vRzuEKkPVeBQfeature
  related

8
Function of Soliloquies

• A soliloquy typically reveals the private
  thoughts and emotions of the character.

9
Asides

• In a play, a comment made by a character, but is
  not heard by the other characters onstage.
• Essentially, the comment is given to the audience

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vsNa8QyAl2YE

10
Function of Asides

• Asides are frequently used to provide information
  to the audience and to reveal the private
  thoughts of characters.