Rachel Lesson
AS Drama
Drama Interpretation - Taking the play from Page to Stage
Drama, as a genre of literature, is unique in the way that it presents and develops its story, characters and themes. Because there is no narrator or narrative in drama as there is in the novel or the short, story, the audience must rely on the setting of the play and the characters dialogue, facial expressions and actions to tell them the story. Readers must also consider these elements in order to develop their interpretations of the play's themes and characters. Below are some suggestions on how to analyze the different elements of drama and explore their relationships with one another.
We got put into groups and had to describe either Plot, Acts and Scenes, Character, Dialogue or Stage Directions. In our group, we did plot. We had to dcecsribe in a shortened version what plot was. We said that when talking about the plot, you need to think about what happens in the play - storylines. It also draws the audience in with tension and dramatic scenes. We also said in relation to Gotcha, that it tackles the emotion that the characters go through and that it tackles issues going on in the world today, like in Gotcha and the comprehensive schools and how in the 70s you were either a sporty student or and academic student and in our group, we decided/discussed that kid was in the middle of them both. When presenting to the class, we also said that the story line was linear and the issues they are facing are working class issues.
ACTS & SCENES
Traditional plays, had 2 acts and a lot of scenes. But in Gotcha, it has only 1 act and two scenes. With acts and scenes, in the first act they always introduce the characters and the setting, they always lay it out. With acts and scenes, throughout the play, the pace change, depending on how many scenes you have e.g. Gotcha has two scenes, so you have more time to explain and go through what is happening compared to a shakeperian play where there is always a lot going on. In Gotcha you can take your time and you have leway to do what you want with the pace, you could build tension to keep the play moving.
CHARACTER
Without characters, you wouldn't have a play. Characters are the first thing you notice in a play. You always look to see what type of characters you have so you can get a starting piont and you can see where to go with the play. With characters, there are endless wasy to show them e.g. the kid character could be a victim in the play, but personally I see him as more of a manipulator.
DIALOGUE
Dialogue is a cruccial element of drama that is used to develop the plot and characters of the play. It is quite important to take note of the choice of words and any metaphors, imagery or puns that are present. The language of the play is correct for the area the play is set e.g. when the kid says did't instead of did not. The langauge is very naturalistic, informal and common (working class). Also, the slang used ' what you doing in here lad' 'd'yer instead of do you' wheras the head is more formal 'One would like'.
STAGE DIRECTIONS
The stage directions show exactly what they want to happen. The staging gives the audience a further description. With stage directions, in Gotcha, the only thing that could change the time period, would be the music. It also gives you more leway with the staging in Gotcha because you're in a stockroom, and with that you could go anywhere.
After we had explained to the class, we did an exercise to see if Gotcha could be performed in different styles. Everyone got given different genres e.g. western, horror, musical, rom com and milartary. Our group got given musical. We picked a scene (p48) and had a dicussion about what the musical genre means. Musicals always over exagerate everything, so we thought about how we would do the scene. The scene we chose is right at the start of the play where the kid enters the stockroom and Lynne and Ton are trying to find out his name. In the scene, I played Lynne. She only said a few things and we made her have a song to sing (Ariana Grande ft Nathan Skyes - Almost is never enough). In the group Ton and Kids little arguement had to be more exagerate, so we made every movement bigger and our voice louder. Lynnes character was the quite one who hardly said anything, but when she did it was through song. It was her chance to have a say and break away from the action.
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