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Basic Guide To Phoenix Plays

By Ida Dorsey


A play is a piece to be played during a theatrical performance, mostly written according to rules of dramatic literature. For this purpose, the text consists mainly of dialogues between the characters, and, where appropriate, information on the staging (Phoenix plays). This is in addition to stage directions: setting, geographical location, light and sound environment, movement of characters (with borderline cases because some parts are made without verbal dialogue, eg Acts without Words by Samuel Beckett).

Interpreters of play are the actors; in modern theater the role of director is also important. Indeed, according to interpretation of text he wants to communicate to public, it takes (or sometimes does not resume ...) indications of staging written by the author, and added to his lead the actors.

In a broad sense is a storyline and made for the stage performance. It can be verbal text (every piece of literature that includes parts recited or sung), or improvised by an actor, or in form of non-verbal narration, through gestures or dance. The period drama, if understood strictly, applies only to plays written. In opera, it usually occurs at the end of booklet.

The origins of later back to antiquity. Greek tragedies played in religious rites in honor of god Dionysus. These ancient themes are included in sixteenth century by the first playwrights as Garnier or Jodelle, and in seventeenth century by authors such as Corneille, who began by writing baroque comedy and tragicomedy, as Le Cid. But gradually imposed in name of verisimilitude, respect for rules specific to classical theater: the rule of decency and the rule of three units.

The liturgical drama, as opposed to classical one, does not adopt the criterion of three Aristotelian unities and is expressed in better shape pictorial representation. If the classical drama staged one done in a linear and in one place, the drama follows the medieval against the hero in all of its age: it is represented, for example, the time when Jesus resurrected Lazarus, but throughout the life of protagonist. Necessarily the scene becomes multiple, created by different scenes aligned and separated from each other by a compartment: the so-called "appointed places."

In eighteenth century, one sees a variety of comedies. Still exist comedy of intrigue and comedy of manners, such as The Game of Love and Chance Island or slaves Marivaux, but social criticism becomes more vigorous, as in Barber of Seville and The Marriage Figaro by Beaumarchais, works in which he openly criticized the aristocracy. Also appear tearful comedy, then the bourgeois drama, playing on emotion and sensitivity of spectators.

The early nineteenth century saw the birth of romantic drama, a mixture of comedy and tragedy. This illustrates the literary genre of current era, romanticism, which is opposed to classicism. The rule of three units disappear, except for the unity of action, and the authors write in poetic prose or verse. Mention may be made with Alfred de Musset Lorenzaccio, with Victor Hugo Hernani, works in which the hero is marked by fate. The most popular genres are emerging: vaudeville, melodrama, theater boulevard.

Theatre, sometimes drama or spectacle, is a type of performing art, which aims to act, talk, produce or display stories, ideas or feelings to an audience. This is usually done through dialogue, namely speech and gestures between the different characters, played, or acted by actors. They must be able to express alternative personalities, ages, voices, sex, and body postures.




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