Friday, December 21, 2018

Dramaturgy: Dramatic Conflict vs. Bickering

I'm seeing a lot of plays with on-stage arguments that are dull and boring. To make up for not understanding how a scene works, directors and actors use screaming/volume for actual drama (hello, the revival of ANGELS IN AMERICA...which I liked overall but had way too much screaming by characters who didn't know what they were saying and why). In order for an argument to cross over into drama, it needs to have the three S's: status, subtext, and stakes. If your characters are screaming exactly what's on their mind to each other and nobody's status shifts throughout the course of an argument, then you have not created drama. You have created a shouting match. If there is no subtext to the argument, then you are merely screaming an essay of opinions to the audience. Status, subtext, stakes! Now stop screaming for no reason and give your characters some secrets!! 

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Dispassionate Dialogue about our Democracy on the 4th of July

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