1. Introduction to Play Analysis
Book by: Cal Pritner & Scott E. Walters

2. Why & what of Play analysis
Play text demands more than reading, following direction; demand analysis and interpretation.
Analysis ~ process of identifying separate elements of the play
Interpretation ~ process of clarifying & communicating what we understand of the elements we are able to identify (through reading)

3. Why & what of play analysis
Overarching process is Play Analysis
Play analysis guides us in the exploring of a play’s complexities
Helping to explore a great play’s profoundness
If actually producing play ~ also allows all in theatre process of collaborating & communicating production

4. What & why play analysis
Purposeful
Systematic
Interpretative reading
Multiple readings / each time with a purpose
Asking increasingly complex ?’s of the text

5. What & why of play analysis
Reading at multiple levels –
Analysis (identifying parts of play)
Interpretation (clarifying understanding)
Synthesis (bringing parts together into a coherent interpreted whole).

6. Why & what of play analysis
Components of play analysis ~
Examine how the story is told
When & where it is set
How the “when” & “where” affect the story’s characters
How the characters interact w/ each other & audience
How they speak & think
How they agree & disagree
How playwright intends the information to be shared w/ audience

7. Multiple levels for analysis
1st Level ~ First Impression
First reading of a play includes systematic note taking
Readers 1st impressions comes from 2 main sources –
Dialogue & Stage Direction
Note taking (annotation) helps reader record impressions.
Record overall mood

8. Multiple levels for analysis
2nd Level ~ Gathering Information
Considering the play’s time and location – must consider:
Politics
Economics
Religion
Ethnicity
Family
Culture values affect the characters’ thinking, language, & behavior (may require research)

9. Multiple levels for analysis
3rd Level ~ Interpretation
Focus on characters / raising questions of fact
What characters do & say
How characters differ from each other
Great plays possess characters who are interesting because they are unique & complex.

10. Multiple levels for analysis
4th Level ~ Synthesis
Ultimate goal is to reach a comprehensive understanding of the play
Conflict is the essence of drama. Thus conflict-resolution functions as the play’s core.
Conflict analysis is central to synthesizing (creating) your analysis.
Great plays present multiple themes
Conflict-resolution process is the framework around themes, ideas, characters – producing unity in the play.

11. First reading First reading = First level
1st reading ~ read for information ~ information that we will eventually analyze
1st reading provides impressions you want to retain, examine & analyze. v

12. First Reading Unlike what I originally started with….
Read the ENTIRE play in ONE (1) sitting (smile)
Probably will take you 2-3 hours
Taking notes will add an extra hour to the process. Allow 4 hours for the first reading. (smile)

13. First reading
Imagine an audience’s 1st experience of it in the theatre
Seeking to form a 1st impression of the play for yourself.
Absorb the play as a whole

14. First reading Keep characters & relationships in mind
Read descriptions of objects / people / visualizing the time and space
Imagine the sounds and rhythms of human speech
Absorb the play’s emotions & moods
Keep a pencil available & write in the margins
Bookmark cast list as you will frequent it

15. First reading
Pay attention to descriptions of characters’ physical actions ~ even small actions can have much impact in a play
Read as a detective – on the lookout for information that may turn out to be important.
Shared & unshared information will affect the plot & character relationships.

16. first reading In play analysis ~ think of Talk as Action.
Dialogue = Doing
Play analysis requires we “read” people through word choice. Study how characters speak differently to others.
Ex: a character speaks differently to a boss, mother, father, sister – how language reflects character using different tactics in different relationships (maybe for manipulation)

17. First reading Do NOT apply theories to your first reading .
Attempt to understand your own reaction to the play’s overall moods.
Ask yourself: “What is my emotional response to the play? What prompted this response? How might an audience experience the play in performance? “
Mood = comic, serious, tragic, mixture of many…

18. First reading
During 1st reading, attempt to identify some essential structures that characterize most comedies & tragedies.
Comedies: 1-2 structures, love, romance & misunderstands. Tartuffe is a comedy where there is a blocking character. Tartuffe (the character) tries to marry Orgon’s daughter who is engaged to another (Valere).

19. First reading
Tragedies: Has historically involved a centra character who commits and act that has disruptive consequences. Disruption and suffering are caused by a character & effects other characters
Restores order, personal, community, political, or natural order

20. First reading
Drama: Fully comic or fully tragic. Often has romance, but not treated as a comedy. Emphasis not on what keeps lovers apart. Not tragic – not seeing characters struggling to restore order from negative events.

21. Homework Read full play of Tartuffe, by Moliere Due Monday.
Wednesday we will further discuss Play analysis.
Monday we will dive into Tartuffe.