A playwright is writing a play about a boy who travels from England to Australia by ship. He wants to engage the audience with rich settings from all over the world. Which type of play would be a better fit for his drama, and how do you know?
A type of play that would be a better fit for this drama is a "realistic drama" or a "historical drama."
The playwright wants to engage the audience with rich settings from all over the world. In a realistic drama, the focus is on creating a lifelike, believable representation of the world. This allows the playwright to vividly depict the various settings the boy encounters during his journey, from England to Australia. The audiences can be immersed in the details of different locations and experience the journey alongside the boy, making the play more engaging and relatable.
Similarly, a historical drama would suit the purpose of depicting the boy's journey. Historical dramas typically aim to recreate a specific time period, capturing the details of places, events, and customs of that era. By writing a historical drama, the playwright can effectively transport the audience to the time when the boy's journey takes place, creating a sense of authenticity and engaging the audience with the rich settings along the way.
Thus, a realistic or historical drama would be a better fit for this playwright's intentions of engaging the audience with rich settings from various parts of the world.
For a playwright who wants to engage the audience with rich settings from all over the world, a type of play that would be a better fit is a "episodic play" or a "journey play."
In an episodic play, the story is told through a series of episodes or scenes, each representing a different location or event. This structure allows the playwright to transport the audience to various settings, providing them with a sense of the boy's journey from England to Australia.
Additionally, a journey play is specifically designed to showcase the protagonist's physical and emotional journey through different locations or stages. It focuses on the challenges, growth, and transformation that occur as a result of the travels. By using this format, the playwright can effectively engage the audience with the boy's experiences in each location and create a sense of adventure and discovery.
Therefore, an episodic play or a journey play would be a better fit for the playwright's drama because they allow for the exploration of rich settings and the audience's immersion in the boy's travel experience.
To determine which type of play would be a better fit for the playwright's drama, we can consider the different formats and characteristics of plays. Two possible options that may suit the playwright's goals are a "site-specific play" or a "verbatim play."
1. Site-specific play: This type of play is performed in a specific location that is relevant to the story. In this case, the playwright could stage the play on an actual ship or in a theater designed to resemble a ship. Throughout the performance, the audience could be moved to different areas of the ship to experience various settings, creating a sense of immersion and engagement.
To find out more about site-specific plays, the playwright can:
- Research examples of successful site-specific plays, such as "Sleep No More" by Punchdrunk, which is set in a hotel. Understanding how these plays effectively use specific settings to engage audiences would provide valuable insights.
- Connect with theater companies that specialize in site-specific productions and seek their advice or collaboration. These companies could share their expertise and help guide the playwright in creating an engaging play.
2. Verbatim play: This type of play is based on real-life stories derived from interviews, testimonies, or recordings. The playwright could conduct interviews with people who have made a similar journey from England to Australia or gather accounts of others who have traveled by ship. These stories could then be adapted into a script that incorporates various settings and experiences encountered during the voyage.
To explore the concept of verbatim plays further, the playwright can:
- Study existing verbatim plays, such as "The Laramie Project" by Moisés Kaufman, which is based on interviews following a hate crime. Examining how other playwrights have successfully transformed real-life accounts into compelling theatrical experiences can provide valuable insights.
- Conduct interviews with individuals who have made similar journeys or research existing interviews and firsthand accounts. This will help the playwright gather firsthand information, emotions, and details to create a more authentic and engaging play.
By considering these two options and conducting research, the playwright can determine which type of play would be a better fit for their drama, allowing them to engage the audience with rich settings and experiences from around the world.