"Ruined" play questions

PART ONE: & SCRIPT ANALYSIS

The

“W’s”

and

One

“H”

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GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES

 The FACTS given by the

playwright or screenwriter

 A large amount of information

is usually given in the first

few scenes  GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES

 What information should we know

from the past in order to understand

the dramatic action

 INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED

TO UNDERSTAND THE PLAY

 Can be visual or in the

dialogue of the characters. photos from various

productions of Lisa

Loomer’s

The Waiting Room

“A. “Atmosphere and Environment”

 Where is the play set? City? Country?

 NOTE: It is important to be thorough in building the surroundings of the play.

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GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES:

In a city, home, rural,

castle, etc.

Geographic Location?

Public or Private?

Inside or Outside?

What is the weather?

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1. SPECIFIC LOCATION

“How we

relate to E nv i r onm ent”

6

2. THE

FIVE

 What does it LOOK like? What structures are in this place?

 What SOUNDS are associated with the place?

 What SMELLS are associated with the place?

 What TASTES are associated with this environment?

 What TEXTURES are present in this environment?

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 Breakdown the acts and scenes and describe the location and specifics of each setting.

 i.e. –

Act I Scene 1 – The bar

 Looks

 Sounds

 Smells

 Tastes

 Textures

Act I Scene ? – The bedroom

Act? Scene(s)? – Outside bar

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I F SCENES O CCUR

IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

“B. WHEN”

 Specific year (time-period)

 Season

 Time of day

 How much time passes

between scenes?

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GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES:

SCENE SPECIFICS

 Breakdown each act and each scene

 List the time for each scene. Include the following if available :  Specific year (time-period)

 Season

 Time of day

 How much time passes

between scenes?`

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WHO?

 What social or class dynamics exist for the characters in this play?

 How do those factors shape the action of the play and the choices the characters make given this information.

 What type of pressure will this cause on the plot development?

GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES:

PREVIOUS ACTION

 What happened before the

play that we need to k now to understand the play? For example, in Romeo and Juliet we know the families do not get along, this is prior to the beginning of the play.

 How important is this information to the plot?

 You must read the play thoroughly to be able to develop a clear since of how this information will shape the play.

 Are their different cultural backgrounds involved in this play’

 How will the characters be impacted by this cultural similarities or differences.

 How important are these elements in relationship to the theme of the play.

 Spirituality and Religion are they a relevant part of this play?

 What types of challenges face the characters due to the presence of the factor?

 How important is it to the overall movement of the play?

GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCE