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).

Finally, in twentieth century, some authors, such as Jean Anouilh Jean Giraudoux with Antigone or with Electra, show ancient myths. One sees the political theater, in which the authors put their philosophical ideas, as Albert Camus Caligula. Some writers like Ionesco react strongly to this absurd political theater by parts, in which the author depict scenes without apparent meaning to viewer think differently.

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.

In general, the derived words have retained the original meaning, tied to a theatrical writing: drama, drama. For the adjective dramatic there are different practice to use more tied to roots for those who work in this discipline on the concept of drama in its sense of tragedy in usual sense. For example, the theater is designated as a skilled dramatic actor in general one who has mastered the art of drama, and it is usual to define a dramatic actor of film or television only in relation to content or tragic conflict of his acting.

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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