Wednesday, December 10, 2008

One Minute Play - exercise (draft 1 & 2)

After reading the plays by Christopher Durang, we went to the lab and wrote a "1-minute" play. Your play was 1-2 pages long and included a few characters, a description of the setting, place and time.

Today, we will read a series of one-act plays (monologues or soliloquys, mainly). The purpose of a monologue is to develop character. It is the fastest way for the audience to get to know (and therefore care) about a fictional character. Monologues provide characterization.

In lab, please go back to your one-minute play. Call this play draft #2. In this draft, give each of your characters a monologue. The monologue can be:
--A character talking about his/her own background
--A character talking about what important event happened to him/her
--A character talking about the other character
--A character talking about an important idea that explains why or what the character is interested in
--A character talking about a problem or conflict in his/her life
--A character talking about... (your choice)

Add details, additional dialogue or anything else that you feel the scene needs to make a statement or explore a personal belief that you hold. (see the chapter on Being a Playwright)

Recap: Write draft #2 of your 1-minute play. Give each character a monologue. Add details and lines (beats) to your script. When you are ready to turn the play in for a grade, print out your play.

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About this course!

This course stresses understanding the characteristics & techniques in the literary genres of fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. This course will continue to build on students’ reading and writing skills begun in previous creative writing classes. Readings and discussions of works by major writers in the field will be examined as inspiration and models of fine writing. This educational blog is designed for the use of the students at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY.