The following are the elements of one-act play

The elements of one-act play.

1. DRAMA TYPES One- Act Plays

2. One- Act Plays Is similar to a short story in its limitations. There is a complete drama within one act. It is brief, condensed, and single in effect. One situation or episode is presented, permitting no minor plots or side actions that may distract attention for the single purpose and effect being developed. Characters are few in number, quickly introduced, and very limited in character development. Dialogue and Plot must carry the action forward smoothly and quickly.

3. DEFINITION A one-act play is a play that has only one act , as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. In recent years the 10-minute play known as " flash drama " has emerged as a popular sub- genre of the one-act play, especially in writing competitions. The origin of the one-act play may be traced to the very beginning of drama : in ancient Greece, Cyclops , a satyr play by Euripides, is an early example.

4. Elements of One- Act Play Setting Character/ Characterization Plot/ Plot Structure Conflict Theme Suspense and atmosphere

5. Setting - Geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place? - When is the story taking place? (Historical period, time of day, year, etc.) - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.? -What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)? - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

6. Characters Character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or a piece of literary work. main characters those who are most important in the story minor characters usually static or unchanging

7. Characterization Characterization is the method used by the writer/author to reveal the personality of the character/s. The characters are revealed according to: 1. actions of the character 2. thoughts of the character 3. descriptions of the character 4. descriptions of other characters 5. descriptions of the author

8. Plot Different in one- act play from a full length play In a one- act play, there is only time for one significant event Determining place for hero, where all can be won or lost Events leading to this, can be included without being shown to audience The events that follow must be inferred or understood by the audience

9. Plot Structure Five Stages a) Introduction - The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed. b) Rising Action - This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax).

10. c) Climax - This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not? d) Falling action - The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between climax and denouement). e) Denouement - This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.

11. Conflict Conflict is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move. Two Major Types 1. External - A struggle with a force outside one's self. 2. Internal - A struggle within one's self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.

12. External a. man vs. man - a type of conflict where one character in the story has a problem with one or more of the other characters b. man vs. society - a type of conflict where a character has a conflict or problem with some element of society-the school, the law, the accepted way of doing things, and so on

13. External c. man vs. nature - a type of conflict where a character has a problem with some natural happening: snowstorm, typhoon, avalanche, bitter cold, or any elements common to nature

14. Internal man vs. self -is a type of conflict where a character has trouble deciding what to do in a particular situation

15. Theme The theme is the controlling idea or the central insight. It is the author's underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey. The theme may be the author's thoughts about a topic or view of human nature.

16. Theme Theme necessary Ask yourself: What is the play about? Revenge? Self- discovery? Mind needs to be clear about the theme Characters, plots, and sub- plots need to point to and support the theme Sub- plots might be missing in one- act plays

17. Suspense Suspense in situations which rouse our concern for the welfare of the characters can be created in many ways in a play. It can be accomplished through a series of crises and a major crisis or climax, foreshadowing, surprise or use of the unexpected, withholding information, disguise, and the intervention of chance or fate.

18. Atmosphere The atmosphere and mood of the drama is created by the set, the lighting, the furnishings, the music or sound effects, the opening dialogue, the facial expressions and gestures of the actors, and the growing tension of the plot.

19. Activity Q. Write a short one- act play which involves two characters following the guideline given below. First students imagine the situation they want to write about and write it down on a blank sheet of paper Then they brainstorm the situation to come up with ideas involving:

20. the details of the characters, including their relationship and the nature of the problem being explored (two friends, son and father, daughter and father, husband and wife …), the topic they are talking about the problem that arises in their conversation the time and background of the conversation, i. e. the setting how the play starts and how it ends

21. Students may then: Work by themselves or with a partner Do the drafting at home Do editing in the classroom with the help of classmates or teacher Read out the play to the class

22. Topic suggestions an older woman, hoping that a film of her life story would both make her rich and free her from her dangerous past Pamela, a divorced career girl from the suburbs, rides the commuter train back and forth to her glamour job in London. However, Pamela's latest romantic coupling threatens to veer off the track Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold, and Grace has been cooking up hers ever since her husband dumped her for Paulette, a younger lighter Second Mrs. Marwick. Aspiring Playwright calls on Dionysus and Euripides for help in winning a drama contest. Group of unemployed people in support group try to keep their spirits up while their desperation level rises. Drama