Needs to be two to three pages long

The World of the Play

In this paper, the actor/director/designer strives to look at the text from many different angles, exploring the given circumstances and the action of the play, to uncover its meaning. The actor/director/designer is searching for the main idea of the play and how that idea plays out in the text. You know you have found a good idea when it is supported by every part of the text (the dramatic structure, the action, the language, the characters, and the given circumstances). The World of the Play analysis is a good way for the actor/director/designer to make sure that he/she understands how all the parts fit together. Ultimately, the World of the Play analysis is about taking the play apart to see how it works and then putting it back together again. By disciplining yourself to articulate your thoughts in clear and cogent paragraphs, you will prepare yourself for the multitude of decisions that you need to make in rehearsals.

This outline is a guide to show you the kinds of things you should be thinking about as you write the World of the Play analysis. The best way to start is to make lots of notes for yourself on each of these elements. Try to form precise and accurate answers to the questions implied by this outline. When your thoughts begin to take on a shape that feels complete, then it is time to write.

World of the Play Outline

1. Meaning/Significance

   1. Discuss the meaning of the play. What was the playwright trying to communicate that is of significance to you and to your audience? What is it about this play that makes you passionate? Why is this play worth doing? What idea, thought, feeling, or question do you hope the audience will have when they leave?

1. Action

   1. What actually happens in the play? What problem is the main character trying to solve? What gets in the way of the problem being solved? What action drives the play? What are the shifts in action that will most affect the audience as they experience the play?

1. Given Circumstances

   1. What is the environment of the play? What external factors affect the way that the characters act?

      1. Geographical: location, climate, etc.

      2. Time: year, season, day, time, etc.

      3. Economic: class, status, etc.

      4. Political: role of government, external ruling structures, etc.

      5. Social: restrictions, expectations, etc.

      6. Religious structures, restrictions, expectations, etc.

      7. Previous action: What do we need to know about what happened before the play began?

1. Language

   1. Choice of words: simple, complex, intellectual, emotional, poetic, mundane etc.

   2. Imagery: in language, physical objects, action, etc.

   3. Particular characteristics: dialect, rhythm, idiom, etc.

   4. Significant unspoken dialogue

1. Characters

   1. Physical traits: appearance, age, health, physicality, etc.

   2. Dispositional traits: social and family relationships, attitudes, abilities, etc.

   3. Emotional traits: feelings, emotions, reactions, etc.

   4. Intellectual traits: intelligence, education, choices, etc.

   5. Traits of action: decisions, objectives, obstacles, changes of mind, etc.

1. Thought and Idea

   1. Title and its implications

   2. Philosophical statements

   3. Implications of the action

End your analysis with a summary of the World of the Play. Describe the way all the parts work together to create a unified statement and what you intend to say in your production.