Theatrical Conventions:
- Masks
- Cross-gender (costume/casting)
- Asides
- Soliloquy
- Stillness/silence/pauses
- Use of a narrator (seen in "memory plays" like The Glass Menagerie or Brighton Beach Memoirs
- Synecdoche (part represents the whole)
- Suggested scenery (consider the set in Driving Miss Daisy, for example)
- Costumes & props
- Multiple casting (one actor plays several roles)
- Lights or lighting changes
- Soundscapes/sound effects
- The fourth wall; Breaking the fourth wall (addressing the audience)
- Flash forward, flashback, slow motion, freeze
- Tableau
- Montage
- On-stage deaths; stage fights
- Physical theater; mime
- Unities of time, place, or action
- Transformation of time, character, place, or through props
- Songs
- Choruses
- Heightened language; unrealistic speaking patterns
- Placards, signs, and multimedia
Look for some of these conventions in the following short play: The Play That Goes Wrong.
Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz.
Paula Vogel on The Baltimore Waltz. For a full master class discussion on playwriting by Paula Vogel, check out the Dramatist Guild's video. (120 minutes...)
![Image result for the baltimore waltz](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
Plot forms:
Scenes from the play: The Baltimore Waltz
The film noir film: The Third Man (1960), The Ferris Wheel Scene from The Third Man (1960)
Paula Vogel on The Baltimore Waltz. For a full master class discussion on playwriting by Paula Vogel, check out the Dramatist Guild's video. (120 minutes...)
Plot forms:
- Linear: plot is told from a beginning point to an ending point. The most common type of narrative.
- Shakespearean/Epic form: episodic scenes that culminate in the traditional plot structure...
- Circle: beginnings become endings, that become beginnings that are endings...
- Pattern: a repeating pattern is formed to frame the narrative...
- Generic synthetic form: text is comprised of a variety of hypotexts (texts that come before) that function as models or a structure for the new text...(so Star Wars was a hypotext for Family Guy's Blue Harvest, for example; The Odyssey was a hypotext for James Joyce's Ulysses, etc.)
Paula's advice: Steal. Pay homage. Read as much as you can. Write away from the subject you most want to write about but can't.
Scenes from the play: The Baltimore Waltz
The film noir film: The Third Man (1960), The Ferris Wheel Scene from The Third Man (1960)
HOMEWORK: Complete The Baltimore Waltz if you did not finish it during class. Complete a play analysis sheet for The Baltimore Waltz. See the links above for details about the play and Paula Vogel.
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