KOLEC Lesson 16: How To Read a Play

KOLEC Lesson 16: How To Read a Play



SECTION ONE 

INTRODUCTION  

To read a play, you are required to have a theatrical imagination that will help you to visualize the dramatic actions on the stage. The process of reading the play is the same as that of reading a novel although there are slight differences and special elements in the play.  

HOW TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE PLAY 

The following are the aspects that can help you read and understand the play well: 

(1) Imagine the physical environment (setting) of the play

Ask yourself the following questions:  

-When is the playset? 

-Where is the playset? 

-What are the main markers in that location (for example, a door, a dining room, a hoe, a hut) 

(2) Imagine the scenic environment 

Ask yourself the following questions:  

-What are the specific physical layouts of the particular scenes? 

-Which characters are present in the particular scenes? 

-How do the characters move? 

(3) Imagine each character's appearance 

Ask yourself these questions: 

-What do they look like? 

-What do they wear? 

-How do they move? 

(4) Understand the language of the play 

Consider the following aspects of language:  

-The spoken text (that is, dialogue, literally what the characters say to each other) 

-The action text (that is, the physical language of the play; the gestures and movements and movements and shape of our understanding of the play) 

-The subtext (that is, the unspoken thoughts, feelings, and intentions of the characters) 

(5) Imagine the production elements of the play 

Consider these aspects:  

-Lighting of the play 

-Costume the play 

-Design the play 

-Stage the play 

CONCLUSION 

The plays should be read as if the reader were right there at the theatre. You should look for the places where a role, a scene, or a verbal exchange may be performed in different ways and make choices as to how such components might be interested in the theatre of your mind. 

LE TEST 12: HOW TO READ A PLAY 

(1) How can you read a play? Describe necessary things to consider when reading a play. (5 points)  

(2) Read two pages of any play and Identify 2 or more elements of a play.  

*** 

This course is prepared and offered by: 

"KACHELE ONLINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH COURSE" (KOLEC) 

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Emmanuel Kachele

Emmanuel Kachele is a founder and Blogger of KACHELE ONLINE Blog, an educational blog where 'O' Level English - 'OLE', 'A' Level English (ALE) and other related teaching and life skills are shared extensively. This is an online center for all Tanzanian Secondary School English Language students and teachers (Forms I-VI) and all interested English Language learners and teachers worldwide.

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