Oh the drama!
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

"Isn't it interesting that the words 'listen' and 'silent' contain the same letters?"

Our next stop on our literary journey is at the drama shop, so here we go. Plays, with the exception of closet drama, are written to be staged. You already know that as students of literature you have to study the written word. Do not, however, lose sight of the fact that plays are designed or crafted to be acted out. Each character must be brought to life by a living, breathing actor who walks, talks in an identifiable tone, who gestures, smiles, sneers, laughs, dances, sings, kisses, swears and so on as the script demands. The actors must bring to life the characters and their ideas, hopes, fears, failures, successes, weaknesses and achievements as conceived by the playwright. It is only when drama is staged, whether in a live performance in a theatre or on film, that we get the full measure that the writer intends us to have.

So, as you learn your text, imagine it on stage. I believe that your teachers will have you acting out scenes from the play or plays you are preparing for examination. You will also, no doubt, watch the film or video of it or them, if it or they are available. (Please get to know the work by reading from the text - not from watching the film or video, as it may not be true to the original text.)

Let us pause to consider the popularity of drama, for you cannot help agreeing with me that there have to be good reasons why, after centuries, people still flock to theatres and cinemas. Think of the popularity of our local dramatic productions. It has been said that writers write because they want to spread their ideas, but we know that that alone cannot account for the achievements of writers such as Shakespeare, Derek Walcott, Trevor Rhone and Tennessee Williams. Yes, writers do share their beliefs, but they entertain too, don't they? Also, the methods they use are often fascinating.

Remember now that a play, which is written in acts and sccenes, is meant to be acted. It must be brought to life not just through the imagination of a reader but through the verbal delivery and actions of actors and actresses on a stage. It must be performed in front of an audience. The actors take on the parts or roles of characters and tell the story through their actions, interactions and speech/talking/dialogue. Drama or plays are written in prose, for the most part, but poetry is sometimes used. If you are studying a Shakespeare play, and I hope you are doing so or will do so, then you will know what I mean.

Works of drama (when staged) do not have narrators to tell the audience what is going to happen, what a character is thinking or feeling or what occurred before the play started. Dramatists no longer use the chorus to comment on the action of the play. The playwright has to find other methods to do this. One way is to have a character speak of his private feelings, ideas and plans while he is alone on the stage. Another is to have characters discuss one who is absent from the scene at that point or talk about matters so that information is shared and the audience's knowledge increases. The more conversation there is, the more the play progresses. The aside is also used to give the audience information.

Here are a few words closely related to drama with which you should be familiar:

Dialogue

The words which the characters say to each other.

Soliloquy

A long speech made by a character while he/she is alone on the stage in which he/she reveals his/her private thoughts.

Asides

Words said by actors to the audience. These words are only heard (supposedly) by the audience. The others on the stage at that time have to pretend that they do not hear.

Stage directions

Information given by the playwright about the time of day or night, pieces of furniture and how they are placed on stage, lighting, music, the way the performers dress, how they move, how they speak - softly, harshly, haltingly, etc; - sounds that intrude, type of weather and so on.

Dramatic irony

Occurs when the audience knows more about a situation than some of the characters in the play. It is usually created by a soliloquy in which a character tells of his plans and outlook on a given matter. This character may then say or do something in front of the other characters which has a significance that only the audience fully understands.

Protagonist

The character who plays the major or central role and who is usually good.

Antagonist

The character who is opposed to the protagonist and who is usually evil.

You cannot achieve your goal by just talking about it. You must work towards it, even if you can only take one step at a time.

God bless!

Beryl Clarke is an independent contributor. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com