Judging A PlayWriting Informed, Useful Evaluations of Dramatic Works

Evaluating a Play

There are many elements to consider when evaluating a play.

Does it belong to a particular type of drama?

Also, remember that theaters impose some conventions.◦Classic Greek Theater uses a CHORUS◦Many Shakespearian plays use SOLILIQUOY◦Some plays are MUSICALS.

Aspects for Critique

How well does the play fulfill its own conventions?◦ If the play is a tragedy that wants you to feel for the

protagonist, has it done that?Are the main characters fully rounded and

believable?◦Do their actions follow from their personalities? Does

the play rely on some deus ex machina device?What is the theme?

◦ Is it universal? How easy is it to apply to the real world outside of the play?

Aspects for Critique

What are your own reactions?◦It is impossible to truthfully judge a work

without involving our own reaction to it.Be careful to distinguish a production from

the play itself.◦It is important to distinguish between direction,

acting, setting, etc that are elements of production and the script itself.

Checklist for Evaluation

What type of play is it?What are the conventions of this type of play?How well does the play fulfill those conventions?Are the main characters fully realized?Do their actions follow from their personalities,

or do the actions seem imposed on them?Do any symbols stand out? What are their

meanings?What emotion does the play evoke?What is the play’s theme? Is it universal?

Trifles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGPa2-TcByE