THE ONE-ACT PLAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19578, 26 August 1933, Page 12

THE ONE-ACT PLAY

EVOLVING THE STORY (Contributed). The story in the one-act play is akin to the modern short story, with its series of minor crises leading on to one big crisis, and followed by a swift climax. The development is different, however, for the author must ever keep his mental eyes fixed upon an imaginary stage and see his characters speaking and acting The story that can be easily adapted, is one in which the action passes in one place, and in a certain space of time; for the central figures cannot walk off and be shown again at some other place miles away. Preferably, a one-act play should be of one scene and without a break in time. The curtain falling to denote the passing of time breaks the continuity and spoils the atmosphere. There is no need for a comedy—a play with a happy ending—to have too legitimate a story for it depends largely upon the humour created in the situations, and every opportunity must be taken to get the most out of the situations. One must also watch the developing incident in a play—small minor plots forming parts of the whole bigger plot. The writer should not attempt a tragedy, and then half way through let it become a farce. He should know the end from the beginning, and visualise the whole scene, getting to know his characters as he would his best friends; knowing their mannerisms as well as their methods of speech. He should remember that the audience will make themselvts part of the play, they will feel with the character when he undergoes jor or sorrow they will laugh when he does something funny or smile at a witty line. The writer must always keep in mind the period in which the story is placed, for five hundred years ago people used a different style of English, and the action moves more leisurely. The natural action should be blended with dialogue, always building up for the big dramatic moment, after which the climax comes before the curtain falls. The story should be carefully revised and trimmed, for if the author leaves loose ends sticking out, then the play will also have a frayed appearance when it is presented on the stage. The play I then should tell a story, and make an artistic and ever changing picture in I its setting.