Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers, 5th Edition

Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers, 5th Edition

by James Thomas
Released October 2013
Publisher(s): Focal Press
ISBN: 9781136021527

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Book description

Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers teaches the skills of script analysis using a formalist approach that examines the written part of a play to gauge how the play should be performed and designed. Treatments of both classic and unconventional plays are combined with clear examples, end-of-chapter questions, and stimulating summaries that will allow actors, directors and designers to immediately incorporate the concepts and processes into their theatre production work.

Now thoroughly revised, the fifth edition contains a new section on postmodernism and postdramatic methods of script analysis, along with additional material for designers.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Table of Contents
  6. Preface
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Introduction
  9. CHAPTER 1 Action Analysis
    1. Thinking Eventfully
    2. Action Analysis and Nonrealistic Plays
    3. Summary
    4. Questions
  10. CHAPTER 2 Given Circumstances
    1. Time
    2. Place
    3. Society
    4. Economics
    5. Politics and Law
    6. Learning and the Arts
    7. Spirituality
    8. The World of the Play
    9. Given Circumstances in Nonrealistic Plays
    10. Summary
    11. Questions
  11. CHAPTER 3 Background Story
    1. Technique
    2. Identification
    3. Background Story in Nonrealistic Plays
    4. Summary
    5. Questions
  12. CHAPTER 4 External and Internal Action
    1. External Action
    2. External and Internal Action in Nonrealistic Plays
    3. Summary
    4. Questions
  13. CHAPTER 5 Progressions and Structure
    1. Progressions
    2. Structure
    3. Progressions and Structure in Nonrealistic Plays
    4. Summary
    5. Questions
  14. CHAPTER 6 Character
    1. Objectives
    2. Actions
    3. Adaptations—An Aside
    4. Conflict
    5. Will Power
    6. Values
    7. Personality Traits
    8. Complexity
    9. Relationships
    10. Character in Nonrealistic Plays
    11. The Score of a Role
    12. Summary
    13. Questions
  15. CHAPTER 7 Idea
    1. Idea in the Words
    2. Idea in the Characters
    3. Idea in the Plot
    4. The Main Idea
    5. Idea in Nonrealistic Plays
    6. Summary
    7. Questions
    8. Postscript on Action Analysis
  16. CHAPTER 8 Dialogue
    1. Words
    2. Sentences
    3. Speeches
    4. Literary Qualities
    5. Theatricality
    6. Dialogue in Nonrealistic Plays
    7. Summary
    8. Questions
  17. CHAPTER 9 Tempo, Rhythm, and Mood
    1. Tempo
    2. Rhythm
    3. Mood and Atmosphere
    4. Tempo, Rhythm, and Mood in Nonrealistic Plays
    5. Closing Notes on Nonrealistic Plays
    6. Summary
    7. Questions
  18. CHAPTER 10 The Style of the Play
    1. Given Circumstances
    2. Background Story
    3. Plot
    4. Character
    5. Idea
    6. Dialogue
    7. Atmosphere
    8. Summary
    9. Questions
  19. CHAPTER 11 Postmodern Drama: A Case Study
    1. About Heiner Müller and Hamletmachine
    2. Action Analysis of Hamletmachine
    3. Formal Elements of Hamletmachine
    4. The Postmodern Viewpoint in Hamletmachine
    5. In Search of the Postmodern Viewpoint
    6. Summary
  20. A Final Word
  21. Appendix A: Further Questions for Script Analysis
  22. Appendix B: Effective Analysis of the Mise-en-Scène
  23. Bibliography
  24. Index

Product information

  • Title: Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers, 5th Edition
  • Author(s): James Thomas
  • Release date: October 2013
  • Publisher(s): Focal Press
  • ISBN: 9781136021527