If you’ve ever read a novel, you already know how stories are told on the page: chapters, paragraphs, narration, dialogue. But what happens when stories are told through performance? That’s where plays and film scripts come in—and they do things a little differently.
Reading a play or screenplay for the first time can feel strange. Where’s the narrator? Why are there so many names in capital letters? And what’s up with all the stage directions? Don’t worry—we’re about to break it down together.
What Is a Play, Really?
Let’s start with plays. A play is a story meant to be performed on a stage by actors in front of a live audience. Instead of using long descriptions or inner thoughts like a novel, a play relies on dialogue and action. That means every word you read is either something a character says or a direction for how something should happen on stage.
The Core Ingredients of a Play:
- Characters: These are the people in the story. Each one has a unique voice, purpose, and relationships with others.
- Dialogue: This is the heart of the play. It’s how characters talk, argue, love, and lie. There’s no narrator explaining what’s happening, so we learn everything through what characters say and do.
- Stage Directions: These are short descriptions (usually in italics or parentheses) that tell actors what to do. They might say things like (She crosses the room) or (A door slams offstage).
- Acts and Scenes: Plays are typically divided into acts (like chapters) and scenes (smaller segments within acts). Each act might jump to a new location, time, or focus on a different moment in the story.
Types of Plays
Plays come in many flavors. Here are a few common ones:
- Tragedy: A serious play that usually ends in heartbreak or disaster. Think Romeo and Juliet or Death of a Salesman.
- Comedy: Light-hearted, often ending happily, and filled with misunderstandings, witty banter, and sometimes slapstick. Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a good example.
- Drama: These plays fall somewhere between comedy and tragedy, focusing on realistic characters and emotional themes. A Raisin in the Sun and Fences are classics in this category.
- Farce: An exaggerated comedy that’s all about silly situations, mistaken identity, and physical humor. Think Noises Off or The Play That Goes Wrong.
- Musicals: Plays where part of the storytelling happens through song and dance. The script for a musical includes lyrics and stage directions for choreography.
What’s a Script? (And How’s It Different?)
A script for a film or TV show is similar to a play in many ways—it’s also a story told through dialogue and action—but it’s written with the camera in mind.
Scripts are meant for film production, not the stage, so they include lots of directions for camera movement, scene transitions, and visual storytelling.
Key Features of a Film Script:
- Sluglines: These are headers that show the location and time of day. They usually look like:
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
That means the scene takes place inside a kitchen during the day. - Action Lines: These describe what’s happening visually. Unlike plays, film scripts often give more detailed instructions for what we’re supposed to see.
For example:
John opens the fridge. He stares at a carton of milk, suspicious. - Dialogue: Just like in plays, this is where the characters speak. It’s centered on the page with the character’s name above.
- Parentheticals: These give little cues about how a line should be delivered:
SARAH (sarcastic)Â orÂMARK (whispers)
Major Differences Between Plays and Scripts
| Feature | Plays | Film Scripts |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Limited by stage space | Can change frequently, any place |
| Audience | Live audience in real-time | Watched on screen, edited |
| Descriptions | Minimal; relies on performance | Detailed for filming needs |
| Time | Often continuous | Can jump between times/scenes |
| Technical Language | Light | Heavy with camera and editing info |
In short: plays focus more on performance, while scripts focus on visual storytelling.
Tips for Reading Plays and Scripts (Without Getting Lost)
- Read it aloud. Plays and scripts were written to be heard. Reading aloud helps bring the rhythm and emotion to life.
- Watch a performance if you can. If there’s a film or stage version available, watching it can help you see how the written page becomes live action.
- Pay attention to stage directions—but don’t get overwhelmed. You don’t need to memorize every motion. Just use them to imagine the scene.
- Notice patterns in dialogue. Who talks the most? Who interrupts? Who stays silent? These clues help you understand the characters.
- Think like a director or actor. What does this scene look like? What do the characters want? How do they try to get it?
Important Terms to Know
Here’s a little cheat sheet of common vocabulary you’ll see:
- Monologue: A long speech by one character (often alone on stage).
- Soliloquy: A type of monologue where a character speaks their thoughts out loud (usually not heard by others).
- Aside: A quick comment meant for the audience, not other characters.
- Blocking: Movement of actors on stage.
- Cue: A signal for an actor to speak or move, or for a sound/light to happen.
- Prop: An object used on stage (a book, a knife, a cup of coffee).
A Quick Look at Famous Plays and Scripts
- Plays:
- Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (Classic Greek tragedy)
- Hamlet by Shakespeare (Yes, the “To be or not to be” guy)
- The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
- A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
- Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks
- Screenplays:
- The Godfather (Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola)
- Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino)
- Get Out (Jordan Peele)
- Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)
- The Social Network (Aaron Sorkin)
You’ll notice that some scripts are incredibly visual, while others feel like conversations you’re eavesdropping on. Either way, it’s about characters, choices, and what happens when people collide.
Why Study Plays and Scripts in a Literature Class?
Good question. It’s not just about reading books—it’s about understanding storytelling in all its forms. Plays and scripts:
- Teach you how dialogue works.
- Help you “see” story without needing description.
- Reveal human emotion through performance.
- Encourage you to think about what’s shown vs. what’s said.
Plus, plays and scripts often tackle deep themes—family, power, love, injustice—with raw honesty.
Conclusion
Reading plays and scripts is like stepping backstage—you see the nuts and bolts of storytelling. You hear voices more clearly. You imagine how each word, pause, and motion comes together to create something bigger than the page.
So the next time you pick up A Raisin in the Sun or read the Get Out screenplay, don’t stress the format. Just ask: What are these people saying? What are they doing? And why does it matter?
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