Thalia, Muse of comedy

action Melpomene, Muse of tragedy

is a mode of fictional
representation through
dialogue and performance. It
is one of the literary genres,
which is an imitation of some
action. Drama is also a type of
a play written for theater,
television, radio, and film.
COMEDY
Comedies are lighter
in tone than ordinary
works, and provide a
happy conclusion
Comedies are usually
humorous plays.
Elements of a comedy
Lighthearted tone
Clever wordplay or turns of
phrase
Serious topics addressed in a
humorous way
Comical misunderstandings
Happy ending
Silly, offbeat characters
Often ends with a wedding,
especially in romantic comedies
Tragedy
Tragic dramas use
darker themes, such as
disaster, pain, and death
Protagonists often have
a tragic flaw — a
characteristic that leads them
to their downfall.
You can tell if a play is a tragedy if it
includes:
A protagonist with a tragic flaw
Circumstances that quickly get out of control –
and not in a funny way
Darker themes than a melodrama, such as
human suffering, hatred, or poverty
Features the downfall of a previously heroic or
well-liked character
An irredeemable ending that results in one or
more characters’ deaths
Reaches a tragic catharsis
Farce
is a nonsensical genre of
drama, which often
overacts or engages
slapstick humor.
Parts of a farcical
comedy:
Exaggerated humor
Slapstick gags
Nonsensical storyline
Improbable events
One or two settings
Humor is often crude and
inappropriate
Melodrama

is an exaggerated
drama, which is
sensational and appeals
directly to the senses of
the audience.
 Not sure if a drama is a melodrama? Check if
it includes the following:
Character tropes such as heroes, heroines,
villains, mentors, etc.
Sweeping stories of romance or serious topics
Larger-than-life plots and circumstances (or
very small stories told in big ways)
Exaggerated character reactions
Clear literary themes
Flawed characters who must overcome their
faults in order to reach their resolution
Ending that is sometimes happy, sometimes
unhappy
Musical Drama
dramatists not only tell their stories
through acting and dialogue, but
through dance as well as music
often the story may be comedic,
though it may also involve
serious subjects.
 Periods of standard
storyline interrupted by
songs
Characters often singing
in unison to express
feelings
Songs as plot-changing
devices
Dramatic or comedic
storylines
Catchy, distinctive
musical score
Use this checklist: Often lots of singing and
dancing
 The theme of a play refers to its
central idea.

Theme The theme is the philosophy that

forms the base of the story or a moral
lesson that the characters learn

The theme of a play could be blind

love or the strength of selfless love
and sacrifise, or true friendship.
Plot
The order of events occurring in a play.
The plot is the story that the play narrates.
What the characters do, how they interact, the course of
their lives as narrated by the story, and what happens to
them in the end, constitutes the plot.
A story begins with exposing the past or background of the
main and other characters, and the point of conflict, then
proceeds to giving the central theme or climax.
Characters
Actors in the play have the responsibility of bringing the
characters to life.
The way in which the characters are portrayed and
developed is known as characterization.
Dialog
The story of a play is taken forward by means of dialogs.
The story is narrated to the audiences through the interaction
between the play’s characters, which is in the form of dialogs.
Monologues and soliloquies that are speeches given to oneself or
to other characters help put forward points that would have been
difficult to express through dialogs.
Setting
The time and place where a story is set is one of its important parts.
The time setting may affect the central theme of the play, the issues raised
(if any), the conflict, and the interactions between the characters.
Costumes and makeup, the backgrounds and the furniture used, the visuals
(colors and kind of lighting), and the sound are among the important
elements of a play that dictate how the story is translated into a stage
performance.
Performance

The impact that a story has on the audiences is largely affected

by the performances of the actors.
The stage performances of a play’s characters, especially those
in lead roles, directly affect the success and popularity of a play.
Music
The background score, the songs, and the sound effects used
should complement the situation and the characters in it.
The right kind of sound effects or music, if placed at the right
points in the story, act as a great supplement to the high and
low points in the play.
 also known as the spectacle, renders a visual appeal to
Visual the stage setup.
The special effects used in a play should accentuate the
Element portion or character of the story that is being
highlighted.