LABWORK: DAY 2 (and some helpful hints)

We will continue to work on our plays in the lab, but first let's go over some advice/reminders.

1. Here's a phrase I put on several of your scripts: Too cinematic. Cinematic means that the way in which you're presenting your play is more appropriate for film (the use of a camera). So, when your scenes are too cinematic, it means your play is taking on a form that is not well-suited for the stage.

examples of too cinematic: constantly switching scenes, explosions, the use of  vehicles, sets that are far too complex (a shopping mall where characters keep going into an out of stores, a street on which characters walk down for the duration of the play...how big of a stage are you working with here?)


2. In light of those comments, KEEP YOUR SETS SIMPLE. Believe it or not, this will spark creativity, rather than snuff it out. Keep in mind, 10-minute plays are usually performed in black box theaters, much like the space that we had created for our production of Our Town in Rm. 120. I'm not saying abandon props and set design. Just keep it simple.

3. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are VITAL, ESSENTIAL, CRITICAL, IMPORTANT. Choose any one of those words, they all suggest the same thing!

A note on grammar: Keep your stage directions in present tense (so, not "she was", but "she is") You may have fragments, however, because people don't always speak in complete sentences: "You hungry?"

A note on spelling: Enough with the "Hellooooooooooooooooo's" and the "u's" instead of writing out the word, "you." Those are distracting to the actor who is trying to learn the part. You may spell words incorrectly, but only to convey accents or dialects. Remember "Saturday," looking like "Satiddy" in Our Town?  Or "liquor" looking like "likker?" Those misspellings were to help the actor with the accent. Is it necessary to do that? No, but you certainly are allowed to.

A note on punctuation: Don't be afraid of the period, ladies and gentlemen. Many of your scripts lacked them. Lack of (and excessive use of) punctuation is also very distracting to actors. Many of you will insert the comma between two independent clauses (two complete thoughts) because you want the lines to flow, but that is actually called a comma splice. Take this sentence, for example: "She went to the store, she likes it there." This is actually a run-on. It should read like this: She went to the store. She likes it there. Each sentence is a main or independent clause, meaning, each phrase completes a thought, requiring a period between the two, NOT a comma.

Also, the use of hybrid punctuation is confusing, and therefore should be avoided: You're here?!?!?!

And please, for the love of God, one punctuation mark will do when concluding a sentence (of course, the exception being the ellipsis to signify trailing off: Excuse me, can you me find the. . .

HW: Please read Play Rubric and fill out the slip. Continue to work on plays at home.