++ GGM HOME ++ RESEARCH ++ MASKS ++ PLAY ++ EVALUATION ++
GREEKS GO MODERN - THE PLAY
Welcome, Thespians!
Your drama group will be competing in the City of Jordan’s Festival
of Dionysus! You have the opportunity to win honor and glory for your
group! In order to do this, you will write your own five-minute version
of a Greek tragedy or comedy. You will use many of the same components
and conventions of the original Greek playwrights, with updated plots
and characters.
You will be given time in class to write your scene. You will also have
to design and put together costumes, masks, and music. The successful
Thespian Troupe will pull together, divide the labor, work diligently,
and use all of the talented resources in your small groups. Remember,
no one can do everything, but everyone can do something, and when you
work together you are much more capable than people working alone.
Writing a lengthy drama takes a long time, which we don’t have.
Therefore, you will be given basic guidelines, brief plot synopses, and
a clear format to follow in order to create a modern version of a Greek
play that would do the ancient playwrights proud.
Remember what makes Drama good!
Keep in mind that all competent and respected playwrights and dramatists,
ancient and modern, have formulas they utilize. They all have:
∑ universal and recognized themes (love, hate, war, revenge, ambition,
greed, etc.),
∑ plots
∑ identifiable characters
∑ conflict.
∑ an attempt to touch the human emotions of their audience and finally,
remember that
∑ characters change during a play for better or worse; no one stays
the same.
No one expects a masterpiece — just a respectable, brief play about
modern issues with Greek elements.
You will have only about one week to brainstorm, write, and rehearse your play, and between five to seven minutes to perform it. Therefore, it is essential that your play remain simple and understandable. So follow the guidelines below and include as many elements as you can without confusing the audience or blurring the message of your play.
Your play should include:
1. A beginning, middle, and end
2. A poetry format (non-rhyming)
3. A simple story with a serious theme (if it’s a tragedy) or a humorous theme based on a serious issue (if it’s a comedy.) The latter we call satire
4. Some divine intervention (gods and/or goddesses) to reverse fate or fortune in the end
5. Two or three main actors
6. An exaggeration of all lines and emotions (be melodramatic!)
7. Performers with costumes and masks who speak loudly and formally
8. Some musical accompaniment, with flute/recorder, drums or other percussive instruments, as background or after fateful words.
9. A chorus of three to five that chants, dances, predicts, laughs, and narrates between scenes and/or dialogue.
Keep in mind that the functions of the chorus are to:
∑ Relieve tension
∑ Act as narrators to set the scene, summarize, and interpret at the end
∑ Give the background of preceding events (usually as the drama opens)
∑ Create a mood, interpret events, and predict actions
∑ Display the beauty and grace of dancing
∑ Converse with the characters and give advice
Suggestions
∑ Remember to include two, possibly three actors. They will play
all the roles except the chorus.
∑ Figure out how many characters you’ll have and include them
in your preparations for costume changes as well as writing them into
your script.
∑ Males may have to play female roles (as actually occurred in ancient
Greece) and vice versa.
∑ There should be three to four chorus members who sing, chant,
dance and/or speak in unison.
∑ Cleverly made but simple masks, coats and jackets, and hats can
be valuable props in changing characters rapidly.
∑ Keep your play simple. Don’t try to tell the whole story
in dramatic dialogue. Let the chorus set up the few simple scenes you’ll
act out.
A successful play will use the suggested formula that follows. You may change your story somewhat to fit the formula as you like.
Scene 1
∑ The chorus enters and explains the necessary background to your opening scene.
∑ Characters one and two enter, dialogue, and the action starts. Perhaps the conflict or some crucial twist occurs.
Scene 2
∑ Different characters enter; the plot proceeds with disasters, accidents, deception, intervention by the gods, etc.
∑ A choral interlude.
Scene 3
∑ Action between the characters reaches some climax, justice, or finale.
∑ The chorus explains the moral, lessons, and universal truths.
Be sure to check out these important links!
A Sample Script ++ Scenarios to Choose From ++ About the Chorus