Assignment for Essay on Drama

Imagine that you have been given the opportunity to direct a stage or film version of Tartuffe or Hedda Gabler. Choose one character from the play of your choice, and write an essay of about three to five pages (double-spaced) describing the main thing you would want your audience to understand about that character.

Your first paragraph should briefly describe your production, what would make it unique. Lead up to a thesis explaining how the specific character you have chosen would fit into your overall view of the play.

In the body of the essay, first defend your decision about what to emphasize by quoting and paraphrasing from appropriate parts of the play (with proper MLA documentation).

Then, describe how you would make the audience see what you want them to see. You may wish to consider the following (but you need not discuss them all):

a) Deleted or added lines

b) Vocal interpretation of lines (fast or slow, loud or soft, etc.

c) Actions performed while lines are spoken

d) Costumes and scenery

e) Sounds (e.g. music, background noises)

f) Lighting and special effects (these will differ depending on whether your production is on stage or film)

g) For film: camera angles, length of shots, editing, etc.

It is not necessary to go through the entire play with your character; just choose a few moments that will exemplify the effect you wish to create.

Please avoid looking at secondary sources for this assignment. If you wish to refer to another director's production of the play--including any that we partially view in class--you may do so, using proper MLA documentation. (Refer to the Purdue OWL web site for correct format.) But don't assume someone else's way is the right way; be original.