Melodrama
Melodrama became popular in eighteenth and nineteenth century England. These plays appealed to the
common masses.
FEATURES OF MELODRAMA:
 Dealt with ordinary people and their lives
 Acting style was overacting and exaggeration
 Some humour/ slapstick comedy
 Characters were either all good(innocent victims) or
evil (villains)
 Storylines and endings were often unbelievable with
too-goodto- be-true endings.
 Either ending in tears or laughter
 Good always triumphs
all
Melodrama Plots included the following:
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moral tone with good triumphing over evil
full of suspense.
lots of tension
climax at the end of each scene
evil characters punished
good characters rewarded
Devices / Conventions include:
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use of the aside : not a direct address to the audience, However the audience gains knowledge
other characters were unaware of. ( still in character)
abductions
disguise
codified gestures (specific gestures for certain reactions, recognised by the audience)
audience interaction
mistaken identity
dramatic tableau (brief freezes for dramatic effect to increase emotion)
Characters
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HERO: male, brave, moral, handsome, reliable (status = middle class +)
HEROINE: female, innocent, beautiful, vulnerable (status = middle class +)
VILLAIN: male, immoral, evil, greedy, dishonest, sly, corrupt (status = middle
class +)
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VILLAIN’S ACCOMPLICE: male, useless, cowardly helper, sidekick, comic relief
(status = lower class)
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FAITHFUL SERVANT: hero’s loyal servant, does dirty work, sometimes
provides comic relief though not very funny (status = lower class)
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MAIDSERVANT: female, heroine’s loyal servant, (status = lower class)
Acting style includes:
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the use of strong facial expressions, large movements
and gestures,
a clear and well-projected delivery of lines
Actors concentrated on ‘showing’ emotions more than
feeling them.
heightened body language to show particular emotions
Your Task is to create a Melodramatic Plays based on the information above and it must contain the
follow:
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In groups of 4 or 5.
Five scene only & no more than three locations.
Structured plot, clear Beginning Middle and End
Good must triumph over evil.
No one is to die.
Clear Melodrama characters.
Use of melodrama acting style
At least two melodrama conventions.