A Method of Script Analysis prior to production
Before producing a play, those who produce it should know and
understand how it works.
In order to deal with the dramatic action, divide the play into French
Scenes.
Divide each French Scene into Beats.
Write a short paragraph describing in your own words the backstory of the play.
Make a diagram of the floor plan of the set or sets so that you may consider the
context of each act or scene and its importance to the content of the work.
Describe the language used by the characters.
What is the general mood of the play and each of the French scenes?
What is the social status of the characters?
What is the relationship between the characters?
What are the family relationships in the play and how do they influence the
dramatic action?
Is the play realistic or non-realistic? What is the style of the play?
Is the play presentational or representational?
What time period is the play set?
What period was the play written?
Examine the sequence of the dramatic actions: What happens that causes what else
to happen?
Examine the actions from back to front as well as front to back in order to determine
what was the immediate cause of each action.
What is the play’s stasis? State it in terms of when, where, who, and what.
What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis and causes the dramatic action to
proceed until it reaches a conclusion at the end of the work?
What is the unique factor that causes the action to occur at this point in time.
What is the major dramatic question that is answered by the end of the play?
Are there other dramatic questions that are asked in the play and how are they
answered?
Examine each character in terms of her/his race, ethnicity, religion, special
characteristics (disabilities).
Who or what is that character’s major opposing force(s)?
What is the driving force in the play?
Examine the wants of the chief character and determine what obstacles keep them
from being obtained. State them in terms of:
Me vs. myself
Me vs. someone else
Me vs. society
Me vs. the universe, nature, the gods or god
What is the climax or high point of the dramatic action? Why do you think that is the
major climax of the work?
Identify any additional high points or climaxes in the work.
Identify some of the theatrical moments in the work.
Which is the most important theatrical moment?
What is the denouement and new stasis that arises by the end of the play?
Make a list of the themes of the work.
Which do you consider is the most important theme and why?
Collect biographical and/or autobiographical material on the author.
Examine past productions of the work.
Examine literary criticism of the work.
What were the theatrical practices at the time the work was written and first
produced that may have influenced the writing of the work?
How many times have you read the play?