Reading a drama
Vocabulary:
•A drama, or a play, is a piece of writing
that is presented almost exclusively
through dialogue.
VOCABULARY:
•Scripts are broken down into one
or more acts, or major divisions
of the play.
VOCABULARY:
•Each act is subdivided into a
scene, or smaller division within
the act.
VOCABULARY:
•Stage directions: notes, which
are often in italics or parentheses,
help the actor interpret the scene
for the audience.
VOCABULARY:
•Cast of characters: major and
minor characters who are listed
along with a brief description of
the character’s role in the story.
PAY ATTENTION AS YOU
READ:
1) Imagine the physical environment
2) Imagine the character’s appearance
3) Imagine the language of the play
4) Imagine the production of the play
“Sorry, Wrong Number”
• Mid-twentieth century:
- phones were literally dialed
- operators connected callers
- wiring systems connected the phones
- Sometimes a “crossed wire” mistake could
occur.
Cast of Characters:
#1) What can you predict about the action
of the play from the Operator and
Information listings?
Listen to the original broadcast….
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dT4nhLyKlM
Lines 80-96:
#3) What do the audience and Mrs.
Stevenson learn at the same time?
Lines 289-304:
#6) What does the audience see as Mrs.
Stevenson dials the phone?
Lines 415-439:
#8)Which words show what Duffy is
doing? What do his actions reveal about
him?
Lines 537-539:
#10) What is the sound effect in these
lines? What is its significance?
Lines 821-837:
#12) How are the audiences probably
reacting at this point in the play?