A. Production History

Play Analysis

Your Name

Name of the Play

Playwright

Character

I. THE PLAY

A. Production History

When was the play produced? (Dates)

Where was the play produced? (City and Theatre)

First production productions that led to regional theatre or Broadway

II. THE PLAYWRIGHT

A. Biographical Information

Biography of the Playwright, dates, education, lived in what cities, what was involved that would lead to them to having the information to write this play.

Education etc. This is personal information about the playwright, not professional information.

B. Career History

This is information about the playwright’s career.

Other plays written and subjects written about?

III. THE WORLD OF THE PLAY

(List andDiscuss the following numbered headings, supporting and justifying your choices with QUOTES from the text. Discuss how this information informs your understanding of the play and/or your character):

A. Environmental Facts

1. Geographical Information

Where does the play take place?

2. Date, Season, Time of Day

3. Economic Environment

What was the economics of the country, the area?

Recession? Depression? Jobs? No jobs?

4. Political Environment

Research the time period. Who was President? What party was running

the nation, the state and local governments? Which views were popular and which weren’t in your world of the play? What were the major issues being debated?

5. Social Environment

What was accepted socially at this time?

What classes of people exist in the environment of the play?

Is the class structure important to the play?

Do race, nationality and religion play a part in the social environment of the play?

IV. PREVIOUS ACTION

What important information happened before the play begins that leads to the reality and conflicts in the play? What has happened in the play before your scene begins?

List the dialogue quotes that discuss previous action, noting the character and the page in the script.

V. POLAR ATTITUDES

(You must quote text to support your conclusions)

How do the characters change from the beginning to the end of the play?

What did they learn emotionally? Did they grow in understanding themselves?

VI. IDEA OF THE PLAY

A. Meaning of the Title

What does the title tell you about what you are going to see and hear?

Why do you think the playwright chose this title?

B. Meaning of the Play

What does the playwright hope to emotionally evoke from the audience?

Why did the playwright write this play?

VII. Research Topics FOR EXTRA CREDIT

List research topics for this play