Writing from The Heart: Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: Gabriel

Writing from The Heart

"Writing from The Heart" is a workshop on creative writing, creative drawing, and creative drama. There are three available versions of this workshop: one for beginners on the secondary, tertiary, and graduate levels, and another for practitioners. A third version of this workshop is designed as an outreach program to disadvantaged and underserved audiences such as the disabled, the poor and the marginalized, victims of human trafficking, battered women and abused children, drug rehabilitation center residents, child combatants, children in conflict with the law, prisoners, and gang leaders. This third version incorporates creativity and problem awareness, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and peacemaking.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: Gabriel

"We Fell In A Marathon"

Hello Gabriel!

This version of your play is so much better, and so much more effective, than the first.

Your point of attack is perfect. Dramatic action begins and moves on swiftly.

Dialogue: It is Anthony who is the poet. Be wary of how the other characters speak. On Page 2, Fifth Line from Bottom, for instance, Mr. Seow says, "It's either you submitting to me or that." In a normal situation, a man would blurt out spontaneously, "Give me what I want!" or "Give it to me!" (Or something more explicit than that.) There is something primal about your subject matter, represented by Mr. Seow, and he should speak accordingly.

You have cleverly gotten rid of cell phone conversations. Congratulations.

I commend your work because it has become more honest and more emotionally truthful. It is no longer hampered by the masks and disguises that you endowed the first version with.

There is, however, more work to be done:

--You need to develop all three characters, particularly their historicity: Where are they coming from? Where are they going? What do they really want? Otherwise the audience will find it extremely difficult to sympathize with any one of them. This will make your play longer and fuller.

--Your ending is ambiguous. The ending should give closure to all three characters, not just Anthony. The audience will also want to see, comprehend, and understand what is in the letter.

You've stepped from the shore into the water. Now go for the deep end.