Ch. 4 Sec. 6

What is true about both the stage and film version of a drama? Neither require the viewer to interpret the setting to better understand the story's context. Neither require the viewer to interpret the mood based on the lighting and sound effects used. Both require the viewer to visualize the action based on the stage directions in the drama's script. Both require the viewer to infer characters' emotions and motivations through the actors' portrayals.

Read the excerpt from Trifles. SHERIFF. Nothing here but kitchen things. (The County Attorney, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand away, sticky.) COUNTY ATTORNEY. Here's a nice mess. (The women draw nearer.) How would an audio recording of this excerpt help establish the setting of the play? through an increase in volume at certain points in time through the dialogue spoken by each of the characters through the sound of a cupboard door opening through a change in the characters' tones of voices

Read the following scene from Trifles. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Yes, but I would like to see what you take, Mrs. Peters, and keep an eye out for anything that might be of use to us. MRS. PETERS. Yes, Mr. Henderson. (The women listen to the men's steps on the stairs, then look about the kitchen.) MRS. HALE. I'd hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing. (She arranges the pans under sink which the Lawyer had shoved out of place.) MRS. PETERS. Of course it's no more than their duty. MRS. HALE. Duty's all right, but I guess that deputy sheriff that came out to make the fire might have got a little of this on. (Gives the roller towel a pull.) Wish I'd thought of that sooner. Seems mean to talk about her for not having things slicked up when she had to come away in such a hurry. A possible advantage of hearing this scene, as opposed to reading it silently, is that readers can better visualize what each of the characters looks like. trivial lines of dialogue can be skipped without causing confusion. various sound effects can be used to create or enhance the mood. different lighting techniques can be used to heighten the conflict.

Read the following scene from Trifles. MRS. PETERS. She was piecing a quilt. (She brings the large sewing basket, and they look at the bright pieces.) MRS. HALE. It's log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn't it? I wonder if she was goin' to quilt or just knot it? (Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The Sheriff enters, followed by Hale and the County Attorney.) SHERIFF. They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it. (The men laugh, the women look abashed.) COUNTY ATTORNEY (rubbing his hands over the stove). Frank's fire didn't do much up there, did it? Well, let's go out to the barn and get that cleared up. (The men go outside.) How would a film version most likely emphasize the men's emotions during this scene? by emphasizing the variety of props used by showing the men's facial expressions by highlighting the characters' costumes by focusing on the actions of the women

Read the following scene from Trifles. MRS. HALE (resentfully). I don't know as there's anything so strange, our takin' up our time with little things while we're waiting for them to get the evidence. (She sits down at the big table, smoothing out a block with decision.) I don't see as it's anything to laugh about. A possible disadvantage to hearing this scene, as opposed to reading it silently, is that Mrs. Hale may not move as the reader imagined. feel as the reader imagined. look as the reader imagined. sound as the reader imagined.

What is one advantage of reading a play as opposed to watching or listening to it? Readers can actually view the characters' costumes. Readers can review scenes and dialogue. Readers do not have to visualize characters. Readers do not have to interpret stage directions.

What is one advantage of watching or listening to a play as opposed to reading it? Emotions and motivations of the characters do not have to be inferred through the actors' portrayals. The viewer does not have to interpret the setting to understand the story's context. Different sound effects can be used to enhance the action and excitement of the story. Viewers are able to envision different interpretations of the characters and the storyline.

ead the following scene from Trifles. MRS. HALE (resentfully). I don't know as there's anything so strange, our takin' up our time with little things while we're waiting for them to get the evidence. (She sits down at the big table, smoothing out a block with decision.) I don't see as it's anything to laugh about. MRS. PETERS. (apologetically). Of course they've got awful important things on their minds. (Pulls up a chair and joins Mrs. Hale at the table.) How would an audio recording most likely convey the characters' emotions during this scene? with the act of Mrs. Peters joining Mrs. Hale at the table with a close-up on each woman's face with a change in each character's tone of voice with the sound effect of a chair sliding across the floor

What is one advantage of silently reading a play as opposed to listening to an audio recording? Readers can hear which words characters emphasize as they speak. Readers can grasp the setting of the play based on sound effects. Readers can observe lighting, staging, and stage directions. Readers can imagine the sound and tone of each character's voice.

Read the following scene from Trifles. COUNTY ATTORNEY. You mean that they didn't get on very well? MRS. HALE. No, I don't mean anything. But I don't think a place'd be any cheerfuller for John Wright's being in it. COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'd like to talk more of that a little later. I want to get the lay of things upstairs now. (He goes to the left, where three steps lead to a stair door.) SHERIFF. I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does'll be all right. She was to take in some clothes for her, you know, and a few little things. We left in such a hurry yesterday. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Yes, but I would like to see what you take, Mrs. Peters, and keep an eye out for anything that might be of use to us. What is one possible advantage of hearing the characters' voices as opposed to silently reading the scene? Hearing allows listeners to interpret the body language of each of the characters. Hearing allows listeners to understand the thoughts of each of the characters. Hearing allows listeners to associate a voice with each of the characters. Hearing allows listeners to focus on the actions of each of the characters.