Understanding how drama earns its keep on stage—and how great plays stay alive.
This penetrating study examines how modern theater reshapes old conventions to keep audiences engaged, and how writers like Ibsen perfected the craft of dramatic action.
Dramatic Values surveys the evolution of stage technique, from ancient rules to modern risk-taking. It discusses how action, suspense, and the play’s form work together to hold a viewer’s attention in real time. By tracing the balance between clear presentation and mysterious motive, the book shows why some plays feel inevitable once you see how they’re built.
- How the stage shapes meaning through entrances, exits, and dialogue with a purpose
- How directors and writers refine convention to keep suspense alive
- Examples of key dramatists and what they revealed about life on the stage
- Insights into why certain plays shock, soothe, or provoke thought
Ideal for readers of drama criticism, theater history, and anyone curious about what makes a play work in performance.