The Philippine Normal University

Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education

Name of Student: Section: Course:

Art Appreciation
GAÑO, GNE ROSE C. I-16 (2GED-HUM01)

Activity 6 - Drama

1. Describe and discuss the following briefly:

A. Elements of Drama

The theme of a play refers to its central idea. It can either be clearly stated
through dialog or action, or can be inferred after watching the entire performance.
The theme is the philosophy that forms the base of the story or a moral lesson
that the characters learn. It is the message that the play gives to the audience.

Plot the order of events occurring in a play make its plot. Essentially, the plot is
the story that the play narrates. The entertainment value of a play depends
largely on the sequence of events in the story. The connection between the
events and the characters in them form an integral part of the plot.

The characters that form a part of the story are interwoven with the plot of the
drama. Each character in a play has a personality of its own and a set of
principles and beliefs. Actors in the play have the responsibility of bringing the
characters to life. The main character in the play who the audience identifies
with, is the protagonist. He/she represents the theme of the play. The character
that the protagonist conflicts with, is the antagonist or villain.

Dialog the story of a play is taken forward by means of dialogs. The story is
narrated to the audiences through the interaction between the play’s characters,
which is in the form of dialogs. The contents of the dialogs and the quality of their
delivery have a major role to play in the impact that the play has on the
audiences. It is through the dialogs between characters that the story can be
understood. They are important in revealing the personalities of the characters.

Settings the time and place where a story is set is one of its important parts. The
era or time in which the incidents in the play take place, influence the characters
in their appearance and personalities. The time setting may affect the central
theme of the play, the issues raised (if any), the conflict, and the interactions
between the characters. The historical and social context of the play is also
 The Philippine Normal University
Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education
defined by the time and place where it is set. The time period and the location in
which the story is set, affect the play’s staging.

https://entertainism.com/elements-of-drama

OTHER ELEMENTS of DRAMA

Role and character The identification and portrayal of a person’s values, attitudes,
intentions and actions as imagined relationships, situations and ideas in dramatic
action; role focus on type and stereotype; characters are detailed and specific.

Relationships The connections and interactions between people that affect the
dramatic action.

Situation The setting and circumstances of the dramatic action – the who, what, where,
when and what is at stake of the roles/characters.

Voice Using voice expressively to create roles, situations, relationships, atmosphere

and symbols.

Movement Using facial expression, posture and action expressively in space and time
to create roles, situations, relationships, atmosphere and symbols.

Focus To concentrate the attention on a spatial direction or a point in space to intensify

attention or increase the projection of intent. To direct and intensify attention and frame
moments of dramatic action or to identify the main idea of the drama.

Tension A sense of anticipation or conflict within characters or character relationships,

or problems, surprise and mystery in stories and ideas to propel dramatic action and
create audience engagement.

Space The space of the performance and audience, fictional space of the dramatic
action and the emotional space between characters.

Time The fictional time in the narrative or setting; timing of one moment to the next
contributing to the tension and rhythm of dramatic action.

Language Ideas and dramatic meaning: the choice of linguistic expression and ideas in
drama used to create dramatic action.

Symbol Associations that occur when something is used to represent something else to
reinforce or extend dramatic meaning.
 The Philippine Normal University
Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education
Audience Individuals or groups of people who experience the arts in a range of settings
and contexts (formal, informal, virtual or interactive) through intellectual, emotional and
social engagement. The artist is audience to their own artwork.

Mood and atmosphere The feeling or tone of both the physical space and the dramatic
action created by or emerging from the performance.

Dramatic Action The driving force and forward motion of drama to create dramatic
meaning, tension, belief and audience engagement. The movement of the drama from
the introduction, exposition of ideas and conflict to a resolution.

https://windmill.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Elements-of-Drama.pdf

B. Types of drama:

b.1) Philippine Sarsuwela

This type of Philippine theater art and performance reflects the
culture and different scenarios of life in the Philippines. It was influenced
by the Spaniards when they colonized the country, Eventually, it became a
part of the Philippine culture. The elements of the Philippine Zarzuela is
that there are male and female main actors and assisting actors dressed
in different outfits depending on the theme of the story and on the roles of
the actors. It is performed on either a theater or stage with elaborate props
and grand stage designs that emphasizes the story of the Zarzuela. The
area is very spacious where actors and actresses can move freely as they
portray their respective roles and depict the scene. The music in the
zarzuela helps portray the meaning of the text sang by the actors and
actresses and the mood of the scene. The plot of the Philippine Zarzuela
is about Filipino life in both positive and negative aspects such as family,
politics, feasts, values, corruption of the government etc.

https://thestageandthestudio.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/philippine-zarsuela/
 The Philippine Normal University
Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education

b.2) Broadway Musical

Broadway musicals are, therefore, musicals that have appeared
in Broadway theaters. However, while there is no hard-and-fast rule
regarding the length of time a show must run to be considered a
"Broadway musical," it is generally accepted that only those productions
that have lasted several months to several years in Broadway theater
houses gain that title. Characteristics of a broadway musical: solo songs,
duets, choruses and ensembles. orchestra or band
accompaniment. spoken dialogue. dance sequences, stage spectacles
and magnificent costumes

https://ourpastimes.com/definition-of-a-broadway-musical-12346107.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z27fyrd/revision/1
 The Philippine Normal University
Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education

b.3) Opera
A staged drama set to music in its entirety, made up of vocal pieces
with instrumental accompaniment and usually
with orchestral overtures and interludes. In some operas the music is
continuous throughout an act; in others it is broken up into discrete pieces,
or “numbers,” separated either by recitative (a dramatic type
of singing that approaches speech) or by spoken dialogue.
Opera (the Italian for work) is an art form that tells a story through
music and singing. Unlike a musical, opera singers do not use
microphones to amplify their voices, and the music, played by the
orchestra, is completely live. Operas are most commonly staged at an
opera house or theatre, such as the London Coliseum, home to ENO.
Opera houses have been designed specifically for performances on a
grand scale. The large stage, where the singers perform, sits in front of
the backstage area, which is used to house the set. Below the stage, you’ll
find the ‘pit’, designed for the orchestra.

https://www.britannica.com/art/opera-music
https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/the-beginners-guide-to-opera/
 The Philippine Normal University
Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education
C. 1 WALANG SUGAT https://youtu.be/ESBNfhqoRS8

Lucas told Tenyong that his father had been arrested. He said it his father
was mistaken for a robber so he died. Tenyong wants revenge, but it's against
his girlfriend Julia and his mother. They did nothing so it resulted in the
separation of the two lovers. And a few days later Julia's new lover arrived.
Julia's lover's family and her family have agreed to hold their wedding. He gave
Lucas a letter to give to Tenyong to share the news. A few days later, Julia did
not receive an answer and she thought that Tenyong was dead, so even against
her will, she had to continue the marriage.
On the very day of the wedding, Tenyong came to the church bloody and
looked like he was going to die. After that, the parish priest was called so that
Tenyong could confess. His last wish was for him to marry Julia. Julia's father-in-
law agreed to Tenyong marrying Julia and Juana, Julia's mother because
Tenyong will also die and her daughter will soon also get married again.
However, Tenyong suddenly got up and everyone shouted Walang Sugat!
No wound! Tenyong just tricked everyone so that he could marry Julia.

C. 2 “SOUND of MUSIC” https://indiamovietv.com/movies/4353/watch-download-

movies-the-sound-of-music-subtitle-english-123movies-full-hd.html?fbclid=IwAR1-
5T0IyikOp125XoygetF87meQZXXsctRM

The sound of music is about Maria, a witty nun who loves to sing
especially up the hills. She always causes ruckus inside their abbey (church).
One day the Reverend Mother called her and said that she will be a governess in
the family near Salzburg, Austria. She will take care of the seven children of
Captain von Trapp as he lost his wife. The seven children caused pranks to
Maria during her first stay at the house, but then she got the good sides of each
child and they are very sad because of how their father is treating them. They
feel free and happy when they are with Maria. Maria taught the children how to
sing and dance. Maria brought music again to the family’s house and the captain
didn’t realize that he almost forgot music, music is also his favorite thing just like
his children. While serving the captain and children Maria fell in love with the
captain and decided to leave the family and go back to the abbey (church). The
children felt uneasy when their father announced their having a new mother
which is Baroness Elsa von Schraeder. After some realizations Maria went back
to the children and also to confirm her feelings for the captain. After that Captain
also realizes his feelings for Maria and decides to have their marriage. But then
there goes their Nazi’s problem. After devising some plans they successfully fled
to Switzerland.
 The Philippine Normal University
Taft, Manila
College of Teacher Education
The National Center for Teacher Education
C. 3 “Aida” https://youtu.be/b8rsOzPzYr8

Aida is about the love triangle about herself Amneris and General Ramades. The
Aida Opera is situated when there was a war conflict between Egypt and Ethiopian.
Aida is torn between her love for her country and what is her heart saying. Egyptian
Army General Radamès is chosen to lead an assault on the enemy, and hopes of
winning, to win also the hand of his lover Aida – an Ethiopian enslaved as
handmaiden to Egyptian princess, Amneris.

D. Other Examples

Opera
https://youtu.be/u_VkfIthWHo
https://youtu.be/IYrbdiee9SU
https://youtu.be/zTDMvyj4TFg

Broadway Musical
https://www1.ummagurau.com/watch-movie/la-la-land-19613.5297566
https://www1.ummagurau.com/watch-movie/mary-poppins-19232.5298250
https://www1.ummagurau.com/watch-movie/bye-bye-birdie-63965.5484469

Philippine Sarsuwela
https://youtu.be/P2iPV4zQ5fY