One-Act Play

Drama

The portrayal of fictional or non-fictional events through the performance of written dialog.

Playwright

A creator of a drama, known for writing plays.

Comedy

A type of drama intended to make people laugh.

Tragedy

A type of drama that describes the demise of a once heroic or well-liked persona due to a fatal fault.

Tragicomedy

A serious plot delivered in a funny or sarcastic manner.

Melodrama

An exaggerated kind of drama which involves conventional one-dimensional characters and exciting situations.

Opera

A type of drama where the actors sing the lines or dialogues instead of speaking them.

Musical

A type of drama where dialogues are infused with music and performances.

Plot

The sequence of events presented in a drama.

Characters

Agents in the story, which can be humans, animals, or objects.

Theme

The central idea that the play conveys.

Diction

The choice of words used to impart information and reveal characters and themes.

Spectacle

Aspects of the play that contribute to its sensory effects, including actor’s voice, gestures, sound, and music.

Act

A major division of drama, forming the basic structure of a performance.

Scene

A specific action that takes place in a single setting and moment in time.

One-act play

A play with only one act, consisting of one or more scenes, focusing on a single dominant situation.

Conflict

A struggle or problem that the characters face within the narrative.

Climax

The most intense point in the narrative, often a turning point in the plot.

Denouement

The resolution or conclusion of a narrative.

Character motivation

The reasons behind a character's actions and decisions.

Delivery

The manner in which actors present their lines and emotions.

Phrasal verb

A verb combined with a preposition or adverb that alters its meaning.