On Playwrights (Alison Plunkett)

SEPTEMBER 13 - J. Alison Plunkett wrote:
Subject: The Theatrical Imagination, Chapter 5

This chapter suggests that playwrights always write alone, however, this is not always true. It is common for playwrights to collaborate with one or more people, which can be a huge help to the frequent problem of writer’s block. This chapter says that playwrights, being products of their times, reflect on the perceptions and values of their particular time. This thought is not necessarily true. Many playwrights take themselves out of their time and place their characters in historical or even imaginary time periods. Through research and great knowledge of a specific time period, the playwright can then capture the perceptions and values of peoples in that time accurately.

Also, the play is not always about the plot. Sometimes the play is about the characters in the story more so than the plot itself. An example of this is Everyman.