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## Vocabulaire du théâtre The ways of conceiving and playing theatre vary considerably depending on the eras and locations. The definitions given here mainly refer to classical theatre, that is, to theatre as it was conceived in France from the 17th century onwards. ### Organization of plays - Ac...

## Vocabulaire du théâtre The ways of conceiving and playing theatre vary considerably depending on the eras and locations. The definitions given here mainly refer to classical theatre, that is, to theatre as it was conceived in France from the 17th century onwards. ### Organization of plays - Action refers to the set of events narrated in a play. The term is almost synonymous with intrigue (combination of all events that make up the subject of a play). A "coup de théâtre" occurs when an unexpected event abruptly changes the course of action. - A play is divided into acts that correspond to each moment of the action being represented. The transition from one act to the next often entails a change of setting. The intermission is the period separating one act from the next: it represents an implicit advance of the action, similar to an ellipsis in a narrative. The scene is the subdivision of the act: a change of scene occurs when a character enters or exits. It is worth noting that the word "scene" also has a meaning outside the theatre: in a novel, a scene is an event that presents a unit (characters, location). - In a classical play, the exposition allows the audience to be introduced to the characters and facts that explain the situation in which they are found at the time the play begins. The first scene of a play is therefore the scene of the exposition. The action unfolds until reaching a climax known as the "nodus" (hence the phrase "the crux of the matter"). The play then concludes with the dénouement: this serves as both a conclusion and a resolution; it is what brings the intrigue to an end. **Authors of classical plays follow the rule of three unities**: unity of action (the play doesn't tell multiple stories at once), unity of place (the action takes place in a single location), and unity of time (the action unfolds in a single day). They also adhere to the rule of decorum: they don't show on stage anything morally shocking (crimes, assassinations, duels, etc.). Authors from the romantic era would deliberately break these rules. ### Text of the play - The text of a play mainly relies on dialogues. A "réplique" is each statement made by a character to others. A "tirade" is a long series of lines that an actor delivers without interruption. A monologue, on the other hand, is a scene where a character speaks alone (as opposed to a dialogue). Conversely, if a character addresses all those present on stage or in the wings, he is said to be speaking "à la cantonade". An "aparté" is a device that has a character deliver something that isn't intended for other characters but is meant for the audience. - The text of a play also often includes stage directions. Stage directions consist of everything in the play's text that isn't spoken by the actors. They are essentially stage directions given by the author regarding setting, movements, gestures and expressions of the characters. - Plays can be written in prose or verse. In the latter case, the text of the play is also a poetic text. ## Français 4eme/Le théâtre