A comparative study in the simultaneous production of published and original one-set plays

The writer of this paper has chosen to meet his thesis requirement for a Masters degree in drama by doing a comparative study in the production of a seasoned play, and the production of two original scripts. A project of this description requires, primarily, the authorship of the student’s original scripts, the procurement of a suitable published script to be used for the comparison, the resolution of the production’s technical problems, the direction of the plays, the written thesis, and the production itself. In the writing of his original scripts the author feels that his text will hold more dramatic value if he confines his story to the limits of the society he has lived with and studied, he intends for his plays to depict realistically the social temper of the culture he has chosen to discuss, employing the idiomatic language which the characters habitually use Arthur Hopkins one-act comedy, "Moonshine", will be offered as the curtain-raiser. This play was chosen because it was written by a nationally famous author, and because it complements the other plays. Before any labor on the technical aspects of the problem can commence, set designs, including floor plans, elevations, working drawings and sketches must be drawn, and the lights must be plotted. It will then be necessary to complete the actual construction of the technical production within the specifications of the plans. During or before the earliest progress on the technical production, tho plays must be cast and rehearsals set up. The student has decided to completely re-set and re-block Hopkins "Moonshine", not only to harmonise with the peculiarities of this particular production, but to allow for a fairer comparison for the study. The written thesis itself will consist of the theories, plans, and technical data of every aspect of the production with a personal evaluation of its possible significance. When the time for the production itself is at hand, light-crew, sound-crew, stage-crew, ushers, and production staff in general must be selected as well as the numberless other details such as tickets, programs, and posters. This author believes that productions of this type, regardless of the stature of their success, are a most important factor in continuing the growth of the theatre. He hopes that his proposed problem, the comparative study of proved and original one-act plays in simultaneous production, be approved as a credible endeavor for his thesis.Theatre Progra