Characters in Action: Playwriting the Easy Way [Paperback]

Marsh Cassady (Author), Theodore O Zapel (Editor), Tom Myers (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

The twelve chapters of this book provide a complete survey of every step in playwriting from the germination of an idea to its complete development into a theatrical production. The book covers the basics of writing for theatre, creating characters in conflict, plots and subplots, structure and dialog and winning an audience. Cassady provides some basic rules but the reader learns most from the countless examples and anecdotal illustrations from amateur and professional playwrights. A basic text on the art of playwriting. Twelve chapters: Germination, The Creative State, Getting Ideas, Beginning a Script, Some Basics, Dramatic Structure, Dramatic Structure II, Audience and Theme, Characterizations, Dialog, Planning and Revising, Producing and Publishing.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Dr. Marsh Cassady has the finest possible credentials for authoring this comprehensive book of creative instruction. He is a playwright, director, actor and drama critic of long standing. He has conducted many workshops on playwriting and has taught theatre at the high school and college level for many years. He thoroughly understands his subject and offers an excellent method of teaching it to inexperienced writers. The twelve chapters of this book provide a complete survey of every step in playwriting from the germination of an idea to its complete development into a theatrical production. He covers the basics of writing for theatre, creating characters in conflict, plots and subplots, structure and dialogue and winning an audience. Cassady provides some basic rules, but the reader learns most from the countless examples and anecdotal illustrations from amateur and professional playwrites. The book is ideally suited to be a basic text on the art of playwriting.

Review

Twelve chapters cover the extent of playwriting; from evolving the idea to understanding the basics of dramatic structure in order to create a style and plot appropriate to audiences. This excellent guide will appeal to high school students through adults, providing a solid program for dramatic understanding the creative advancement. -- Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Meriwether Publishing Ltd.; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156608010X
• ISBN-13: 978-1566080101
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,777,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lively and Useful Introduction, February 27, 2003

By 

Dorion Sagan (East Coast, USA and Toronto) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Characters in Action: Playwriting the Easy Way (Paperback)

Characters in Action
Marsh Cassady

This was the first book I read on the art of playwriting and I found it rather inspiring. Cassady stresses tapping into your unconscious for dialogue and plot-connection ideas, he considers all the basics from stage directions to proper script presentation, and gives a wide variety of interesting examples that show that he knows what he's talking about. He also uses the literary device of having made-up characters break into the text to dramatically illustrate his points. I could not find fault with this book as a primer for writing live drama. The book should also be of interest to fiction writers and screenwriters who to hone their art and expand their horizons. A lively and useful introduction.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sadly simplistic and juvenile, May 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Characters in Action: Playwriting the Easy Way (Paperback)

The art of playwriting is lost here. In its place is boiled down stuff that seems, um, "borrowed" and condensed from the much better books. If the author is aiming at 8th grade kids, perhaps it works, but one thinks even they deserve more respect. For anyone else, disappointingly juvenile. From the way it is hyped I thought I could use it in a workshop, as well as for myself, but it won't serve. I selected another book (also on Amazon) for those purposes and we're all happy. Sorry, Mr. Cassady.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars insightful and informative but not inspirational, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Characters in Action: Playwriting the Easy Way (Paperback)

This book is good for anyone who wants an introduction into the art of play writing... To that end, it is brilliant. However in terms of inspiring the reader to bring his or hers ideas to life, the book lacks something.