Writing

It sounds difficult to write a play, even a

small part of it sounds difficult. Writing a

play or drama is quite different from

writing a story. The main purpose of a play

is to let the characters speak for themselves

as much as possible. How actors show

us what the characters think and feel is

also important.

写作要点 剧本主要介绍人物、矛盾冲突和背景。并通过舞台指导告诉演员如何说话、如何表演和如何移位。

写作准备a. 确定角色▲ 剧中至少要有两个主要人物。以生活 中的人物为原型来塑造剧中人物。▲ 设计剧中人物的性格特征。具体描写 剧中人物的长相、行为和说话方式。

b. 选择问题和背景剧中必须有一个矛盾冲突（问题）供人物去解决，剧中所有的事件都与该矛盾冲突（问题）有关；还要有一个背景，确定该剧发生的地点，想一想是让每一幕都发生在同一个地方，还是发生在不同的场所。

组织写作▲ 可以写独幕剧，也可以写多幕剧。但 要设计好每一幕的剧情。▲ 介绍剧中人物、矛盾冲突和背景。▲ 确定每一幕所发生的主要事件。▲ 交待人物在最后一幕或结尾是如何解 决矛盾冲突的或是如何失败的。

注意问题▲ 要运用大量的对白，让观众了解剧中 人物及其与主题的联系，展示剧中人 物如何应对剧中发生的一切。▲ 将每一个主要事件编写为独立的一幕。▲ 剧本的写作格式。剧中人物的名字全 部大写，位于对白之前，后接冒号。 舞台指导用斜体字书写，置于括号中。

Suppose you are the director of this

play. Write your own scene for this play

with a partner.

Suggested scene:

Act One, Scene 5 Henry is smiling as he leaves the restaurant. As he is walking down the street, he sees a sign for a place that cuts hair. He decides to get it cut.

N=Narrator H=Henry B=Barber

H: Good afternoon, I’d like to get a

cut, if I may. (The barber looks at

Henry’s hair and continues cutting

another man’s hair.) Er-I’d really

like to get a haircut. As you can see

it’s much too long.

B: (In a rude manner) Yes, I can see

that. Indeed, I can.

H: Fine, well, I’ll have a seat then. (He

sits in one of the barber’s chairs.

The barber turns to look at Henry)

B: It’s quite expensive here, you know!

Are you sure you can afford it?

H: Yes. I think so. (In comes the rude

man)

R: Hey you there. I need a haircut

quickly. Can you do me straightaway?

B: All right, then, get in the chair and I’ll

see what I can do.

R: Thank you (sits down in one of the

barber’s chairs).

H: Excuse me, but I was here first. Aren’t

you going to do my hair first?

B: This man’s in a hurry.

N: Well, so am I ! I insist that you cut

my hair first.

B: OK, but I’ll have to be quick. This

gentleman is waiting.

H: Thank you. (They both become quiet.

After his hair is cut, the barber tells

Henry how much he must pay. Henry

shows the barber the bank note).

B: Why, Mr… (looks shocked)

H: Adams. Henry Adams. I’m sorry, I

don’t have any change.

R: You’re THAT Mr Adams! Well, I’m

glad I waited or I might never have

known it was you.

B: Why, Mr Adams, please don’t worry!

(wearing a big smile) Nothing to worry

about! Nothing at all! Please come back

any time, even if you only need too little

hairs cut! It will be my honour to serve

you !

Writing Task (P60-61)

Imagine that after Henry marries

Portia he has bad luck in business and

becomes poor once again. Now he must

tell his wife the bad news. Before you

write, however, discuss these questions

with your partner:

1) Do you think Henry would worry

about what his wife would say to him

after she heard the bad news? For

example, do you think she would get

angry at him?

2) Do you think Henry would worry

that his wife would leave him?

3) Do you think Portia would ask

Henry how he suddenly became so

poor?

4) Do you think Portia would worry

about their marriage now?

Suggested dialogue:

P=Portia H=Henry

P: Oh, Henry. It’s nice to see you home

so early!

H: Erm, ah.

P: (Looking worried) What’s happened?

H: I can’t hide much from you, can I,

dear? We have lost our money. The

railway company in Brazil has

collapsed and all our money has gone.

But I have a plan to help us. We can go

back to America and start again. I can

become a gold miner and we can make

our fortune that way.

P: Leave London? Leave my

stepfather? Oh no, Henry, please!

H: I think it might be better for us.

We would stand on our own feet.

P: (crying) I shall have to go home.

You can’t love me if you want to do

this dreadful thing.

H: (putting his arms round her) Of course

I do. It is for our sake that I suggest

this. It will be an adventure. We will be

able to travel where we like and I will

be able to show you so many lovely

places.

P: That would be nice. However, I’ll wait

here till you’ve made some more

money. Of course I’ll wait for you.

H: Thank you and I’ll work twice as hard

to make sure we do have a lot of money.

I shall always love you. And I’ll!