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Cover of How to Write a Play: Letters from Augier, Banville, Dennery, Dumas, Gondinet, Labiche, Legouvé, Pailleron, Sardou and Zola

How to Write a Play: Letters from Augier, Banville, Dennery, Dumas, Gondinet, Labiche, Legouvé, Pailleron, Sardou and Zola

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DramaPlaywriting

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About this book

"How to Write a Play" by Dudley H. Miles and William Gillette is a collection of writings focused on the intricacies of playwriting, compiled during the early 20th century. This informative piece includes letters from various esteemed playwrights, each offering their insights and reflections on what constitutes successful dramatic writing. The book explores the creativity behind crafting engaging plays and reveals the challenges faced by playwrights in capturing audiences’ attention. In this collection, the authors feature letters from influential dramatists like Émile Zola, Alexandre Dumas Fils, and Victorien Sardou, among others, who candidly share their perspectives on the nuances of playwriting. Each letter emphasizes the subjective nature of creating theater, highlighting that there are no established rules or guarantees for success. Instead, the authors suggest that instinct, experience, and an understanding of audience preferences are crucial components for a playwright. While the letters present a wealth of opinions, they also illustrate the overarching uncertainty and unpredictability inherent in the craft of writing for the stage, ultimately suggesting that playwriting is as much an art form as it is a craft.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in How to Write a Play: Letters from Augier, Banville, Dennery, Dumas, Gondinet, Labiche, Legouvé, Pailleron, Sardou and Zola, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 12 hours
  • advanced
  • instructive
  • historical
  • analytical

This unique collection, "How to Write a Play," compiles letters from some of the most influential French playwrights and a novelist of the 19th century, offering a rare glimpse into the craft of dramatic writing. Through the epistolary format, masters like Dumas fils, Sardou, Zola, Labiche, and others share their diverse philosophies, practical advice, and insights on everything from plot construction and character development to dialogue, stagecraft, and the business of theater. It serves as an invaluable historical document and a timeless guide for aspiring dramatists, revealing the varied approaches to creating compelling stage works during a period of significant theatrical innovation.

“The stage is not merely a mirror, but a magnifying glass, revealing the truths of society with an inescapable force.”

Key themes

Dramatic Structure and Craft
This is a core theme, as the book is a 'how-to' guide. It delves into the mechanics of playwriting, particularly the construction of plot, scene development, and the overall architecture of a play. Sardou's detailed explanations of the 'well-made play' are central here, emphasizing cause-and-effect, suspense, and logical progression.
The Purpose of Drama
This theme explores the fundamental question of why plays are written and performed. The authors present diverse views, ranging from pure entertainment (Labiche) to moral instruction and social critique (Dumas fils, Augier), and scientific observation of human behavior (Zola). This theme highlights the ongoing debate about theater's role in society.
Character and Realism
The authors discuss how to create believable and compelling characters. This involves exploring their motivations, psychological depth, and their interaction with their environment. The tension between creating 'types' and unique individuals, and the degree of psychological realism, is a key aspect.

Worth discussing

How do the differing philosophies on playwriting presented by authors like Sardou (well-made play) and Zola (naturalism) reflect the broader cultural and artistic shifts of the 19th century?

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