Form and Structure of Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
Plays are usually divided into acts and scenes. However in Absurd
Person Singular we can clearly see three acts although there is
evidently one scene in each act which in itself is a continuous
sequence of events. Playwrights often have parallel scenes at
different points in a play, or juxtapose two very different scenes to
make a point. However Alan Ayckbourn juxtaposes the acts by having
each act as the consecutive year therefore highlighting the change
that we see. I find that Alan Ayckbourn has two or three plot lines
going at once, and he uses the sub-plots to illuminate the main plot.
The play is a farce with comical acts however he maintains to
incorporate the serious undertones.
The structure of the play is distinctively unique; it is not a one way
play as each act is a story in its own right linked by past, present
and future. The play also doesn't have a conclusion which illustrates
Ayckbourns suggestion that comedy doesn't need a happy ending, just
like real life doesn't.
The form and structure of the play is the way in which Ayckbourn has
decided to put across his intentions to the audience. Everything he
does in the play has an intended reason and is for a specific meaning.
Form and structure and normally generalized depending on the certain
genre however I find Absurd Person Singular individual in its own
right. Within the structure of the play, Ayckbourn uses different
forms to convey meaning. For instance by having one scene in each act
allows the play to flow keeping a fast pace and sustains our
attention.
The play runs through time in chrono...
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...uties and trying to be helpful.
Alan Ayckbourns writing is linear and realistic and he effectively
exploits the elements exclusive to theatrical art. I can clearly see
from analysing the scrip that it is domestic issues, which dominate
Ayckbourn's drama, such as insensitivity in marriage. He chooses to
illuminate social problems indirectly through dramatic presentations.
The way the playwright uses comedy and naturalistic devices to keep
the audiences attention and the situations create suspense. His
specific use of form and structure creates to unique and crucial
aspects of the play. For example, Ayckbourn introduces two characters
at a time which allows us to focus on different people consequently
continuing our curiosity and allowing the characters to be revealed
off each other and creating appealing situations.
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