Dramatic Techniques Used in Equus and the Crucible, Essay Example

Introduction

Every literary piece turned into a phenomenal dramatic presentation utilizes several techniques to send out a message that the audience would specifically be able to relate to. In a way, it could be realized that it is through these elements of dramatic enhancement that audiences are able to get the gist of being able to see through what each play tends to present. The message presented through artistic scoring of the play makes a particular presentation valuable enough to be considered a gem in the field of visual and entertainment art.

The difference of conveying message to the audience through a written story and through a theater play presentation depends on the aspect of reaction on the part of people to whom each piece of work is being dedicated to. For instance, in reading, it is expected that the message of any story would be decided upon by the one reading it; the decision on how such story would personally affect the one reading it would solely depend on the reader and no one else. Understandably, it is through this that writers tend to expound on their subjects and become more descriptive on the manner by which how they present the transition between one specific scene towards another.

The case is very different when it comes to presenting a story through theater plays. In this regard, the director and the actors take full control on how the audiences are likely to react on each take of a particular scene. Considerably, the play ought to provide distinct understanding on what the real message of the story is and how it intends to affect the thinking of the audience with regards the most common, at times most controversial topics that are confronting the human society at present. In the plays Equus and The Crucible, playwrights and directors of the play have used particularly different approaches to make sure that the audience would be able to engage into the presentation as the lives of the characters change with every turn of the plot.

The different Techniques of Drama

Drama techniques are set to intensify the message of a story through appealing to the emotional bearing that each viewer or audience is grounded upon. The playwrights and directors take careful steps towards establishing a common strand that most of the people watching would be able to relate to. With the many times that Equus and The Crucible have been performed in stage, there are four particular drama techniques that remain effective enough to send out a determined message to the audience of the show[s] that showcase the said stories. These techniques include voice, body posture, movement and space.

To be more specific, the utilization of voice among the actors as they exchange their ideas in conversation plots creates a distinct presentation on how the relationship of one character towards another is established. In The Crucible, the changing tone of pitches among characters John Proctor and Reverend John Hale; two of the most important male characters in the story. In most plays, Reverend John Hale’s voice takes a much lower pitch compared to that of John Proctor’s. This is to indicate the level of position that each individual takes in the society. Being a reverend, John Hale has lower voice pitch to incite a sense of authority and control. Salem is considered as a community based on theocratic authority; notably, John Hale, taking the lead on the church’s activities, is considered to take a distinct role on the authority over the people, their lives and the way they see the role of the church in their community. Hence, to distinctively separate John Hale from the others, a loud but low pitched voice is expected to be appointed to take the reverend’s role. On the other hand, John Proctor is characterized as a reputable yet hypocritical individual; a slightly higher pitch from that of John Hale makes him rather distinguishable. It is a rather acceptable fact that high pitches among men often display a sense of insecurity and an unstable state of mind, a characterization that specifically fits the being of John Proctor which was being portrayed in the story of The Crucible.

In Equus, the two primary characters Martin Dysart and Allen take two different pitches particularly setting the same trend as that of the analysis on the first story. Dysart has a rather commanding yet low toned voice specifically aiming to show that he has control over the situation and that he has authority over the character of Allen, the stabber. Allen takes a low tone yet a much higher pitched range compared to Dysart to point out the confusion that is going through the mind of this troubled stabber.

When it comes to body techniques, the aspect of posture is evidently seen through both stories. More commanding men take a more defined stature that is presented on stage. Still concentrating on the same characters, The Crucible’s Reverend John Hale takes a much taller and specifically defined posture that suggests his authority against other characters in the story. John Proctor on the other hand as a rather arched posture specially suggesting his position and his work in the story as a farmer; being a worker on the field, he is shown to have a specific posture that affects the way he stand and the way he presents himself. In Equus, the uncertainties experienced by Allen imposes on a rather awkward posture compared to that of Dysart who is much sure about himself; nevertheless, such posture is also considered as a cover up or a façade that Dysart tries to work with as he intends to set aside a part of him that is not known to the naked eye of his spectators.

In relation to movements, the direction and path determination on how each character takes the stage during a specific scene affects the attention given by the audience into each turn of events and the role that each character takes in relation to the story’s development. Both Equus and The Crucible take distinct consideration on how these options of determining the story’s direction is used effectively in the story. The same is true when the technique in space is used. Characters of both plays have specific spaces they are supposed to work with especially in specific scenes. Allen, in Equus, takes a common space as his personal one during the whole process of investigation. While on the other hand, Reverend John Hale is present in almost every space portrayed in the play The Crucible to fully define his position in the community which he is protecting as a religious leader.

Conclusion

Every technique used in plays and drama presentations are designed to enhance audience engagement into the story. Directors of such plays make sure that every aspect is well-defined to bring about a sense of enjoyment and engagement on the part of the audiences; as if seeing themselves as part of the story. This effect would fully create a distinct manner by which the message of the stories are fully presented to each individual watching the presentations Creative ways of directing a particular play describes the excellence of a playwright and the consistent manner by which a director transcends the message from a written story towards a showcased art on stage. Relative connection between the actors and the viewers is a distinct goal of directors as they create theater act versions of written stories like The Crucible and Equus. Most often than not, it is through this approach that the message of both the playwrights and the directors become distinctively differed from each other; suggesting that the message of a certain plot of story may change depending on how a director tends to interpret a particular story based on their own opinion and creative ways of presentation.