play reading

I am teaching two theater classes currently: Introduction to theater, and Development of Drama from the Greeks to Moliere.

In both classes, at different levels, we are discussing how to read a play, and how to see a play.

It is a lot of work to actively read a play.

When reading a play, one must be simultaneously actor, director, designer- all in the mind's eye as one reads the dialogue and stage directions.

When reading an older play, there is also the challenge of putting the play into historical context, and looking for connections to the current era- connections and/or disconnects.

It's a challenge. And I'm not sure how close this literary exercise is to actual theater.