Drama vs Play
Drama and play are two commonly confused words with subtle differences in usage and meaning.
Drama
Drama refers to the theater and includes the set up of the play, such as the theater, hall, accessories, green room, costumes, and music. It encompasses all the elements of dramaturgy or the art of play.
A person skilled in producing a play is called a dramatist and is well versed in the principles of dramaturgy, including stage measurement, character portrayal, costume selection, music coordination, and more. Drama deals with the composition and nuances of a play.
Play
A play, on the other hand, is a literary composition consisting of dialogues between characters, epilogue, monologue, prologue, and an end. It must be written in a specific number of acts and scenes, with each act containing a few scenes.
The author of a play is called a playwright. Their duty is to adhere to the principles of play composition and adhere to the rules governing literary composition. A play is meant to be performed on a stage, and the person who produces the play is the dramatist. In some cases, the playwright and dramatist may be the same person.
Differences
The word ‘drama’ is inclusive of terms like tragedy, comedy, and satire, which are written by the playwright. Drama focuses on acting, while play focuses on composition. These differences should be noted to understand the meanings of the words ‘play’ and ‘drama’.
Highlights
1. The word ‘drama’ is used in the sense of ‘theater’ and refers to the set up of the play, including the theater, the hall, the accessories, costumes, and music.
2. A play is a literary composition consisting of dialogues between characters, and should be written in a specific number of acts and scenes. The composition of a play is ruled by regulations such as sentiments to be shown on stage.
3. The playwright is the author of a play and is responsible for adhering to the principles of composing a play. The dramatist is the one who produces the play, and sometimes the playwright and the dramatist are the same person. The word ‘drama’ is inclusive of terms such as tragedy, comedy, and satire, which are written by the playwright. Drama refers to acting, whereas play refers to composition.
