The 39 Steps Play Guide For AQA GCSE Drama

KEY TERMS Melodrama: A type of drama with exaggerated characters and exciting events. Slapstick: Broad physical comedy, including chase scenes and exaggerated fights and tumbles. Chronological: Events presented in the order in which they occurred. Love interest: A character’s whose primary purpose is their romantic relationship with a central character. TIP As you study the play, make a note of the design challenges, particularly scene changes, including locations in London and Scotland and indoors and outdoors, as well as the varying moods, from comic to romantic to exciting. SECTION B STUDY OF A SET PLAY: THE 39 STEPS 23 Terms Relevance to The 39 Steps TEST YOURSELF B1 Match the theatrical term with its correct application to The 39 Steps . It is set in England and Scotland in the 1930s, before the Second World War, when there were concerns about the threat of fascism in Europe. Designers must represent many different settings of the play and create appropriate costumes for many characters. It is usually performed in a comic way, with exaggerated characterisations and slapstick . The scenes of the play are presented in chronological order and follow the adventures of Richard Hannay. Key roles include Richard Hannay, the hero; Pamela, the love interest , and Professor Jordan, the villain. It is an example of a melodrama . GENRE STYLE CHARACTERS PLOT PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING CONTEXT