What makes this event happen, and what does it make possible next?
Backwards & Forwards, by David Ball.
What the book addresses
Ball offers a practical approach to reading plays through dramatic action and the relationships among events. The book asks readers to examine how the play works rather than stop at a general account of its themes.
How to read it
Trace the play's sequence carefully enough to distinguish evidence from interpretation. An actor may be able to explain a character's psychology while overlooking the event that actually changes the scene. Analysis becomes useful when it helps locate the demands of the dramatic structure.
An original rehearsal investigation
Choose a turning point and identify what immediately precedes it in the text. Record what changes because it occurs. Then speak the surrounding scene with a partner. If your structural account does not survive the spoken encounter, examine the assumption rather than forcing the performance to illustrate your notes.
Connections and distinctions
This is a strong companion to deep Script and Character Analysis. Compare structural reading with the actor's playable objectives and actions: understanding the whole play and finding something to do inside it are connected tasks. Neither can be replaced by a plot summary alone.
This is an original JBAS reading guide with an attributed overview and study questions. Read the complete book for the author's developed argument and exercise instructions.
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