ABSTRACT
Public men are understandably wary of dramatic encounters—televised debates, pointed questions, and personal challenges. In one city, twelve mayoralty primary candidates were invited to the same banquet to explain their positions. This chapter analyzes some of the things that any good tactical politician may be considering: the peculiar laws of the dramatic domain, some types of dramatic encounters, and the principles that seem to govern their outcome. In one city, twelve mayoralty primary candidates were invited to the same banquet to explain their positions. One of the peculiarities of the dramatic domain is that a public drama cannot be confined to the billed performers; almost anyone can steal the show. Seeking key factors should not obscure the importance of the drama as a whole, the mutual effects of the roles of all actors as action proceeds through scenes, development, and turns.
