ABSTRACT
Action units provide the director with both a tool for the script analysis process and a guide to setting up rehearsals. Most plays follow a pattern of development best described by the "rising action" model. This model is based on the concept of the well-made play. There are five basic components to the model: Exposition, Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Climax and Denouement. The action continues and the conflict grows until the turning point, also referred to as "the point of no return." The spine refers to the dramatic action of the play while the plot refers to the physical action. In analyzing the word choices, the director should be looking at the types of words the playwright chooses for each of the characters. The background of the playwright may also provide insight into the nature of the location even if it is not specifically mentioned. The director needs to identify the given circumstances of the play.
