Roger Hall (4) (1939–)

Pretty much standard craft book. Nothing particularly new here unless you've never read a book about playwriting before. The exercises, touted by the introduction as being novel and wonderful, are very standard playwriting exercises; in addition, I've seen better. This is not meant to put this book down, but only to warn you not to expect it to be some smashing new way of learning to write a play. It's actually quite a bit less thorough than some others. It is a good introduction, and would show more make a decent textbook, even if not the best. show less

Amazon: Dr. Hall introduces the ideas of conflict, character, action, etc. one at a time, and quite intensively. Following the exercises, each of your first three plays will focus on only one aspect of drama, leading to an all-inclusive one-act play; your first play.
Although I have much respect for Dr. Hall, and enjoyed working with him for over a year, I would still have to rate this book "4 Stars." The title is a little misleading. Like I mentioned, you will not have a full-length written show more by the end of the book, but several short sketches and a one-act play.
Were this called "Working Up to Your First Play," I'd give it a 5. show less