Scribe's Well-Made Play

[sunandshadow]

Hi all, I'm collecting plot formulas. I've found several mentions that Eugene Scribe's Well-Made Play was a widely-used and long-lasting formula for creating play plots, but I've been unable to find a webpage or book that actually has the details of the formula and instructs a writer how to make a well-made play. Can anyone tell me where to look?

[Maryn]

I'm not sure it's enough detail to be helpful, but try http://www.wayneturney.20m.com/scribe.htm. Funny, for so many hits on Scribe and his method, there's a surprising lack of detail online. I couldn't even find any books.

From what I read on the website, it sounds as if Scribe's method doesn't produce the sort of thing I'd be interested in writing, but there are all kinds of writers and all kinds of audiences who love what they do. So if Scribe's your kind of guy, go for it!

Maryn

[sunandshadow]

Yeah, that was the best site I found in my websearching, but it's unfortunately not detailed enough to actually use as instructions for how to create a play of this type.

I was hoping someone here would have had a college class or something which mentioned a book teaching the technique. If there even is such a book...

[QueenB]

Yeah, that was the best site I found in my websearching, but it's unfortunately not detailed enough to actually use as instructions for how to create a play of this type.

I was hoping someone here would have had a college class or something which mentioned a book teaching the technique. If there even is such a book...
One of the books I've found helpful is The Art of Dramatic Writing, by Lajos Egri, published by Simon & Schuster. It covers character, conflict, and some general topics like obligaroty scene, exposition, and timeliness. Also, check out amazon or b & n for books on playwriting. There are dozens of them, some of which you can preview before you buy.

[Maryn]

I know someone else who also recommends the Egri book, for what it's worth. Not that I bought it, mind you, but my intentions are good.

Maryn, short on follow-through