Introduction to Play Analysis

The third edition of Introduction to Play Analysis offers a practical, accessible method for teaching students how to read plays with the insight and precision that effective theatre demands. Scott Walters refines and expands the original framework he developed with Cal Pritner to better serve a wide range of undergraduate theatre courses. With fully restructured chapters, this edition makes the analytical process more intuitive and applicable to production work across disciplines—whether students are focused on acting, directing, design, or dramaturgy. A major addition to this edition is the use of Susan Glaspell’s Trifles as a consistent case study throughout the book. By grounding each chapter in this rich, compact, and teachable one-act play, Walters offers students a cohesive analytical journey from first impressions through synthesis. The full text of Trifles is included in an appendix, making this edition especially convenient for classroom use. Supplemental examples from Antigone, Tartuffe, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and Romeo and Juliet provide historical and stylistic breadth.