: Re: How do I make a repetitive element in a play interesting? I am writing a playscript these days which includes various characters that are frequently related throughout the story. They all hold

@Sarah872

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Part of this speaks to the different strengths of different mediums. It's the kind of thing that can sound kind of dumb as an idea, and that probably wouldn't work all that well in a book, but could actually be very effective as dramatized onstage, where it can take on the aspects of a ritual.

In terms of writing it, however, what you want to think about is the general idea of theme and variations. The idea is that you first establish a pattern, and then you give people new information through either following or changing that pattern (or both at once).

In your specific case, you'll probably want the first two rooms to be pretty much the same, in terms of what the guardian says, and how the scene starts and ends. That sets the pattern. At that point, it will be interesting enough to the audience just to note that the repetition is happening. After that, however, you'll want to make sure something interesting is different each time. That might be as simple as what the guardians look like, or what kind of attitudes they display towards the hero. But it can also be more substantive changes, and, if possible, meaningful ones. This will also give you a great place to build running jokes, or insert surprising violations of expectations. Eventually, as you get close to the end, you'll want to break the pattern entirely (to prep the viewer for the ending).

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