Question about terminology

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:13pm

are the terms "Play" and "Drama" interchangable? Some old lady got nasty with me because I said play and she said "oh, you mean DRAMA" in this really snotty tone. just wondering what people thought.

I thought drama was a TYPE of play, like comedy.

Also, is a musical a play?

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:14pm

let's call the whole thing off.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:18pm

A play implies straight dialogue, no singing.

I loved it when Fantasia appeared on Idol and said, "I'm going to be appearing in the PLAY 'Color Purple.'"

Well, honey, first of all---it's a musical. And last I heard, it was "THE Color Purple."

[Weez]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:21pm

If you want to be SUPER pedantic, then straight plays are dramas - yes, even comedies - and musicals are musicals, and both can be presented under the umbrella term "play". However, that's only for super pedants. I'd be more worried about the stick up their backsides than who's right and who's not, if I were you. Most normal people are happy to stick with "musical" for musicals and "play" for non-musicals. ^_^

Updated On: 8/3/07 at 01:21 PM

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:52pm

isn't "Musical" short for "musical play?" I prefer the umbrlla term "show"

[la_vie_boheme_et_moi]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 2:18pm

Sounds like a case of Nasty Old Lady Syndrome to me.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 2:30pm

Ok I feel like someone once told me that all plays are considered dramas and only if it ends with a happy ending is it a comedy. Or is that comedy versus tragedy?