Overview
Synopsis
Floyd Dell’s A Long Time Ago is a short tragic fantasy with a production history nearly as colorful as the play’s story itself. The director of the original production costumed the characters to look like figures in a card game and had the actors wear wooden clogs that made them about eight inches taller. The result was unintended laughter from the audience. Today, the play reads more like a melodramatic fable, but the themes that audiences would have gravitated towards in 1913 are still very much present. A Long Time Ago packs a lot into its ten minutes and offers interesting material for high school or college and university theatre courses and short play festivals alike.
Show Information
Characters
Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in A Long Time Ago.
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Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
A moral tale with symbolic characters, used in theatre to deliver social commentary through simple storytelling.
A genre of story involving magical and fantastical elements, sometimes adapted for theatrical performance.
A Tragedy is a form of drama that explores human suffering, conflict, and loss, often leading to a disastrous or fatal conclusion. Traditionally, the main character experiences downfall due to a personal flaw, poor judgment, or forces beyond their control. Tragedy aims to evoke pity and fear in the audience, leading to reflection and emotional release.
Quizzes
Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright