Differences of seeing a play vs watching a movie

Seeing a play and seeing a movie are two different things. They are related but they are definitely not the same. Film and a play have different qualities. 

I will start off with a play or musical. First seeing Batboy, I noticed one of the actors slipped up on one of their lines. If an actor were to slip, the director would yell ‘cut’, and they would take a five minute break, then come back to the scene and try again. But in theatre, the actor only has one shot, one opportunity to make sure he or she has all their lines down pat. 

Secondly, another difference between the two is that it is a one-on-one connection with the audience. A good actor is able to reach a person all the way in the back of the auditorium. The emotion is overwhelming in the room; anyone can feel it. If there is a sad scene, one can feel the intensity or the sadness that the actors or characters feel. In a film there really is not an overwhelming emotion. Yes there are sad movies with sad parts that can effect someone, but the feeling within the theatre captures you. It feels like you are a part of the play. When you are in a movie theater, you know you are there, there is no feeling of involvement. 

Moving on, a difference with the two is the way the piece is presented. A play will be different every time you watch, not in storyline but the actor may feel more energetic or more outgoing than usual, therefore resulting in a different performance. Within a movie or film, it is the same every time. The movie is taped and recorded and put together to create one movie. The actor is going to have the same expression on Thursday or Sunday, no matter when you see the movie. 

I know we have already talked about this in class but the film shot and the way you see the theatre are different. I choose to look all over the stage to take in all I could during the musical. While during movies I am forced to look at someone’s face or something up close. When Batboy would be running around I would watch the others around him as well, whereas in film I guarantee they would just focus on Edgar just running around, that is it.  

Lastly, one other difference is that the theatre is live. It is happen at a certain time, the actors are sharing this time with the audience. Then at the end of a play an actor can receive playback from audience members or other cast members. With a film, they have one premier, where a group watches the movie once and says what they think of it, then move on. But that is even before it is open to the public. When a ‘common man’ sees a film and says ‘wow I really loved that movie’ they cannot just walk up to that movie star and let them know that they enjoyed the film. It goes hand and hand with the connection to the audience but is different because it is just that feeling of being a collective group. 

In conclusion, theatre and film are different in certain aspects; slipping of lines, connecting with the audience, presenting a piece, and being live. Many people love seeing movies while others love seeing plays, I enjoy both because they are such full of range and it’s fun to pick out things that wouldn’t happen in one or another.