Play - A Visit To A Small Planet - English (Compulsory) For Class XI - About Play, Play Writer & Summary

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Play
A Visit To A Small Planet
About Play, Play Writer & Summary

ABOUT PLAY

Play can be defined as a literary work meant for theatrical performance through a particular medium, i.e. stage, screen, or radio. Drama and play are considered the same.
A play is divided into different acts for a better narration of the story and effective structure. Each act is further divided into a number of scenes with different characters and settings.

Elements Of Play:
A play has mainly these elements:

• A plot - an arrangement of incidents of the story.
• Characters - people, or other beings around which the story revolves.
• Dialogue - the conversation between the characters.
• Setting - time and place where a story is set.

At the crux of the play are conflict and resolution. The play's structure follows the trajectory of introduction, the rise of action, climax, fall of action, and conclusion.

Types Of Play:
There are various types of plays such as tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, melodrama, science fiction, etc.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

The play "Visit to a Small Planet" was written by Gore Vidal (1925 - 2012)
Eugene Luther Gore Vidal was an American writer - a novelist and essayist.
Describing himself as America's "current biographer," Vidal's work has been widely applauded for its depth of satire and biting wit. Vidal has always been interested in the connections between public and private life as well as the ways in which history is shaped by those whose motives seem (at best) questionable upon close examination. His outspoken manner and penetrating wit soon earned Vidal a status that goes beyond author. He is thought of as a social commentator, a celebrity as much as a writer. Although Visit to a Small Planet is not his most famous or critically favored work, it is representative of Vidal's wit and desire to satirize American political and social life.

SUMMARY OF THE PLAY

he Play 'A Visit to a Small Planet’ is written by Gore Vidal, an American playwright. It is a reflective science-fiction comedy. It contains the elements of adventure,suspense, and Comments about the modern civilization. Kreton, a mystery character from other planet, is the central character. Though the play was written in 1957, it is still relevant. The story and characters are simple. Vidl originally wrote this play as a television script. After its success he worked it for the stage. Later, a movie was also made on it.

SUMMARY

The play starts with the broadcasting of Spelding in his own home in Silver Glen, Maryland (America). Roger Spelding, with his wife, a daughter and two technicians, denies the presence of spaceship. After broadcasting, they start to discuss the household problems. As, Ellen, his daughter, ironically praises the broadcasting of his father. He criticizes John with whom Ellen is going to be married.

Suddenly, the characters face conflicts, while they see an strange creature landing on the Rose Garden of their house. John points out the spaceship first. They have different ideas about it. Some call it a meteor while others deny it. The story goes towards the climax, when Kreton, an alien, comes out from the spaceship. Spelding calls out General Powers, an army man, who confirms to come soon. After a short discussion with Kreton, they notice the arrival of General Powers with his troops.

From here, the climax of the story starts. General Powers imposes Martial Law in the house of Spelding. No one is allowed to move from the house. The general warns Kreton to surrender otherwise, he will be destroyed.

From here the events leads to the ending of the story. Kreton, tells kindly the reason of his coming to the Earth. He confirms that he is neither a spy nor an observer. At last, when General Powers orders Aide to grab him, he shows his super powers. He makes an invisible wall around the spaceship, after it no one can touch it. He also stuns General Powers, Aide and all other Soldiers. At last, he goes to sleep. The play ends here. (Curtain)

OR

This play is from Comprehensive English Book One For Class XI - Section C. This play is written by Gore Vidal, an American playwright. It contains the elements of adventure, suspense, and Comments about the modern civilization
A visitor from another galaxy happened to land on earth to observe the United States firsthand, a kind of impression would the country made on a complete stranger that he come to vanish human race. This is the main concept (theme) posed in Gore Vidal's Visit to a Small Planet. It is a science-fiction comedy, subtitled as A Comedy Akin to a Vaudeville.
Originally presented as a television play in 1957 (it had a New York City stage premiere in the same year), the satirical play follows the exploits of Kreton, a mystery character and an alien from unknown and technologically more advance planet. He lands on Earth as his hobby, hoping to catch glimpse of the American Civil War 1861. But he has miscalculated and landed 100 years later (of the mid-twentieth century) in the Manassas, Virginia, outside of the Spelding family's home. Later he has decided to take charge of the whole world and its inhabitants and rule them all. Kreton is the central character of the play. He is polite, kind and intelligent and can read the minds of people. His planet’s creatures are immortal.
Kreton ridicules the earthly people and criticised at the idea of nationalities and authorisation of the rulers on Earth. He also proves that he is much more knowledgable and powerful than General Powers and other earthly creatures. General Powers is humbled when he is unable to take control of the spaceship. Kreton finally say them good-bye and leaves for an unknown destination. In the background of the play other character such as Roger Spelding, who is a very reputed T.V. programmer and also plays a significant role in projecting the main character. He does not want her daughter Ellen to marry an ordinary farmer John. General Powers intervention adds to the feeling of suspense in the play.
Vidal's play pokes fun at the post-World War II fear of Communism and the "Red- baiting" (Senator Joseph McCarthy's house hearings on Un-American Activities) common in the late 1950s, as well as military paranoia and the rising importance of television in American life. Using Kreton as the satiric personification of America's ugly underbelly, Vidal's play employs a common science-fiction scenario to explore not alien but American life.

CHARACTERS IN PLAY

Kreton - An alien, A major Character
Roger Spelding - TV Broadcaster
Ellen Spelding - Daughter of Roger Spelding
Mrs. Spelding - Wife of Roger Spelding
John Radolph - Ellen's fiancée
General Power _ Army Man
Aide - Captain who works under General Powers