Dramatis personae
Dramatis personae (Latin for " characters in action") describes the characters in a play .
The first scene of a theatrical text is usually preceded by the characters of the action in a directory , with their name and brief description of their function, sometimes also with the subject of the actor, but today often with their age. In the case of an opera, the pitch is also given.
The order in which they are listed generally corresponds to the order in which they appear. Until the 18th century, however, the social position of the figures determined their order. The solo roles are followed by the silent supporting roles as well as the performing ensembles in their functions such as theater choir or extras . The time and place of the action are then indicated.
literature
- Manfred Brauneck, Gérard Schnellin (ed.): Theaterlexikon, Rowohlt, Hamburg 1986, vol. 1, p. 313, 781–783.