Necessary Targets: form

Form of Necessary Targets

Two Act Play

Necessary Targets is structured as a two-act play, a popular form in contemporary drama.
The first act introduces the characters and their circumstances, while the second act delves into the escalating tensions and resolutions.

Realism

Ensler utilises a realist approach in Necessary Targets, providing the audience with a sense of actual events and genuine human emotions.
The dialogue is naturalistic and the settings are depicted in a realistic manner.

Use of Monologues

The play features several monologues from the characters, allowing the audience to delve into their individual experiences and emotions.
This form is particularly powerful in humanising the experiences of war, and fostering empathy in the audience.

Time

Time is used constructively in the play, various past events affect current interactions and the future of characters, further deepening our understanding of their experiences.
The duration between the two acts allows the audience to contemplate the characters’ experiences and the progression of their stories.

Use of Meta-theatre

Meta-theatre elements are incorporated, allowing characters to comment on the distressing nature of their circumstances, which serves as a potent tool for social and political commentary.

Adaptation

The form of the play also classifies as an adaptation because it’s based on the author’s real-life experiences and interviews with Bosnian women. This fact adds an extra layer of authenticity to the events depicted.

Understanding these elements of form will give a comprehensive picture of the structure and format of ‘Necessary Targets’, and an insight into the playwright’s intentions.