Melodrama+3

//Other henchmen or women of low character (drunken, low morals) can feature.// Plenty of audience interaction with asides and monologues, with music frequently used. Audience would cheer, boo, throw stuff and the actors would respond, so no fourth wall. Acting style was exaggerated with large gestures, swoons, cringing, etc. Always ended with the hero triumphant, betrothed to heroine and bad characters arrested, killed, deported or driven away.
 * Characters: the Good **
 * //Hero//** Always strong, good looking and dependable. Not necessarily intelligent as often the villain will trick him. Stands with legs apart, hands on hips. He will speak in asides to the audience.
 * //Heroine//** Pretty, often blond. Virtuous and dutiful. Easily shocked and will swoon in a crisis. Doesn’t usually use asides.
 * //Sidekick//** trusted friend of the hero, whom he adores. Has flaws in his character and is lower in status to the hero. Often with some physical impairment. Can come to a tragic end in the servive of the hero. Often falls in love with either the heroine (worship from afar) or her trusted friend. Can sometimes provide comic relief.
 * //Trusted Friend//** of heroine. Can be a servant. Sometimes her head is turned by the villain, his son or henchman. But will do the right thing in the end. Can also come to a tragic end.
 * //Father//** will have made a bad decision or twowhich has led the family into difficulty. Weak character overly dependent on the love and support of his children.
 * Characters: the Bad **
 * //Villain//** Nasty, evil. Can come across to other characters as charming but will always reveal his evil intent through asides to the audience. Often wears a black top hat and black cloak and has an evil laugh. Always from a higher class, landlord, factory owner, etc.
 * //Henchman//** Often deformed in some way; refers to villain as ‘master’ and will provide comic relief. Slapstick comedy common. Will do the villain’s ‘dirty work’.
 * Style **

[[file:Can't Pay The Rent.docx]]
Here is a WORD document with a very typical melodrama plot.

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