This assignment is designed to show the creative possibilities of limitations. In short-form playwriting, limitations of size, space, narrative and character abound. The successful playwright is the one who can use the limitations to his benefit rather than allowing the limitations to strangle his play. When doing the class play, the trick is to provide enough detail to make the writing interesting without giving away too much.
Start by telling the class to pick 2-3 characters. Pick a simple relationship and add names and ages. That is all they should get for character background. Pick one location and make sure that it is general enough to be flexible. These are the basics. No more detail is required. However, if you feel that the class needs a little more direction, other details may be included like opening moment, climax or resolution. Tell them to start writing. There are many of ways of picking which characters and which locations the class wants to write about. I simply write all the different options on the board and we have a majority vote.
The next class, have the students share the plays with each other as a class or in groups. They should see that although everyone had the same characters and location that the plays will be very different indeed. Stress the elements in the play that they could not have achieved without the presence of the givens.
