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In debate, there is usually a question that is posed for debaters to answer. It is stated in the form of a resolution. So is the following question in which you may take either the affirmative or the negative position."Resolved, directing is a more important art and craft than acting.”

In modern theater, directors have the primary responsibility for the interpretation of the play and creates the stage action and unifies all the elements of the production1. It is the job of the actor, however, to create the dramatic story on the stage through words and gestures2. Both are undeniably important to the production, but since the audience only ever interacts directly with the actors, that component is the more important of the two.

The position of the director is comparatively new in the history of the theater3, but actors have been there from its beginning. The only things absolutely necessary to the theater are the actor, a playing space, and an audience4. The whole point of the theater is the performance, so anything else, no matter how vital a contribution, is secondary to this end. The director’s role is that of a unifier or the author of the stage action, uniting all the sundry components of the performance into a cohesive and meaningful whole5. While this is critical, particularly in large modern productions that contain a broad variety of elements, the director does not directly affect the audience through the performance. Only the actor can present the story to the audience.

Although the director may manage every aspect of a production, from the design of the sets and costumes to the gestures and movements being performed, the onus of the performance is ultimately on the actor alone.

WORD COUNT: 238

1--Arnold. //Creative Spirit//, p. 492 2--Arnold. //Creative Spirit//, p. 491 3--Arnold. //Creative Spirit//, p. 136 4--Arnold. //Creative Spirit//, p. 111 5--Arnold. //Creative Spirit//, p. 135