Final answer:
In plays, communication occurs predominantly through dialogue, which serves to advance the plot, develop characters, and engage the audience. Unlike novels, plays rely on spoken words and minimal stage directions, making dialogue a critical storytelling element.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most of the communication that takes place in a play is conducted through dialogue and action. These are two of the main elements that differentiate drama from other forms of literature like novels or short stories. In novels, authors have the liberty of elaborating thoughts, feelings, and descriptions, which can be accentuated through third-person narration. However, in plays, dialogue becomes the principal means by which characters communicate and advance the plot. What characters say to each other, to themselves, and sometimes to the audience constitutes the dialogue, revealing their thoughts, intentions, and emotional states.
Through dialogue, plays convey various functions, such as moving the storyline forward, developing characters, creating tension or conflict, providing exposition, revealing themes, and engaging the audience directly by bringing them into the characters' conversations. Since stage directions tend to be minimal, actors rely on dialogue to inform their portrayals and interpret the actions they should take. Overall, dialogue is a critical component that makes theatre a unique and direct form of storytelling, creating a dynamic exchange that can engage audiences in a way that is distinct from novels and other narrative forms.