LESSON XVII.
Crisis, Anti-Climax and Climax.
Your story may have several crisis points in it, but each crisis should be stronger and more interesting than the preceding one, until the Anti-Climax, or turning point of the play is reached. Then the Climax, which is the last scene and the point at which the strongest part is enacted.
You should have interesting incidents throughout your story, so as to hold the attention of the audience and keep them guessing till the Climax.
Do not allow the leading characters to win, or the important point to be gained without considerable difficulty. Prolong the suspense and make it very hard for the audience to figure out how the Play will end. A great many Plays are spoiled because the outcome of the story was too visible to the audience at the first part of the picture.
Unless your play is strong enough to hold the interest of the spectators, throughout the play, they will be indifferent as to the outcome of the story.
The Climax must be strong and effective. It is rather difficult for an amateur to know when and how to write the climax. Do not have a long drawn-out ending. Simply satisfy the interest of the audience and leave an impression with a Punch. Your story must contain all rudiments that lead from the reasonable incidents of the plot to the logical ending.