This is a wonderful article by a fine playwright, Theresa Rebeck.
The idea expressed in the article that directly relates to our teaching is in the next to last paragraph and begins with: “…if you start with a few characters who need…”
We learn something deep about the people in the play (and people in life) by how they react to each other moment by moment.
The complete article can be found by clicking on the link below.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-theresa-rebeck29-2009mar29,0,2065069.story