In simple terms, the quote emphasizes that a playwright must engage their audience continuously throughout a play without any breaks or moments where the story might lose its grip on the viewers' interest. Unlike novelists who can afford to have occasional passages that may not captivate all readers equally, a playwright cannot risk losing the attention of even one person for a moment.
The deeper meaning suggests that while both playwrights and novelists are creators of narratives, their methods and audiences differ significantly. A novelist's work can exist in solitude, allowing room for complex internal thoughts or slower pacing as the reader flips pages at their own pace, engaging with the story intermittently. In contrast, a play unfolds live on stage, demanding instant engagement from every audience member; the playwright must be acutely aware of this and tailor the narrative to maintain constant interest and relevance. This requires not just creativity but also an acute sense of timing and audience interaction.
Terence Rattigan was a prominent British playwright known for his socially conscious dramas that explored themes such as love, morality, and social class in mid-20th century Britain. His work often showcased subtle human emotions within the constraints of societal norms, earning him recognition not only for his captivating narratives but also for his ability to hold audiences spellbound throughout performances without lulls or disconnections.
