Variant or Trial Lines

THE PLAYWRITING SEMINARS > WORKING > EDITING > DIALOGUE > VARIANT LINES

'Before I wrote PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, I'd been going to the theatre in New York and every time, I could feel a little surge of energy. I hate to say it was a challenge but it was, to get those laughs, to even get those silences in the theatre. I also thought, What is it that I do best? Listen to the audience. . . . On a first play there's no ego at stake. If it's no good you can always throw it away.'

-- Steve Martin