perform the play

USAGE SUMMARY

"perform the play" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
Example: The school drama club will perform the play "Romeo and Juliet" at the end of the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

We must perform the play the way we rehearsed it.

The New Yorker

Each time we perform the play it has been different.

The Guardian

The Shrapnels aren't the first father-son duo to perform the play.

The Guardian

Thus, Yeats and Lady Gregory decided to perform the play in their theatre.

The New Yorker

Instead, Italian actors, accompanied by an Italian orchestra and chorus, will perform the play.

The New York Times

He will perform the play at the conservatory on May 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

At one point, Lars Eidinger's fat-suited, perspiring hero seizes a microphone and begins rapping, urging the audience to sing along; later, he dons suspenders to perform the play-within-a-play.

The Guardian

That applies to dance within the play, too, as with her showstopping clog dance for the mechanicals (workmen who perform the play-within-a-play) in last year's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Guardian

He was one of the first to go back and perform the plays as originally issued".

The Guardian - Books

If it went on much longer, Tyler jokingly suggested we perform the plays.

The New York Times

We then upped the ante by inviting the writers to perform the plays themselves as monologues in their local theatre.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a play, use "perform the play" to specifically refer to the act of staging or acting out a theatrical work. This phrase clearly conveys the action of bringing the play to life for an audience.

Common error

Avoid using "perform the play" when you mean to say "see the play". "Perform" refers to the actors' actions, while "see" refers to the audience's experience. For example, say "I'm going to see the play", not "I'm going to perform the play" if you are attending as a spectator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perform the play" functions as a verb phrase, where "perform" is the main verb indicating the action of staging or acting out a play. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perform the play" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that describes the act of staging or acting out a theatrical work. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for a broad audience. Related phrases include "stage the performance" and "enact the script", offering alternative ways to express similar meanings. When writing, remember that "perform the play" focuses on the actions of the actors, not the experience of the audience. The insights provided should help writers use the phrase accurately and effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stage the performance

Replaces "play" with "performance", emphasizing the act of staging.

put on a show

Uses a more general term "show" instead of "play", broadening the scope.

present the drama

Substitutes "play" with "drama", focusing on the dramatic aspect.

enact the script

Replaces "perform" with "enact" and "play" with "script", highlighting the written component.

execute the theatrical piece

Uses more formal language, replacing "perform" with "execute" and "play" with "theatrical piece".

render the theatrical work

Similar to "execute the theatrical piece", but uses "render" instead of "execute".

deliver the lines

Focuses specifically on the spoken aspect of performing the play.

act out the story

Emphasizes the narrative aspect of the play.

run through the scene

Suggests a rehearsal or practice of a part of the play.

do the performance

Uses a more simplified and general phrasing.

FAQs

How can I use "perform the play" in a sentence?

You can use "perform the play" in a sentence like this: "The drama club will "perform the play" at the school auditorium next week."

What's a more formal way to say "perform the play"?

A more formal alternative is to say "stage the performance" or "enact the script", which both convey a similar meaning in a more sophisticated tone.

Can "perform the play" be used in contexts other than theater?

While primarily used in theatrical contexts, "perform the play" can be metaphorically applied to any situation where a pre-determined set of actions or a routine is carried out. However, it is most appropriate when referring to an actual theatrical performance.

Is there a difference between ""perform the play"" and "rehearse the play"?

"Perform the play" refers to the actual presentation of the play to an audience, while "rehearse the play" means to practice it beforehand. They describe different stages of the theatrical process.