/lit/ - Literature

Is there a difference between plays and novels? I understand that plays are intended to be acted out but it’s still the product of the authors imagination as unless he intends to act it out himself he can’t fathom anyone else’s contribution. The story and dialogue is still in his head and thus it seems a play is simply a more restricted form of a novel. I guess the big question is, is a play a complete work unless it is acted out, or is the production the actual product (or just an adaptation?) it would seem the play is more it’s own work versus a screenplay for instance, which is much more a prerequisite for the finished piece of art, although it’s obviously a matter of degrees.