How would you use "Tempo" and "Timing" to the greatest effect within a drama? Hi. I am doing drama this year and I don't quite understand what the...

They are
also terms used by directors and actors when communicating about pace, a very important element
in any play production.  Tempo refers to the rate of speed that a scene follows.  Most comedies
have a faster tempo than a .  A tragedy requires a slower tempo, for the gravity of the events
or words.  A comedy requires a faster tempo, to keep the laughs rolling.  Timing refers to when
you do a particular thing.  You may have heard the expression, "it's all in the
timing".   In the production of the play, that refers to the timing of different actions. 
For example, in a door-slamming , the timing of entrances and exits must be perfectly timed for
maximum effect.

Whenever I am unhappy with a show (whether it's under my own
direction or somewhere else), it's almost always about the pace.  It either is moving too slowly
to sustain my interest and energy, or it is moving too quickly to allow me to connect with the
characters or the moment, or the timing is off, causing moments to fall
flat.