a short play performed in the pause between the act of a longer play is

Step 1: Analyze the question We need the term for a short play performed in the pause between the acts of a longer play.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• Denouement: the final resolution of the plot, where the conflicts are untied. It is part of the story, not a separate short play.
• Interlude: a short performance (a short play, song, or dance) put on between the acts of a longer play, or between parts of an event.
• Prologue: an introduction that comes at the beginning of a play, usually a speech or short scene that sets the background.
• Epilogue: a closing speech or short scene at the end of a play, often giving a final comment or moral.

Step 3: Match the definition The key phrase is "in the pause between the acts." Only an interlude happens in the middle of a play, between acts. A prologue comes before the play and an epilogue comes after it. A denouement is a stage in the plot, not a separate performance.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B. interlude.

Tip: Think of "inter-" as in interval, international, or interval between acts. "Inter" means "between," so an interlude is what happens between. Also remember "pro-" means before (prologue) and "epi-" means after or upon (epilogue).