Victoria's 2130 Blog: 2013

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Show and Tell: Andre's Mother

The play Andre's Mother by Terrence McNally demonstrates an example of a characters ability to speak without using spoken word. The title character is not actually in the play but the play is based around his life. The play begins in he middle of Central Park where the four characters are honoring Andre. The characters each say something about Andre then release a balloon signifying the acceptance of his death. After the first two characters, Arthur and Penny, release their balloons, it brings us to the main conflict with Cal and Andre’s mother. The main character in Andre’s Mother, Cal, was Andre’s boyfriend. Andre’s mother did not know Cal was Andre's boyfriend until the events in Central Park. Cal makes a desperate attempt to make Andre’s mother understand why Andre was who he was, and also to get her to understand why Andre never told her about him. Cal begins trying to connect with the mother. He tries but fails to connect with her. As he continues his failing attempt at connecting, the author uses silence and minor stage direction to get Andre’s mother to show emotion. The simple use of silence and physical emotion allows the audience to connect with the feelings of the mother. One connecting point would be “Her lips tremble. She looks on the verge of breaking down. She is about to let go of the balloon when she pulls it down to her. She looks at it awhile before she gently kisses it. She lets go.” Although the mother’s character remains silent, at the end of the play the audience is filled with her emotions of hurt and frustration. How “Andre’s Mother” was written in this peculiar way shows the author’s desire to connect to this specific character. By not allowing the mother to have any dialogue and letting the characters emotions pour out into the play, her feelings speak louder than words.

Next to Normal

The best example of tempo in this play is during the songs "You Don't Know" and "I am the One." Kitt has an extraordinary way of knowing exactly how to make the listener feel what he wants you to feel. In "You Don't Know" the tempo is very steady build. You are waiting for the character's to explode. In "I am the One" we hear Gabe and Dan try to persuade Diana that they are the "one" she should believe in and trust. This is of course very dangerous and has a slightly eery feel to it because we have just discovered that Gabe is dead. The tempo changes from steady to frantic.

As far as which scenes get music, the reason a character sings in a musical is because there is absolutely no other way to express ones self. The moments where there are songs are there because they are some of the most important parts of the play.

Some songs happen more than once. There are three different "Heys." Each shows a different time Natalie and Henry meet. The third is where Natalie realizes they are perfect for each other even if they aren't individually perfect.

Topdog Underdog

Three card monte is a game in which the dealer always wins. Its more of a hustle than a game. I think that this mirror is used to symbolize the game of life. Lincoln can never win. It is not "in the cards" for him. We know that Lincoln is most definitely the good guy in the play just because of the character's names. In a way Lincoln is bound to lose the game of life to Booth just like three card monte. He has been given a bad hand by being named Lincoln. We can assume his brother will kill him by the end of the play. That is inevitable. Not only are the characters named Lincoln and Booth but they also play the characters they are named after.
The reader knows the end of the play before it begins. Parks does not hide it in any way. I am not sure why but it is very obvious how the play will end.

Water by the Spoonful

Scene 7 is the first time we see Elliot interact with the other characters. In this scene we see the difference between Odessa in real life and her online life. She chooses her "family" online over her real son. The two different worlds in the play are Odessa's. Her real life and her internet life. Her online "children" seem to think Odessa is saintly. We know that Elliot does not care for his mother because of what she did when he was younger. Before this scene Odessa's two worlds were completely separate. Elliot changes this.

Tis Pity She's a Whore

The color scheme that I would choose for Tis Pity She's a Whore is red and black. I think the red symbolizes the violence and lust and love. I think red should be the central color because lust. love and violence make up the play. Love is found in Annabella and Giovanni's relationship. Their love is forbidden. Lust is found in Annabella's relationship with all of her suitors. And violence is clearly shown when Giovanni stabs Annabella, although i think all three love, lust and violence can be seen in this scene. The black represents power. Some images I have chosen are a bare back of a women, a letter, fire and black blood drops.

These are the quotes I have chosen:

"Lost, I am Lost! My fates have doomed my death."
"O that it were not in religion sin
To make our love a god, and worship it!”
—Giovanni

“Revenge is all the ambition I aspire;
To that I’ll climb or fall. My blood’s on fire.”
—Soranzo

House of Trials

One convention of Spanish Golden Age comedias found in House of Trials is the asides to the audience. This is very different from the well made plays we have read. In a well made play there are no asides and you can not break the fourth wall. In all comedias the fourth wall is broken. There are several times in this play that the characters break the fourth wall.

Another convention is interruptions called lazzi. This is usually done by an experienced actor and the actions have nothing to do with the plot itself.

Another convention seen in House of Trials is the importance of one's honor. A man's honor is very different from a woman's honor. In short a men's honor is based on making sure the women in their lives keep their honor.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Show and Tell: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Much like in Love! Valour! Compassion! I was very impressed with Terrence Mcnally's ability to make a play engaging using little more than dialogue and characterization. This play takes place all in one location - Frankie's apartment - and has very little in the way of plot or action. However, the play is very interesting and enjoyable because of the endearing characters and their struggle to find a long-lasting connection.

The play begins with Frankie and Johnny, two coworkers, having just had sex. Throughout the rest of the play, intense and straightforward Johnny attempts to convince hesitant and isolated Frankie that they are destined for something deeper and more real than just casual sex. Johnny is in love with Frankie and convinced that they are soulmates; Frankie has given up on finding love, and she is intimidated and overwhelmed by Johnny's passionate overtures. However, by the time the curtain has gone down at the end of the play, Johnny's heart-on-his-sleeve earnestness has won Frankie's heart, and the play ends the same way it began, with the two lovers in each other's arms.

The Children's Hour

I chose to do my analysis on The Children's Hour because I am a huge fan of the movie. Though the movie is slightly different from the play.

The play does not exactly follow the structure of a well-made play. It does not have three acts. We also find out secrets at the same time the other characters do. Where as in a well-made play we might know the secret before the other characters.

We do get hints of what the secret is but we do not know exactly what is happening. We just know something might be weird about Karen and Martha's relationship.

I think that it is important for this play to be produced today. I think that it would show the effects of homophobia. It would not get the same reaction today as it did when it was first produced.

Love! Valour! Compassion!

Love! Valour! Compassion! was very different from the other two plays. The plot does not follow the guidelines of a well-made play at all. The plot is not linear. There really isn't a resolution either. I found this play to be more about the characters and how they relate to each other rather than the sequence of events. Thats why when I did my project I tied them all together and the central thing that tied them together was the house. They all came to the house for the summer for different holidays. Several of the characters are tied together by similar hobbies or relationships.

I felt as if the characters were somewhat changed by each other. I don't think some of them would have acted the way they did had they not been stuck in a house together.

Glass of Water

I felt like one of the moments that did not make sense was the kiss between Bolingbroke and the Duchess. It seemed to come out of nowhere. I was under the impression they hated each other. They rest of the play seemed to follow the structure of a well-made play. This scene just came out of nowhere. I could not find the other scene that did not fit. I just thought the kiss was completely out of place. They seem to go back and forth between liking and disliking each other. It was very confusing.

Eurydice

“A wedding is for daughters and fathers. The mothers all dress up, trying to look like young women. But a wedding is for a father and daughter. They stop being married to each other on that day.”

I chose this quote because it really spoke to me. I think weddings are for fathers and daughters. The moment when a father gives away his daughter is very significant. Although I don't think this necessarily has to be a daughter and father. I think the mother could also be the one to give away her daughter. Really the father is just the one elected to give her away.

"Dead people can't sing!"

I really like this quote because when I think of music I think of life. Music can make anyone happy or sad or angry. Music is used to evoke emotion. In musicals when a person sings it is because they cannot express what they want to say just by speaking. What they have to say is so important that they have no choice but to sing.can't sing!"

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Judith

I think the MDQ is "Will Judith sleep with Holofernes?" I did not know much about this play when I started reading. I thought the main conversation was about sex. When we first see Judith we assume she is there to sleep with Holofernes. She wanted to get him into a vulnerable position. She thought sleeping with him would accomplish this. They do not sleep together. When he decides to go to sleep I think she knows he will be vulnerable then.
I found it strange that he says he was pretending to sleep. It makes me think he wanted to die, or maybe he didn't care either way.
When she tries to sleep with him after he is dead, I think she feels bad for killing him and wants to have his child in order to carry on his name. Although Judith does not sleep with Holofernes, I think she fell in love with him and was driven mad by what she had to do.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

'Night Mother

I do not think the question "Will Jesse kill herself?" is a very good choice. When reading the play i found myself asking, "Is Thelma going to let Jesse kill herself?" This Major Dramatic Question seems much more interesting to me. Throughout the entire play Jesse is trying to prepare her mother for life after she kills herself. It is something she has thought about for a long time and is set on following through with her plan. The mother reacts as any mother would. She is of course shocked, in total disbelief, and devastated. We know Thelma is going to try and convince Jesse to live out her life. The question then is, is she going to succeed? I would say the answer to the question is no because Jesse does kill herself. However, right before Jesse goes to leave the room, Thelma does agree to do what she has asked. Now I do not think that this mean Thelma allowed Jesse to kill herself by any means. She immediately gets up and blocks her way to the bedroom. I do believe Thelma fought to keep her daughter alive till the end. Once Jesse was dead what else could Thelma do, other than the things her daughter asked of her?

Monday, September 9, 2013

Trifles

I personally do not like the idea of a minimalistic set. I think that this play needs a very elaborate set due to the nature of the show. I found this piece to be very funny. It kind of reminded me of slapstick comedy. Although the show is dealing with the death of a person, which is very serious, it is comical that two women of the time would be hiding the evidence. I also think that once the audience realizes that the show is a kind of murder mystery they will find themselves playing along. Once the two women find the first piece of evidence the audience is going to try and guess what the next piece is. If the only props onstage are the evidence, then the mystery is gone completely. I think the play would lose its significance because we never see the Wrights so the only connection we have to them is their house. Someones house can say a lot about them. The way it is decorated. Is it cozy like a cabin or cold like a museum? Overall I think the production needs a very realistic, elaborate set with little pieces of Mr. and Mrs. Wright in each prop and set piece.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Overtones

Harriet and Margaret represent the presence that is physically there. They can see each other but not each others alternate forms Maggie and Hetty. Margaret cannot see Hetty and Harriet cannot see Maggie. This represents their true inner selves or their true thoughts. Their inner selves do interact with each other. These interactions are usually one ignoring the other. They are too preoccupied with their own problems. I think it could possibly be Harriet and Margaret's choice to not see each other's inner selves. When you think about it, it's the same thing people do everyday. Sometimes we do not want to see people's true identities.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

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