On the Verge Blog

My idea of the poster would be very simple. I would choose three different leaves and lay them side by side on a white background. The three leaves would represent Mary, Alex and Fanny. Mary gets a large maple leaf, Alex gets a bright green Ivy leaf, and Fanny gets a classic Oak leaf. I want them to be side by side but sort of fanned out like cards would be. I think each leaf represents something about the woman, and it is up to the audience to figure that out. I feel that Mary's stability and personal drive is symbolized by the strong and "branch-y" maple leaf. Alex, the most lively of the bunch and the youngest would have the ivy leaf. I like that it gives it some allure due to the fact that it could possibly be poisonous. I think Alex's spirit is captured by the fast growing Ivy. Fanny, the most conservative and traditional of the bunch, is represented by the Oak leaf. Oaks are meant to live for a long time and grow very large with thick roots. Fanny is very rooted and is also the onlyone that is married. The back ground of the leaves would be just a simple off-white. The title and playwright would be across the bottom.

To me, Mr. Coffee seems like an omnipotent character. He only seems to appear to characters when they are in times of struggle. I would think of him as sort of a God-like figure or perhaps the character's inner conscience coming through. He seems like a guide or semi-angel.

The Drowsy Chaperone Blog

The Man’s presence in the Drowsy Chaperone is in my opinion what makes this show timeless. He serves as narrator and commentator and also helps move the show along. Without him, this musical might get off track or become just another “cliché” musical. I think that choosing to have The Man on stage for the duration of the show places importance on his character. Even though the show isn’t about him, it kind of is. At first glance, the Man seems to be just a narrator, but as the show progresses, he reveals more about himself. He becomes a character; though in a different way than the make believe characters of The Drowsy Chaperone. He controls the rhythm of the show as well, by interrupting and commenting sometimes along with the record. The Man directly controls the build of tension and release I feel. Even he doesn’t realize that he holds the key to this timeless musical. The choice of the playwright to include him is what makes this musical stand in category all its own. I think the reason he is included is because he serves as a mirror for the audience. We get to see him re-live all of his glory days through this recording, and then realize that The Man represents the entertainment lover in all of us.

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Comments for Blog Checkpoint 2

The Glass of Water- commented on EmpressEllie's blog

Noises Off- commented on Gracie's Theatre 2130 blog

Water by the Spoonful- commented on Le Blog d'Analyse de Manuscrit de Shelly

Buried Child- commented on Garrett's Theatre blog

Detroit- commented on Dora Pereli's THTR 2130 blog

 

Detroit

I think that in Detroit by Lisa D’Amour, the overall tone is set by the intimacy the reader has in the lives of the characters. Throughout the play, they are constantly revealing surprising and vulnerable details of their past. What seems like an average couple quickly becomes a quirky couple to say the least.

When the big bomb is dropped, that Ben hasn’t really been building a website, it is a reality check of sorts. The entire play is filled with these reality checks, big and small, and the reactions of those who experience them.

I think that she chose to name the play Detroit because of two reasons. The first is because it is a metropolitan city that people have heard of, which gives it a generic, relatable quality. However, another thing that the name Detroit carries with it is a certain reputation. The city is known for its poverty and crime rates. This can create and uneasy air and the feeling of suspense. It goes to show that everyone is not who you think they are.
       

A Spoonful of Water

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In A Spoonful of Water of by Hudes, I found one particular moment that I felt revealed a lot about the characters. Scene 7 is the very first time that Odessa and Elliot encounter each other. Up until this point, we have been focusing on Haikumom, Odessa’s online personality. We have gotten to know that she likes to mother everyone in the chatroom, but slacks on her duties at home with her own, living son.

The connection between Elliot and Odessa provides a nice contrast between the true Odessa and Haikumom. The reader can pick up on cues that Haikumom is kind if a false reality, one that Odessa wishes were true. She likes feeling needed by the chat room family, but ignores her actual child. This is the first time the reader sees those choices affect her in real life. Haikumom is Odessa's escape where she can be the loving and nurturing mother she never was.

This scene feels like a breaking point, where Odessa is being forces to see her fake world and real world collide. She can no longer escape from reality.

       

Buried Child

Buried Child, by Sam Shepard may appear to be realistic at first glance. However, as the play progresses, the audience is thrown for a loop when some things that occur are very out of the ordinary. The overall tone that I got was that most of the occurrences were possible, but the lining up of certain events is very ambiguous.  The play opens on a house with two characters, Dodge and Halie. They seem “normal” but as the show goes on, we realize that they are not living in a normal world.

 The characters Dodge and Halie have lines of communication that are blurry. Often, they talk but it appears that they aren't actually hearing what the other one is saying. Even at times other characters do not seem to acknowledge them, even if they are their own family.
       It is definitely a theatrical production, though it might not come off that way at first. Everything is just slightly off reality. Several things when I read the play I found “fishy.” Some things that the characters said were directly contrasted by something else in the show later on or previously. The ambiguity for me caused some confusion, but I think I would understand better if I saw the show.