The director and the designers were able to collaborate well and produce a play that was very intriguing and fun to watch. The design for the costumes were very interesting but the set and lighting designers especially did a great job, with the way they were able to convey the messages of the play. The group of designers that worked together to make this play a reality were very careful with the way they designed their portion of products. I like how the designs supported the script very well. The play looked very organized and well planned out with way things were designed.
Death and the Maiden Essay Question: ‘Dramatic structure is not random or arbitory it imposes recognisable order to human behaviour and events’. In what ways has the structure of ‘Death and the Maiden’ imposed some order on the human events of the play? Dramatic and literary structure are not random or arbitory, they are specifically designed by the playwright to fulfill specific purposes and aims. Dramatic and literary structure can be used to convey central themes and messages, enhance the viewing experience or to emphasize mood, atmosphere and characterization all of which are vital parts of any play. Consequently as these dramatic and literary techniques are structured they do in fact impose a recognizable order on human behaviour and events however this is an unavoidable part of theatre as plays are a story and a story must have structure to give it meaning and make it entertaining.
Dictionary.com defines improvise as “to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation”. This basic idea has been used as a form of expression for many years, dating as far back as the 16th century. Improvisational theatre develops ones simplistic ability to listen, cooperate, have confidence and follow instincts. For the actor, it requires great focus and concentration as well as an apt understanding of key dramatic processes. The qualities of a good improviser include patience, the ability to share and be creative, energy, generosity, a positive attitude and open-mindedness.
Wilde’s play does not celebrate marriage as the ultimate alliance by love, instead preferring to expose its “unstylish” side stained by hypocrisy and shallowness. It’s quite clear that the institution of marriage is being lightheartedly ridiculed in The Importance of Being Earnest. The main characters in the play appear to treat marriage as something frivolous and are oblivious to the concept of mutual commitment. Cecily and Gwendolen only want to marry Algernon and Jack because they are convinced that their names are Ernest. As Gwendolen points out to Jack early in the play, “…My ideal has always been to love some one of the name of Ernest.
Wilde: Flaunting Societal Flaws with Literary Device The Importance of Being Earnest is a product of the “sober and dutiful earnestness” that (Tosh 12) commanded the times coupled with the author's palpable disdain for the same. Like his main characters Jack/Ernest Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, Oscar Wilde relies heavily on a purposeful duality; as an effective mechanism of humor, he stands the societal mores of the day on end, while the subtext beneath the comedy, fluff and wit, fingers the despicable hypocrisy of Victorian Society that ultimately brought Wilde to personal ruin (Grill 7). Wilde's writing reflects his own philosophies, namely his devotion to art above truth, and his highly prized individualism (Gale 1201). He himself has described The Importance of Being Earnest as "about characters who trivialize serious matters and solemnize trivial matters,” the very epitome of Victorian manners (Mitchell 262). Along this vein, Wilde calls on an arsenal of literary devices with which he reproaches a puerile Victorian society for holding ideals absent of sincerity, it's use of marriage as the currency of social status, and for maintaining the class divide.
Mistaken identity, dramatic irony and disguise serve a large role in making this play, Twelfth Night comedic. Malvolio is convinced Olivia is in love with him because of Maria’s letter. Sir Andrew is completely oblivious to the fact that Sir Toby Belch is befriending him to use him for his wealth. As Viola decides to disguise herself as a young man to keep safe, the potential for mistaken identity arises between her and her twin brother Sebastian. Meaning to embarrass and fool Malvolio, Maria, with the help of Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew, writes a mysterious love letter to Malvolio.
Desdemona is Othello’s wife who he is madly in love with and Iago preys upon Othello’s jealous personality and trusting nature to convince Othello of his wife’s infidelity resulting in the ultimate downfall of Othello – death. Othello’s downfall is caused by his own weakness due to his trusting nature and willingness to believe anything he is told. Early in the play, it becomes evident that Othello is blind to Iago’s evil when Iago says “I am not what I am” (I.i,65). This statement foreshadows Othello’s downfall as it is his trust in Iago, which causes it. Othello believes Iago’s lies and always listens to his advice throughout the play.
In this way, the ‘earnestness’ of these two men is shown. Another of the conflicts that occurs in the play is marriage, and the guardians assent required for marriage. When Jack wishes to marry Gwendolyn, Lady Bracknell disapproves, so Jack refuses to allow Algernon to marry Cecily. This trivialising of the sacrosanct institution of marriage shows Wilde’s view on the matter: he saw it as “a practise surrounded by absurdity and hypocrisy.” In addition to this, both Gwendolyn and Cecily are sure that they could not possibly love someone whose name was not Earnet, which both Algy and Jack are not. (until Jack discovers his real name and family at the end.)
Shakespeare on Trial represented “Romeo and Juliet” quite well. First of all, it incorporated many various scenes within the performance, such as the balcony scene or the death of Mercutio. Additionally, the dialogue was exactly the same in the performance as it was in the original Romeo and Juliet play. This definitely assisted in the understanding of the performance because the
The above blank verse is an insightful soliloquy of Hamlet displaying struggle and disillusionment. Explain how Shakespeare Hamlet continues to engage audiences through it dramatic treatment of soliloquies and asides. In the light of your critical study, does this statement resonate with you own perspective and voice in the ‘tone’ of Hamlet. In your response, make detailed references to the play. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1599-1601) has successfully continued to engage audiences through its dramatic treatments of soliloquies and asides.