Embedded Files
This scene introduces the audience to Adam's relationship with his good friends Phillip and Jenny. With your teacher discuss how this scene dramatically builds. Each line of dialogue is a springboard to bring the scene to its somewhat shocking and unexpected conclusion. The dramatic build is created in an ascending manner as the scene continually escalates.
This scene introduces the audience to Adam's relationship with his good friends Phillip and Jenny. With your teacher discuss how this scene dramatically builds. Each line of dialogue is a springboard to bring the scene to its somewhat shocking and unexpected conclusion. The dramatic build is created in an ascending manner as the scene continually escalates.
Discuss
Discuss
- Opening action: The two couples are having an informal drink in Jenny and Phillip's living room and the forthcoming marriage of the hosts is discussed.
- First build: It is revealed that Phillip stole Jenny away from Adam.
- Second build: The defacing of the statue in the Museum is discussed and escalates into a horrific and confronting argument about the nature of art and our moral values and attitudes.
- Closing action: Adam leaves with Evelyn and his former friendships are left hanging in the air.
From the audience's point of view this could be an unthinkable event as suddenly gender and friendship struggles are in the foreground.
Consider the quick fired lines, the punctuation and length of the speeches, as they are all part of this play's black comic structure. For example, up to this point in the play the characters have short sharp sentences and there are many attempts at overlapping and interruption and although this convention continues throughout this scene, larger chunks of dialogue are introduced. This structure does not slow the argument down, instead, the change of length adds intensity to the fight between the friends.
Evelyn is rather like a predator in this scene; each beat of dialogue slowly builds up to the foul augment.
Tension
Tension
Read through the scene and consider what the major tension is; tension of meeting a new person for the first time ... tension of difference of opinion about the meaning and nature of art ... tension of utter dislike ... tension of wanting to smooth everything over.
Tension is built up through the dialogue, which in turn creates the push and pull of the scene and adds to the rising conflict and therefore the Black Comedy.
Tension is built up through the dialogue, which in turn creates the push and pull of the scene and adds to the rising conflict and therefore the Black Comedy.
Evelyn's two speeches
Evelyn's two speeches
Logbook activity
Logbook activity
Analyse in detail the syntax of Evelyn's two larger speeches on pages 36 and 37. Answer the questions below in your logbook.
Analyse in detail the syntax of Evelyn's two larger speeches on pages 36 and 37. Answer the questions below in your logbook.
- What is the purpose and function of the commas?
- Each of her sentences have objectives? What are they?
- What is she thinking during the ... ?
- Why is she using questions to get her objectives across?
- What are her tactics?
- What tone of voice, pacing, inflection is being used and why?
- Why are the stage directions given at a precise moment during the speech on page 37?
- How do all these acting points add to the rising conflict in the scene and hence the Black Comedy?
Improvisation
Improvisation
In groups of 4, improvise whilst sight reading, using as much of the dialogue as possible. Dialogue must be delivered in a quick fired manner. The dramatic essence of the scene is that Evelyn is the predator. Each group is to explore the importance of stillness versus movement in this dramatic action and how it adds intensity to the dialogue.
Post-improvisation reflection
Post-improvisation reflection
- Why is Evelyn's dialogue structured so that she has longer speeches than previously in the play? What effect does this have on the argument?
- How did all the characters truthful acting add tot he black comic events of the scene?
- Why would this scene confront an audience?
- Why might audience members think 'Thank God' this is not happening to me?
- Is this scene the beginning of a cathartic response from the audience?
In your logbooks write out how the issues of this scene are structured, such as:
- the defacing of the statue
- what it means to be an artist
- is art subjective
You need to pay great detail to the characters language. For example, where and how it deteriorates into swearing and abuse and why this adds to the shock value of the scene.
Report abuse