Prompt 14: Drowsy Chaperone

So, I'm not really sure how to answer this prompt since I don't really know anything about analyzing musicals, but I'll give it my best shot. 

I think that there is a definite choice about which songs are chosen for the show. If there wasn't a choice they could have random parts of the script be only song and text, but there's a reason that songs are chosen. For example, Janet Van De Graff claims that she's ready to move on from show life and settle down. However we see her sing 'Show Off' where she's clearly giving everyone a last show before tying the knot. Another example would be how Robert is ready to marry Janet but suddenly gets 'Cold Feets.' These songs I think are not only important choices but are also there for moments of tension and release. 'I Am Aldopho' is a great comedic song that distracts everyone for a moment about the tension that is happening for Mr. Felzdig along with Robert and his nervous jitters. None of the songs within the show are actually dark to cause tension. Most are upbeat and light to create enjoyment and release tension from any previous moments. 

Blog Comments

Here they are:

http://chassitycurlean.blogspot.com/2013/04/three-viewings.html?showComment=1367537626118#c3572428321300811965

http://korn2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/on-verge.html?showComment=1367538322232#c1593259644859442594

http://dvibe2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/three-viewings.html?showComment=1367538882727#c1719841462285945442

http://yvettebourgeoisthtr2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/show-and-tell-post-3.html?showComment=1367539313648#c7015688174705703945

http://mylittletrailofcrumbs.blogspot.com/2013/04/hatcher-three-viewings.html?showComment=1367539679560

Prompt 13: Three Viewings

So, something that I noticed is similar in all the monologues is the location at Green Mill Luncheonette. I don't know if anyone else in class noticed it but I did when reading the play. In case you didn't realize, it's the place that Virginia met her husband Ed on February 22, 1955, it's where Emil and Terri/Tessie have lunch, and it's where Jane goes to get drunk and meets Duane who can't remove his wedding ring fast enough. So now you know.

So, I guess I'll try the last section of the blog prompt. Something that I noticed is similar in all the monologues are the floral arrangements in each one, but they are different colors in each monologue. If you didn't realize, the arrangement behind Emil is red and purple, Jane has white poinsettias, and Virgina has flowers of yellow and gold. The colors of the arrangements I think reflect the tone of each monologue. Emil has red and purple flowers. Red is always a color of passion and love, something that he strongly feels for Tessie/Terri, but can't muster up the courage to tell it to her face that he is in love with her. Purple represents pride, dignity or admiration. Again, Emil admires Tessie/Terri from afar and is lacking the pride he needs to tell her his feelings. He's envious of the man on the bus who confronts the woman, wanting to be like him. The white poinsettias may be Nettie's favorite flower, but the white means simple beauty. Like the beauty Jane sees in the simple tear dropped diamond ring that she wants from her grandmother. At the same time though she misses the simple beauty of having a normal life with her former husband and children. Lastly is Virginia and the yellows and golds. Yellow evokes feelings of happiness and joy, after all, the monologue may be about death but she's not sad. It's also represents friendship, like the one she shares with Tootie. Though she faces financial struggle she turns out happy in the end thanks to Tootie and Joy who have stuck with her.

Prompt 12: On the Verge

So. Mr. Coffee. I know in class that we discussed he could be the spirit of death, and I totally agree with this. At first I thought that maybe he was fate or destiny, but there are too many references to death for him not to be either of those. He knows the Grover is dead since he took his soul away when Grover committed suicide by jumping off a grain silo. He makes the remark that Fanny's dream about Grover was him saying goodbye. I believe he knows Fanny because he came looking for her when Grover originally declared her dead. I think Mr. Coffee is here to let Fanny know that her husband didn't make it and that he re-married after declaring her dead. Although, what I can't get over is why he is there to only give her that information/have a chat with her and not take her soul? Usually death means that you're going to die, so why didn't Mr. Coffee claim her soul then? Why did he visit her only once and plan to be back for her later. I don't know. It's something that's confused me. Anyone have any suggestions?

So I realized I did this and forget to do the first part. My poster would contain the image of a clock, but no numbers. Where the number would be I would take words from the play that no everyone may know to pique their interest. The clock hands would point to any two or the same word as the hands moved combining words that would either go well together or not make any sense. The background of the clock would be a map of where the ladies travel, and the full background would be black filled with stars. The poster would represent time and space itself along with discovers that they made along the way.

Prompt 11: Fires in the Mirror

So, it has come to my attention that there's a large part of the play that our artistic director wants to cut out, but let me tell you why this isn't in the best interest of the show. Although the included interviews are not related to the events surrounding the Crown Heights incident they are more an examination of ones self and where their beliefs/morals lie. The words in the monologues also contain background information that set up for the actual incident. Without these monologues of exposition it won't make any sense as to why the riot broke out in the first place. This information is needed to set up what is about to come when the play moves into the actual events of the riot. 

What good is experiencing event without first examining ourselves and our beliefs to decide where we stand on the matter. In order to be affected by the incidents that will later be explained in the monologues it must be show where people stand on race, religion, etc and how this event affects those beliefs.

Comment Links

Here is where I have posted.

http://dvibe2130.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-glass-of-water.html?showComment=1365642356316#c8275165854424705810

http://korn2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/buried-child.html?showComment=1365642875602#c1048169425749308451

http://dorapereli2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/water-by-spoonful-response.html?showComment=1365643503459#c7693743387575253119

http://2130coryvincent.blogspot.com/2013/04/detroit-detroit.html?showComment=1365798097877#c3078654923102995747

http://dvibe2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/water-by-spoonful.html?showComment=1365798967340#c6786107650897882560

Prompt 10: Detroit

Detroit was once a city that was thriving and creating jobs for the working man. To have a job making money and a family was an American dream that many wanted to achieve in their lifetime. However within the last several years the city has been on a decline. Many of factors there that once provided thousands of jobs have now closed and remain abandoned. Even though the play doesn't take place in Detroit, this idea of having a dream, or the American Dream, is still heavy in our time. In any city it is possible to achieve this dream or at least work towards it. That's why D'Amour didn't set it in just Detroit. Detroit isn't the only place that the American Dream can be achieved or lost. Portland, Oregon is currently experiencing the same thing. Many people who have worked hard in their job, have a family and home are being laid off from work. Suddenly they are struggling to put food on the table and pay for electricity. This can happen anywhere.

I also highly recommend the HBO Documentary Film American Winter which focuses on five families in Portland who are struggling with poverty.