Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Durang's Titanic (Group Reading) & Scene #2

Please watch the following clip from the play Titanic.

Get into the following groups:

Group A: Tashae, Victoria, Justice, Jerry, Jenee, Ledibel, Monica

Group B: Alex, Valerie, Shayla, Marissa, Wade, Alaina, Addie

Group C: Khari, Zach, Aubrey, Whitney, Kennethea, Brianna, Nautica

Please read Durang's play Titanic. Each member of the group should play at least one role. As you read discuss the following:
1. Discuss the setting. How can lights and minimal set pieces be used effectively to keep the flow of action going from scene to scene.
2. Are there any scenes or characters that are not necessary or needed? Which ones? Why might they be included in the plot?
3. What seems to be Durang's theme or point?
4. If you were to write a Titanic play, what would you have done differently?

After reading and discussing, you will be asked to report out for the group.

With time remaining, please work on your one-act plays. Scene Two. See the blog entry below this one for instructions.

2 comments:

ViCTORiA .=] said...

Ledibel, Jenee, Monica,Victoria, Justice
!) Lights and set pieces are used to carry through the scenes because the lights turn off so that is hen a character comes in. Different set pieces are used to keep the action going and they are also easy set pieces that can be changed quickly.

2) We think that every character is actually needed to push the action forward.it is not that there is anything that is unneeded its just very inconsistent.

3) Durang's theme is that humans are dysfunctional and that we say and do things that are absurd. Durang's play also brings out how important the family dynamic is and how important it is to forgive.

4)if we were to write the Titanic play we would not have so many things going on and we would also not make Richard marry Teddy . Also we wouldn't have so many people marry each other for example Victoria marrying her daughter because it makes the play harder and more confusing to understand.

Alex said...

(Alex, Valerie, Shayla, Marissa, Wade, Alaina, Addie)

Stage lights allowed for a clean transition between one scene and another. By using set pieces along with stage lighting, a playwright can keep the action moving, while having a manageable amount set pieces (to prevent a jumble of items not relevant to the scene at hand).

We all had different opinions on which characters weren't all that relevant to the story, but we agreed that Durang placed them in the plot to keep things lively for the audience. (i.e. Lidia/Harriet/Anabella)

Durang's theme seems to be that people, despite no matter how many times they mention a moral of theirs, usually go against it through either an action or something they themselves say. Also, there is the aspect of forgiveness and how family, no matter what, will stick by you.

4. Make Lidia/Harriet/Anabella get her MPD in check. And make sure that she keeps her legs closed.

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