Baltimore Waltz - Response

Please respond and comment on the play Baltimore Waltz by Paula Vogel.

You may wish to comment on the characters, the theme, the plot, the use of the third actor, the staging, or the writing. What major dramatic question is being asked? Is the play satirical or political? What human lesson are we to learn from reading (or seeing) this play? What surprised you, what interested you, what did you learn about playwriting from reading this play? Etc.

The Baltimore Waltz - Part One

Get into two groups of six today. Read the biographical information about Paula Vogel, "about the play", the playwrights' notes, and the letter from Vogel's brother, which was the inspiration for the play's idea.

Begin reading the script. Assign parts with the members of your group. Read the play aloud, so that you hear the dialogue spoken (as it is meant to be).

Stop after each scene and discuss any of the following:
1. The inciting incident
2. The protagonist's goals
3. The antagonist
4. The conflict
5. The importance of setting
6. The rising action/complications (how do these complicate the protagonists' goals?)
7. The crisis/dark moment
8. The enlightenment/epiphany
9. The climax
10. The denouement/the epiphany

Driving Miss Daisy - Personal Comments

Please make one or more of the following comments regarding Driving Miss Daisy (please post your comments to this website):

I don't understand...

I was reminded of...

I think...

I'm surprised that...

I'd like to know...

I realized...

If I were...

The central issue(s) here is (are)...

One consequence of ______ could be...

I noticed...

I wonder...

If ________, then...

I'm not sure...

Although it seems...

Driving Miss Daisy

Please check out and read Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry. Complete the reading of the play by next class (Monday, Oct. 27).

Night Mother - Discussion & Response

With a partner, discuss and complete the following questions to hand in:

1. What is the essential EVENT that occurs in Night Mother? (one act plays often deal with only one essential event; two act, three act, four act or five act plays deal with two or more.)

2. Who do you consider the play's protagonist; who is the antagonist?

3. Identify the INCITING INCIDENT in the play. What event brings Jessie and Mama into the action of the play?

4. Identify the MAJOR DRAMATIC QUESTION that an audience must ask in the play?

5. What is the conflict of the play? Is this conflict the same for Jessie as it is for Mama?

6. What episodes, complications, or rising action occurs in the play? (name 3)

7. What do you consider to be the crises or dark moment of the play?

8. What would you consider to be Jessie or Mama's ENLIGHTENMENT or EPIPHANY?

9. What is the climax of the play?

10. How does the MDQ (Major Dramatic Question) resolve? Is this a satisfying ending?

Then:

Please post your personal response to the play below.

Example prompts (pick one or more to respond to):

Is the play relevant in contemporary society? What did you realize after reading this play? Would you like to act or see this play performed? What aspect about the play did you learn something from: what did you learn about playwriting from the play? Do you think the characters are realistic or well drawn? Which character do you identify with most? Etc.

Night Mother

We are going to read Night Mother today.

1. Go to the library and pick up a copy of Marsha Norman's play Night Mother.

2. Get into groups of 3.

3. Each member of the group should read aloud, playing the part of Jessie, Mama, or the Stage Directions.

4. As you read, discuss as a group the following:

--The inciting incident
--Conflict (conflict needs to include a character's desire/goal + obstacle = conflict)
--The rising action (what is at stake for the characters; how does this change or not change?)
--The crisis (or dark moment)
--The climax
--The resolution
--What TRUTH is Marsha Norman dealing with in the play?
--The Unities: how does Marsha Norman keep the play going for so long with just one set and two characters? What tactics do her characters use to keep each other on stage?
--What kind of catharsis do you experience as a reader?

Playwrights' Festival - Save the Date!

Our annual Playwrights' Festival will occur on November 21 & November 22, in the Black Box Theatre, 7:00.

The show has been cast and is rehearsing. Playwrights should plan on attending the next two weeks of their show's rehearsal to help their actors.