AM Realism+Assignment

Alex Moosariparambil Dr. Richmond THEA 2100H 23 October 2011 Realism in Theater Realism as a trend in theatre was a movement to help an audience connect to plays and performers. The following examples helped to demonstrate this style in terms of dialogue, setting, and costuming.

In //The Cherry Orchard//, there are profound examples of realistic elements. Starting with the costuming, the characters do a good job of setting the scene of a wintery escapade. From the descriptive dialogue, character’s costumes, and setting of the house, the audience is placed in a Russian wintertime. There is a similar effect from //Hedda Gabler//. The elaborate setting, especially the fire, helps to place the audience in the setting of the play. In addition, the dialogue focusing on wealth, wife, and success help to keep the audience engaged.

Dialogue in realism is important because the topics help to keep the audience engaged in the play. In //Iceman Cometh//, the monologue helps to describe the situation surrounding being the son of a preacher and how it affects him as a man. This dialogue is one that many people can relate to. Very similar to this situation is the situation between mother and son and father and son in //The Glass Menagerie// and //Fences//, respectively//.// In //The Glass Menagerie//, the discussion between mother and son is made of many common topics. These include things like books and movies that inappropriate, who pays the rent, and where he works. In //Fences//, the discussion between father and son about whether a father likes his son is something that most sons have faced at some time. Another important characteristic of the dialogue in a realistic style is the effective use of imagery and descriptive language. This helps the audience to visualize the scene of the play. In //Long Day’s Journey Into Night,// the use of these tools helps to paint a picture of a tumultuous sea.

In //Death of a Salesman, Oleanna, Glengarry Glen Ross,// and //True West// there is a distinct shift in tone and topic of the characters. Rather then grandiose discussions of wealth, the dialogues focused on more realistic topics of modern families and individuals. Miller’s piece showed what could be called a typical discussion between a husband and wife; their focus is on the events of the day and his wife believes he is working too hard. //Oleanna// focuses on a student and her professor. The setting is realistic with lighting focused on a single chair opposite of the typical teacher’s desk. Costumes are also very representative of a realistic piece, with the professor even wearing a tweed jacket. //Glengarry Glen Ross// shows a typical discussion between two businessmen at the end of a long day. As they sit in a smoked filled room the discussion surrounds the days events. Finally, in //True West//, the audiences sees a dialogue between men from different social strata. The range of topics go from girls to being able to support themselves.