ksfantasticks


 * THE FANTASTICKS WRITING ASSIGNMENT **


 * What is the different between a major and minor character? Who are the major characters and minor characters in Fantasticks? **

 Major characters are characters that the main plot focuses around. They typically have the most stage time (and song time in musicals) and have their own sub-plots that contribute to the overall plot. They also are the ones that typically overcome the obstacles and conflict within the play. The major characters in The Fantasticks were Luisa and Matt. These characters in the play have the distinct characteristics of a major character that I listed. First, they whole play revolved around their love story and how it evolved through out the play. They also spent the most time on the stage; even when the scene did not directly involve their characters, I was still able to find them on the stage (either facing the rear of the stage or up front facing the audience but not in lighting). In the beginning of the play, both Luisa and Matt introduced themselves and told about themselves. The including of these scenes reveals that their own sub-plots are important to the overall plot. Finally, they are the ones who had to overcome the obstacles within the play and were the ones who resolved the conflict (happily being together as a couple) at the end of the play.

 Minor characters are the characters who story supports the story of the major characters. Their stories aid in the audience's understanding of the overall conflict and often support the major characters in overcoming this conflict. The minor characters were the Mute, El Gallo, Hucklebee, Bellomy, Henry, and Mortimer. The Mute played the role in establishing the scenes. For example, he provided the "swords" that Henry, Mortimer, El Gallo, and Matt used, and he also represented the wall that divided the two households. El Gallo's purpose was to bring the two major characters back together and fall in love again; even though he narrates most of the play, his main purpose is to tell the story of Luisa and Matt, which distinguishes him as a minor character. Hucklebee and Bellomy provided the initial obstacle for the major characters and aided in their separation as a couple later in the play. Finally Henry and Mortimer provided comic relief for the audience and assisted in El Gallo's mission. These characters, although not the major characters, provide a more rounded and interesting plot.


 * Who is your favorite character? Why? Who played their part the best? Why? **

My favorite characters were Hucklebee and Bellomy. They provided the best comic relief for the audience, and I found that their scenes not only could be applied in real life, which I found interesting, but also found comedic angles to issues that real life parents face with their children. By singing about vegetables being a better alternative to children because they were more predictable I found very funny, and I feel that many parents could relate to this statement as well. I believe Stephanie Becastow played her character, Luisa, the best. This is because she was expressive and embodied the different attitudes of her character. Even when she was using the puppet in the beginning of the play, I was able to better understand the emotion of what her "puppet was feeling" through her own facial expressions. I felt this was important because emotion can sometimes be lost when using puppets because they cannot show facial or body language like live actors can. But these were not missed in her part because she wonderfully showed them despite using a puppet.


 * With which character did you sympathize the most? Why? **

I sympathized with Matt the most. This is because it was evident that he was unsure of his identity and own self- worth. I make this claim first because of his "monologue" in the beginning of the play. Luisa had a long monologue about herself and how wonderful she is. She seems very self confident in herself and has an overwhelming amount of self worth. However when it is Matt's turn to speak, he just claims that he loves Luisa and that is it. It is evident that he has little interests other than Luisa and this reflects on his character. Second, when him and Luisa are having problems, he thinks that his only option is to run off with many girls and gamble. I find this unfortunate because it shows confusion and an unhealthy way of rebellion. It also is very stereotypical of a male character that when his significant other and him are having problems that the man will run off, cheat, and participate in gambling. I feel that this is an unfortunate reflection of his male character. Finally, in the end of the play it is revealed that while Luisa was in a trance, he was beat and tortured. The worst part is that this was promoted by his own wife. I feel sorry for him that he had to go through that and all Luisa went through was being put into a trance. Overall, I sympathize with Matt the most due to his internal struggle throughout the play.


 * Did you recognize anything that reminded you of yourself in the characters? Explain. **

I did recognize some of myself in Hucklebee and Bellomy. This is because, just as they did with their children, I also try to find humor in bad situations. It is evident that even when they are worried about their children, they joke about how vegetables are easier and find comic relief in the situation. I find that I often use this same technique when something is awkward or upsetting; often I will joke about the situation to try to lighten the mood. Second I see myself connect to them when they are gardening in their own ways. Each character, Hucklebee and Bellomy, have their own specific and hard headed reasons for gardening the way they do. I have been told in the past that I can be hard headed about ways I do certain things. Often I will continue to do things like I always have regardless of a better or more efficient way.


 * How do the boy (Matt) and the girl (Luisa) change by the time the play ends? Identify specific moments of change. **

It is very evident that Matt and Luisa change by the end of the play. In the beginning of the play, they are immature and hopelessly in love. This is marked in the play by the use of the puppets, which I believe symbolizes the characters' juvenile attitudes and actions. This part reminded me of Romeo and Juliet characters who would do anything to be together, but they are not yet mature enough to think through the consequences of their actions. After the sword fight with El Gallo, the puppets are removed and this shows a distinct change in the characters. From this point on they progress from anger about the situation and dislike towards each other, to a much more mature relationship that is less revolved around their own selves, but each other and their parents. The overall change is Matt and Luisa becoming adults. This "coming of age" is marked by their maturity in their relationship and the less superficial viewpoints on things.


 * What does El Gallo mean when he says he will remember the girl’s kiss? How well does he play this role? **

El Gallo says this because this is the only token he will take away from the experience. His main purpose in the play was to bring Luisa and Matt together and stronger in the end despite the struggles they would have to overcome to get there. El Gallo even sings a song in the end of the play, which mirrors the song he sings in the beginning of the play, implying that bad things can lead to good things and are necessary to get the best outcome in the end.

El Gallo effectively plays the role as the manipulator of the situation, similar to the role of a puppeteer. He manipulates the actions of both Luisa and Matt by setting them up to act they way they do. For Luisa, he plays into her craving for a "prince" figure. He uses his good looks and bad boy charm to lure her away from Matt and to him. This becomes a test for her love for Matt, which she realizes after the kiss and El Gallo leaves her. El Gallo sets Matt up as well by encouraging his manhood through the sword fight, and once Matt finds out that it was false, he feels the need to prove his manhood. This drives Matt to leave and get caught up in the bad situation with Mortimer and Henry. This as well is a test of Matt's love and dedication to his love back home. The actor, Edward McCreary, plays El Gallo fantastically. He embodies the character as being deceptive; however, he also reveals emotion and sympathy, which allows the audience to realize the true meaning behind his intentions.


 * How are the fathers different from one another? What other characters in film or TV do they resemble? Reference how effective the actors were when you discuss the characters. **

The main difference between the two fathers are how they choose to garden. This become obvious in the beginning of the play when Hucklebee chooses to prune his flowers and Bellomy chooses to water them excessively. This reflects their parenting techniques; Hucklebee feels that limiting his child will allow him to grow within good boundaries, and Bellomy feels like encouragement is the best way to allow his child to prosper. This is obvious based on the characters of their children. Luisa, Bellomy's child, was much more expressive and overly self- confident, but Matt, Hucklebee's child, is much more reserved and less outgoing. The actors were effective in portraying this because of how expressive they were when they were gardening. The audience could sense how important their unique gardening styles were, which allowed for the audience to realize that this was something of importance. Because the actors were so effective, the audience is able to make the connection between the gardens and their parenting styles rather than pass the scenes off as for pure entertainment. In the beginning of the play, the parents resemble the parents in Romeo and Juliet because of their feud and hate towards each other. However, once their true intentions are resolved they resemble Fran and Maxwell, to me, because Fran is overly expressive and highly encouraging of the children, like Bellomy, and Maxwell is the much more structured and reserved parent, like Hucklebee.


 * Discuss Henry and Mortimor as characters and how effective the actors were in their role. What is their function beyond comedic relief? Compare theatrical histories and comment on why they ended up as a pair. **

The characters of Henry and Mortimer were played effectively by the actors. Not only were they convincing and funny, but also very skillful. A few of the scenes required them to hide in a chest, sword fight, and lay and play dead in the front of the stage for a long time. This was evident of their talents and they played their roles with a lot of emotion and expression. Their function besides comic relief is to bring in elements of other plays. They often referenced Shakespeare, which not only added to the play's credibility and interest as a whole but offered a ironic twist because the play is suppose to be a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet. It is evident because of their masks, they are suppose to resemble clowns. Hucklebee and Bellomy wore masks in the beginning as well, but they were later removed as the play progressed. This is not consistent with Henry and Mortimer so it suggests that the funny masks are essential to the portrayal of their characters. Henry is evidently the leader between the two and Mortimer follows in suit. I would imagine that they are working with El Gallo because of a desperate need for jobs because they are jobless entertainers, which brought Henry and Mortimer together as a pair. This reminds me of when we learned about the actors of the dark period. Before the time of Shakespeare, there was little theatre and actors often went to the countryside acting on wagons or performing for small groups of people in pubs, inns, etc. Just like these actors were desperate to work and entertain, Henry and Mortimer do the same as well-- jumping from job to job and performance to performance.