OurTownTCwiki

__**Module on Acting**__
 * Your text offers suggestion on two basic approaches to acting, ie. the internal and the external. Chose either one and take the scene between Emily and George as your reference point and develop a fragment of "inner monologue" OR tactic concerning interpretation underlying a short section from the scene. I suggest the men choose to deal with George and the women choose to deal with Emily, although if you wish you may choose to develop an "inner monologue" or "external tactic" for either character. You may use up to 500 words for this module, given the complexity of the requirement. Be sure you let me know exactly which section of dialogue you plan to use for developing your answer.**

The relationship between Emily and George in the play __Our Town__ is a complex one because as adolescents, they have trouble expressing their emotions clearly. Emily and George speak in euphemisms and don’t directly address the matter at hand because of its heavy nature. Love puts people in a venerable position, so they avoid discussing emotions directly until they know the feeling is mutual. Emily begins to realize that George has feelings for her, but she is still unsure of how serious he is:

//[Act II p.54]// //George: Emily, if I go away to State Agriculture College next year// **//(The thought hurts Emily and she turns down R. biting lip)//**//, will you write me a letter every once in a while?//
 * //Emily: (Winks back tears.)//** //I certainly will. I certainly will, George.// **//It certainly seems like being away three years you’d get out of touch with things. Maybe Grover’s Corners wouldn’t be so interesting after a while. Grover’s Corners isn’t a very important place when you think of--all New Hampshire; but I think it’s a very nice town.//**

Emily’s actions and words during this exchange completely reveal her feelings, try as she might to hide them. She bites her lips and winks back tears because she can’t bear the thought of George leaving, but she doesn’t want him to know how attached she really is. Her response to his suggestion also indicates that she is unsure of how George feels about her. When she says that Grover’s Corners wouldn’t be so interesting compared to the rest of New Hampshire, she is really speaking about herself. Emily is really saying that after a while at college, George is likely to forget about her because there are much more interesting things out there in the world. The actor’s tone and actions during this scene are critical so the audience can see the true meaning behind her words. Without this element, the audience has no way of knowing how Emily feels about George, because she certainly won’t come right out and say it. Her self-deprecating tone prompts George to reassure her of how he really feels about her.

//George: The day wouldn’t come when I wouldn’t want to know everything about// **//our town//**//. I know that’s true.//

George also admits his feelings without directly saying anything. His words “our town” really mean Emily or his relationship with Emily. He means he’ll never forget about her or become bored with her. Those simple words give the play its title because the play isn’t really about a town, its a love story. The actor playing George has to deliver these lines with urgency and with a tone of reassurance so the audience knows he understands how Emily feels and is trying to express himself indirectly as well.The actors rely on the subtext of this scene because the characters themselves are too shy to admit their feelings.