ppdesign

This work is clearly not designed to be representational, but rather is a presentational piece. In light of this, the performers are not attempting to connect with the audience on a personal level. Rather, they are portraying a humorous piece. Because of this, their relationship with the audience is one where they are clearly acting for the audience, not attempting to engage the audience in a dramatic or soul-stirring sense.  ** 2. **** Are the performers and audience meant to occupy the same room? ** Due to the presentational quality of this work, the performers and audience are not sharing a single space. Rather, the audience is peeking into the world of Swift, Kafka, and Milton. They are not actively engaged with the performers in their lives, but instead are watching actions taking place in a particular setting.  ** 3. **** What is the period of the dramatic action? How does that effect movement? ** The performance is being undergone in a current time. This effects the movement since our three performers will be performing under conditions that are similar to present day. However, the fact that the performers are monkeys obviously makes this play a little different from most.  ** 4. **** What is the geographical location of the action? ** In this piece, the audience is not entirely sure of where the action is taking place. However, we do know that they are in some sort of laboratory or cage where they are being viewed by outsiders who are recording their actions and behavior. Judging from the text, we can also infer that the play is taking place in the United States, most likely New York City.  ** 5. **** What time of day is it? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As an audience, we are not exactly sure what time of day it is. Context clues suggest that it is some point during the daytime, but the fact that they are within a cage/lab prevents us from seeing what time of day it is outside. In this performance, it is not crucial that we as an audience are aware of the time of day that the actions are taking place. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How are the personalities of the characters reflected in the set, lights, costumes, and music? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The presence of a tire swing as part of the set clearly reminds us of the character of the monkeys. Also, trashcans filled with crumpled paper show how much trouble the monkeys are encountering in attempting to perform their task. The costumes, those of chimps in the circus, also have certain connotations. They reinforce the position of the performers as monkeys who are “putting on a show” for Rosenbaum. In reading the script, we are not entirely sure as to how lighting and music are used to enhance this production. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">7. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the weather? Is it hot or cold? Is it bright or dull? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since the performance takes place indoors, we can’t be sure as to the weather outside. However, we do know that bright, uncomfortable fluorescent lights are present and that the chimps do not enjoy sitting under these lights all day long. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the socio/economic status of the characters? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kafka, Swift, and Milton are forced into their current situation. They have no other choice but to spend their time in this cage, living their lives as an experiment. Therefore, they have no power and are simply a victim of the power of Rosenbaum. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">9. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What are the occupations of the characters? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The chimps are attempting to be writers, but have no idea where to start or how exactly this whole writing process takes place. Ironically, they are good writers; they just don’t know good writing when they see it. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">10. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How old are the characters? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Judging from the script, it is impossible to tell exactly how old all of the characters are in the play. The fact that Milton smokes cigarettes leads one to believe that they are not children, but we have no real concrete clues outside of this. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">11. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the relationship of the characters to each other? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The three chimps are all unhappy with their current situation. They do, however, share differing ideas on how they should approach their current situation. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">12. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Which characters are to be emphasized? Which are to be subordinated? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this performance, all of the characters hold a very similar weight. No one character seems to be more important than any other. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">13. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where are the entrances and exits? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During this play, all of the performers remain on the stage for the entirety of the play. Thus, there are no entrances and exits for this performance. Milton feels that they should buckle down and do their best to write // Hamlet //. On the other end of the spectrum, Swift is terribly upset with the injustices that he is suffering and feels the need to rebel. Kafka appears to be the most indifferent of the three, simply going with the flow. Ironically, she is the one who begins to produce // Hamlet // at the end of the play. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">14. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What are the furniture and property needs of the play and how do they reflect the characters and their actions? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This play requires three typing tables, three stools, three old typewriters, paper, and three wastebaskets overflowing with paper. This clearly shows that the characters are spending their time attempting to produce a piece of literature. The presence of a tire-swing reflects the absurdity of it all and reinforces the fact that the characters are chimps. The presence of a banana for Kafka, peanuts for Swift, and a cigarette for Milton help to further develop the characters and their mix between human/chimp.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. **** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What is meant to be the relationship of the performers to the audience?  **