AHSU+ASSIGNMENT+4


 * ASSIGNMENT 4 **

The text, __The Creative Spirit,__ defines realism as “A theatrical style that creates an illusion of daily life through the presentation of a detailed environment, natural actions, and language that sounds as if it were overheard in ordinary circumstances.” The clips of the following plays all demonstrated a sense of realism that reflects the time period in which they were written.

Elements of realism are expressed in the 1962 version of __The Cherry Orchard__ through the subject matter and staging of the production. The clip depicts two women gossiping about the hardships of becoming penniless and the denial that forms for those who used to live in luxury. They also talk of marrying into a wealthy family, and how it would resolve their worries. The maid working in the background as the two women are talking, a live dog as the crowd of people walk into the home, and the actual sound of birds in the distance add a realistic feel to the production. In addition, the actresses do not look into the audience as they talk, but talk as if they had no audience. The woman who did turn to face the audience was turning to look out the door, and her eyes seem to gaze into the distance.

__ Hedda Gabbler __ presents realism through the staging. The first scene depicted is the maid putting more wood into the fire. Instead of a prop, an actual fireplace is used. The set is extremely detailed, making it seem as if the audience was looking into an actual house and the family that lives within it. Even outside the windows, trees and singing birds are used. As in the __Cherry Orchard__, two women are gossiping about their worries as if there was no audience, and face each other while flitting about the house. The main topic and conflict in the play reflects a topic that caused many problems in daily life: money.

In __Miss Julie__ an actual stove is used to cook on and as in the previous two plays, the actors talk as if there is no audience present. The set in this production is also extremely detailed to make it seem as if the house was real, in addition to edible props. In the background of the couple’s conversation an actual party can be heard. Music, chattering, and cheering can be heard in the distance. The couple is depicted as upper class and are intent on keeping up their appearance as the upper class. These two actors are also gossiping. They talk about how “unladylike” Miss Julie is.

__ Iceman Cometh __ opens up with a man’s monologue in what seems like a café. Elements or realism can also be seen in the set. The café is extremely detailed and even brings in extra cast members to sit in the background just as a small shop would have. The man’s monologue seems very realistic. Like an average person in reality, he gets side tracked while telling his story, then continues with “…well anyways...” His diction also makes the whole monologue seem more realistic. He uses words that would be in a typical conversation on the streets, and his dialogue is without proper grammar.

During Edmund’s speech in __A Long Day’s Journey__ actual sounds of a typical shipyard are heard. In the distance a ship’s horn and bells can be heard. He talks of his failures as a man with a bleak future. A typical realistic characteristic, he reflects on his past and how his birth as a man has affected his future.

Even without an image to see, the clip for __A Death of a salesman__ still represents realism. Arthur Miller’s description of the scene is extremely descriptive, able to present a clear image of the scene. Just listening to the dialogue between the couple gives sense that the audience is eavesdropping into a life. The man seems to have returned home exhausted, and the woman attempts to comfort him. Like a real couple, she is worried that he is getting to old for his job, but he does not want to quit. The scene introduces a conflict that is also a major conflict in reality: money.

Money is also a major conflict in __The Glass Menagerie__. Tom is unsatisfied with where his life is and he wishes his family didn’t tie him down. The two people argue as if there is no audience. They face and yell at each other, and storm around the house. The set itself is extremely detailed, making the set seem like an actual house. The prop that Tom breaks is also actually made of real glass.

In __Oleana__ the two actors are discussing something together. One seems to be a professor. He acts just as a professor in life would act. He is busy writing something on his desk and drinks his coffee as he argues with his student. The subject matter represents a common problem in reality: Students do not understand, and Professors do not understand their students. They dress in typical student, teacher garments. The student is dressed casually in jeans while the professor is wearing a suit. The one difference between this production and the others in the previous clips is the set. Instead of a very intricate design to make the set seem as realistic as possible, the set is bare except for a cluttered desk and the chair the student sits in.

The clip of __Glengarry Glen Ross__ was interesting. The dialogue between the two men had been edited and looped to create a conversation between the two men. The audience does not actually know what the two men are talking about, but the realism lies in the setting. The two men are sitting in a bar of what seems to be a nice restaurant. There is distant chattering and glass clinking in the background and the two men are really smoking and eating. Again, the two men seem to be talking about a common problem, money.

__ True West __ represents realism in its set. The man is actually spraying water onto his plants and birds chirping can be heard in the background, a dog is barking, and children are playing. The two men seem to be of lower class, and their clothes are a good representation. One man is dressed in a simple undershirt and jeans, while the other man is dressed in casual clothes. In addition, one man is picking his nose in the beginning. Their diction is very vernacular. They curse, and their grammar is not perfect.

In __Fences with James Earl Jones__, realism is represented mainly through the character’s dialogue. The two black men have a very southern accent. Their word choice lacks grammar like a true conversation between two uneducated men, and includes words like “nigger” and “cracker.” The two men talk to each other as if there is no audience in the background watching them. In addition, they are in typical work clothes meant for manual labor. Realism brings in issues between family members, especially the relationship between the father and his son.