NWDESIGN

Nicola Wynn Design Questions "Sure Thing"

1. What is meant to be the relationship of the performers to the audience? The performers and the audience do not interact, but the audience can relate to the characters because they are very simple and humanistic. They make many mistakes in their conversation that causes the conversation to end and the audience feels their frustration. But the audience also watches the conversation's successes and feels hopeful. 2. Are the performers and audience meant to occupy the same room? Yes. The play can be read as if the audience is sitting in the cafe overhearing the couple at the table. They are a part of the action and can use their own interpretations to add to the scene. 3. What is the period of dramatic action? How does that effect movement? The dramatic action happens with every ring of the bell. In each mini scene, there is a period of action because the audience doesn't know how the answer will impact the rest of the conversation. If it is a satisfactory answer, the conversation moves. If it is unsatisfactory, they must start completely over. 4. What is the geological location of the action? The geological location is in a city somewhere in Eastern North America. 5. What time of day is it? Rainy and Chilly Evening. 6. How are the personalities of the characters reflected in the set, costumes, and music? The set is a coffee shop, the costumes are regular street clothes, and the only music is the ringing of the bell to signal a mini scene change. The coffee shows simplicity the easy going nature of the characters. the ringing bell is a gentle way to signal a significant change. 7. What is the weather? Hot or cold? Bright or dull? Cold weather, dull outside but bright inside the cafe. 8. What is the socio/economic status of the characters? They are both poor people who were of low economic status. This is shown when Billy and Betty both say they "don't have the money on hand for a plane ticket" which, though joking, shows that they are not exactly rolling in money. 9. What are the occupations of the characters? Unspecified. The woman is probably more educated because she was reading highly intellectual books. 10. How old are the characters? Late Twenties 11. What is their relationship to each other? Single strangers who are interested in each other 12. Which characters are to be emphasized? Which are too be subordinated? Billy and Betty are emphasized equally, while some smaller characters are referenced in the background. The waitress character is often called but never shows up. Both of them mention ex lovers but with no real details, making them subordinate characters. 13. Where are the entrances and exits? In the beginning, Bill enters multiple times and asks if he can sit with Betty. When he finally gets her permission to sit there, they both remain seated for the rest of the scene. The play is set up so that there are lots of little overlapping scenes that change with the ringing of a bell. In a way, the beginning of each mini-scene is a new entrance because the characters start fresh. 14. What are the furniture and property needs of the play and how do they reflect the characters and their actions? The furniture is a cafe table with a couple of chairs. The simple set reflects the simplicity of the characters. Even though they have complicated lines, they are basically simple people. They both just want friendship and companionship in the world.