agfantasticks

Fantasticks Writing Assignment


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

A major character is generally the main and most important character in the work, or the protagonist. A minor character is not as important as the major character, but it still necessary for the story line to develop. The main difference between the major and minor characters is that the minor characters could not exist in a story line without the major characters; however, major characters need the minor characters to fully develop throughout the story. The major characters in Fantasticks are Matt and Luisa. The play centers on their tangled romance. Minor characters include the Matt and Luisa’s fathers, Henry, Mortimer, and the mime that portrays the wall. El Gallo could also be considered a major character due to his role as El Gallo and the narrator. His part as narrator is very important to the progression of the musical and helps the audience understand some of the events that are transpiring.


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

My favorite character was Luisa’s father. I think he provided a lot of comedic relief without being in the play solely for comedic relief. I think Luisa did an excellent job playing her part. In the majority of the first act, I believed that she was, in fact, crazy as she was described. Her mannerisms and certain actions made her character appear crazy. I was a little confused why the characters only looked at their puppets. I also really enjoyed the Mime’s performance. I feel like he was able to contribute to the show without speaking with takes a lot of talent. He did an excellent job playing his role. It is difficult to contribute to a musical as much as he did without speaking at all.


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

I can sympathize with Luisa and Matt. They both desire to see the world beyond their yard. Matt naively goes out to see the world after seeing the reality of his and Luisa’s situation in the light of day. Also, Luisa makes reference to wanting to see the world when she sees El Gallo in the tree in her front yard, but says that she cannot see the world from the tree like El Gallo can. I do not think that she cannot see what El Gallo sees, but she does not know what she is looking at or for from her perch on the tree. After growing up in my hometown, I also wanted to get out and go experience things on my own. However, like Matt and Luisa, I also soon realized that sometimes there is nothing like coming back home. While I love being in Athens, there is nothing like going home to visit my family after being away for a couple months.


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

I understand how Luisa and Matt felt when they saw each other in the sunlight. Sometimes, things are not always as they appear. They experienced this literally with the sunlight exposing all the character flaws that bothered them about the other. Sometimes people try to deceive you as to their true character, but in the end, true character and flaws are revealed. Also, Luisa’s feelings when she is falling in love for the first time can by understood by most teenagers at some point, especially girls. Nothing can relate to the feelings associated with falling in love for the first time; however, these feelings can also dissipate easily in the light of day when someone’s true character is revealed.


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

At the beginning of the play, Luisa is described as a crazy, self-absorbed girl. She thinks she is a princess. She meets Matt in secret in moonlight and fall in love. When she sees Matt in the daylight, she does not think he is good enough for her. However, by the end of the play when Matt has left her, she begins to miss what she used to have. By the end of the play, she seems more relaxed and less concerned with her beauty and appearance. At the beginning of the play, when Matt is singing about her, she simply agrees with all the nice things he says about her. It seems as though she only likes him because he compliments her. By the end of the play, when Matt returns bloodied and scratched, Luisa is concerned about him and is caring. Once Matt leaves to go see the world and El Gallo leaves her, a change can be seen in Luisa. She is no longer the silly, carefree girl she used to be. She is more serious, sees past the surface appearance of others, and is less concerned with her own appearance. Matt goes from a naïve, young boy obsessed with his pretty next-door neighbor to a more mature person. A shift can be seen in his character when the sun comes up and the negative parts of Luisa are revealed. The major change in his character happens when he goes off to see the world. When he returns to his home, he seems older and more weathered. He is no longer naïve after seeing the horrors and difficulties in the world.


 *  What does El Gallo mean when he says he will remember the girl’s kiss? Use an analytical approach. **

El Gallo says that he will remember the girl’s kiss right before he leaves her. He says this because he knows he is leaving her right after she turns away. He will remember the kiss because it will remind him of his deception of Luisa. While this is what eventually brings Matt and Luisa back together, it hurt Luisa in the process. Matt tries to stop him from leaving because he knows it will hurt Luisa. When Luisa returns she is devastated and begins crying, allowing Matt to comfort her and tell her about his travels. When El Gallo returns as the narrator, he makes reference that he must hurt Matt and Luisa so they can find each other again and realize that all they want and need is each other. It is also possible that El Gallo does actually care about Luisa, but knows that she is still in love with Matt and that he must hurt her so Matt and Luisa can realize that they just want each other.


 *  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. **

Luisa’s father is much more eccentric than Matt’s father. Matt’s father appears to be very concerned with structure and order, probably due to his background in the navy. Their differences in views on life and parenting views are most strongly demonstrated through their different gardening styles. Matt’s father is most concerned with pruning the plants, whereas Luisa’s father believes showering the plants with an abundance of water is most important. Their differences can also be seen through the props that they carry. Bellomy, Luisa's father, carries around a watering can, showing his emphasis on watering his plants which can be related to his parenting style of showering his child with love and affection. Hucklebee, Matt's father is more strict which can be seen through the use of his main prop, a pair of garden clippers. This prop portrayed the importance he puts on pruning his plants which can be related to his emphasis on keeping his child in line with rules and scoldings. The actors who played each of the fathers were very effective. I really enjoyed Luisa’s father’s performance. I thought he portrayed his eccentric character very well. Both of the fathers were able to work together to create a very comedic performance. They delivered some of the funniest lines in the play. Luisa's father reminded me slightly of the father in the movie, __Father of the Bride,__ when they were discussing the abduction. He did not want to have to pay for such a lavish event, but got caught up in the moment and ended up footing the bill. He cares about his daughter and did not want to spare any expense for her in the end, similar to the father character in this movie.


 *  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. **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Henry and Mortimer were very funny characters, and the actors playing these characters were excellent at their roles. Their personalities compliment each other. While Mortimer rarely speaks, Henry is loud enough and speaks enough for the two of them. Their acting talents compliment each other as well. Henry is an old actor that claims to be proficient and can finish any line that is started. He prefers long monologues that put him in the spotlight. Mortimer is an expert at dying scenes and dies multiple times throughout the musical. The actors that played these roles were very effective as well. They portrayed their comedic and unusual characters perfectly. This pair could have come together after being rejected and excluded from other theatre groups for their eccentric personalities and actions. They do more than just provide comedic relief to the musical though. They also serve to help El Gallo during the abduction of Luisa. Giving El Gallo power over these characters allows him more power and importance as a character in the musical.