GFRealism

Realism Assignment discussing set, dialogue, scenery, lights, etc. in the videos.

Realism Out of many of these examples of realism, I thought that Edmund's speech about the sea from __Long Day's Journey Into Night__. was one of the best examples of realism. As said by the book, "realism became a dominant force in the theatre" because people became interested in "questions of how individuals are defined by or overcome the limitations placed on them by circumstances of their history, their environments..." etc. Edmund talks about his experience at sea and says repeatedly that "I lost my life, I actually LOST my life". He sits calmly rocking on a chair talking to someone who does not intervene. It is his Edmund talking to himself and his experience. That scene concerned a man and his fight against his environment. In Checkov's __The Cherry Orchard__ with Judi Dench, the situation is slightly different. The situation is more based on the social position and financial situation of the Russian women, who are about to lose their home. The setting is in a house, mostly bare. Like other examples of realism, the emphasis is on the main characters and their situation. Almost everything they say is relevant to them. It is dramatic, but not really theatrical. Contemporary American Realism One of the first videos I watched was from David Mamet's __Oleanna__. It involved a heated discussion between a young female student and her professor. The most striking aspect of the play was how the set was designed. The lights shone on the two characters, both sitting at desks. The woman, in the inferior position, sits in a smaller desk, while the professor is in a crowded, larger desk. The lack of props makes sure that the audience is not distracted. There are only the man and the woman arguing in their desks. Nothing else. Another, slightly different play was Sam Shepard's __True West__ with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. The background in this scene filled with warm colors, in a smaller house in what seems to be in the West. The characters are more defined by their actions and words. One of the main characters is seen smoking a cigarette, stopping only to take sips from a bottle. His clothes are dirty and worn, more from laziness than work. He expressed his distaste in his life but doesn't seem to want to do much about it. His brother, who wears a collared shirt and large glasses, seems more sophisticated, shown in his dress and his dialogue (not a strong accent). Although there is more of a setting in this play than in __Oleanna__, this play utilized personal props in a n effective way.This example represents many important parts of contemporary realism in its use of local language and a small number of important props.