Fratto,+Melanie

@MF realism

@Directing Module

Your text offers suggestion on two basic approaches to acting, ie. the internal and the external. Chose either one and take the scene between Emily and George as your reference point and develop a fragment of "inner monologue" OR tactic concerning interpretation underlying a short section from the scene. I suggest the men choose to deal with George and the women choose to deal with Emily, although if you wish you may choose to develop an "inner monologue" or "external tactic" for either character. You may use up to 500 words for this module, given the complexity of the requirement. Be sure you let me know exactly which section of dialogue you plan to use for developing your answer.

For the play Our Town, I think an internal approach works best to aptly portray Emily. Any girl who has gone through the experience of liking a boy who she thought did not notice her but later realized that both of them just did not know how to act toward each other can also relate to Emily. I am writing an inner monologue for Emily starting after George begins talking about going to college next year.

At this point in the conversation, Emily is still trying to figure out how George feels toward her. She is trying not to sound too excited. She is trying to hint that she will continue to like him even if he leaves, but she is afraid he will grow out of their small town if he does. She may be thinking something along the lines of: “I’m so happy that you want me to write to you. I was afraid that you would lose touch with our small town if you left for too long. I like Grover’s Corner and I’m very comfortable here. You may outgrow me if you leave, but I’ll do my best to make you want to come back.”

When he starts talking about not going, Emily realizes that he definitely still cares for her, but again she doesn’t let herself get too excited. “You may not go? If you stay, are you saying you would want to date me? But I don’t want to hold you back from learning what a farmer needs to know to be successful. Maybe you should go. I don’t want to get my hopes up that you will stay.”

At this point, I think Emily realizes how silly she has been at some points, reading into George’s behavior in a negative way. “You have been watching me? I had no idea! I convinced myself you weren’t interested in me anymore, that you had grown out of our childhood friendship. I’m sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring you. If only I had known…”

Once George starts talking about finding someone, Emily realizes how much he likes her and gets overwhelmed by all that has gone on between them that afternoon. Both are unsure how far to go with their feeling and only hint at what they want. “You don’t have the faults I said you did; why did I say those things? Are you asking me to be your girlfriend? Are you asking me to marry you? Yes of course! Oh I must tell him I have always cared for him.”

This internal monologue is meant end to as Emily is saying the lines “I-I am now; and I always have been.” Exploring her character is interesting because even this play is set in a much earlier time, similar situations still occur between men and women today.

Word count:474

Contrast and compare the role and purpose of secular drama and theatre as an expression of the communities from which it arose and for which it has served with that of religious and ritual drama and theatre.

(GOOD ANSWER.) The purpose theatre serves in a community has evolved over time. Greek theatre evolved alongside the religious ceremonies of Dionysus (1). It continued to serve a mostly religious role through the Middle Ages until the Elizabethan times. At this time, theatre came to be a secular entity with (INSTEAD OF WITH WHY NOT "HAVING"?) a new role in society.

Religious and ritual drama and theatre is often meant to teach the beliefs of that religion to the community. It is to strengthen the unity of the community, and to show the members how to behave. The plays are put on by the community as a whole. They are often only done during religious seasons such as Easter or around harvest (2). The plays are a source of entertainment as well, but reinforcing religious beliefs and social values are the main roles of the theatre (3).

During the Elizabethan period, secular theatre grew in popularity. With the rise of lords and kings came funding for the arts including acting troupes (4). This made acting an occupation and theatre production a profitable year-round business. The plays put on by these acting troupes were mostly for entertainment, drawing on events with which the audience would be familiar. Since then, secular theatre has filled many roles in society. At times it can be politically charged and meant to challenge social norms. It has been used many times to give a voice to someone who has been oppressed by society in some way.

While ritual theatre serves to teach the lessons of a religion, secular theatre can be meant to entertain or to challenge society.

word count: 264

References: 1) Arnold. //The Creative Spirit//, p. 12. 2) Richmond lecture. 1/13/2012. 3) Arnold. //The Creative Spirit//, p. 26. 4) Richmond lecture. 1/18/2012.