The play I attended and am doing my performance analysis on is “Doubt, a Parable” by John Patrick Shanley at the Gordon State College Theatre. I would like to start off by saying the play was quite moving and had a lot of meaning behind it. Shanley did a wonderful job at touching on subjects that were problematic for that time period. In 1964 homosexuality and race were not the only issues present but they were tremendous issues then, some may argue that they still are today. In this analysis I will focus on my opinion of the acting, design, and directing of the production. In this production of “Doubt, a Parable” the play consisted of four actors. In order of appearance, actor Zak Williams plays Father Flynn and opens the play with a …show more content…
Her voice projected very well but there were points in the play where I was unable to see her face. I also felt as if she overdid her part. She could have been just a little more subtle. Even though she was very dramatic her facial expressions really gave life to the play. I felt as if I could feel what she was feeling for the time being. In the scene where Sister James and Sister Aloysius were discussing the student Donald Muller’s whereabouts with Father Flynn is a perfect example of her being slightly too dramatic. When asked if she wanted sugar she frantically said, “NO! Oh God no!” I understand that is what was intended for her character to say but Pipkin could have made it less awkward. This made me somewhat uneasy. Her crying throughout the play seemed much fabricated. Even though this is a play and the actors and actresses are supposed to be “acting” I think that it should still flow naturally. I would have liked to feel like I was actually in the midst of everything going on, not like I was watching a scripted play. There was more than one occasion where I also could not see Pipkin’s face. This made it difficult to hear some, not all, words that she was …show more content…
The scenery was simply impressive. Sister Aloysius’ office was plain and aged, you could tell the room was more antique due to the furniture and the way it was painted. The garden area was quite exquisite, possessing many details such as the stone columns, leaves that were clustered across the garden area of the stage, and even the sound effects. When Father Flynn met Sister James in the garden the sound of a crow was heard in the background, this gave a genuine feel to this scene. Almost as if we were all outside along with them. I think the designer was trying to give off the idea of a more intimate and comfortable setting for the audience while still going with the concept of the play. The designer actually does a great job at giving off the fragile look due to the play taking place in 1964. The characters costumes tied in perfectly with the theme and mood of the production. The characters Sister Aloysius and Sister James both wore the same costumes because they are nuns. Their costumes make them look peaceful and sanctified. Sister James’ costumes, even though it was the same as Sister Aloysius, made her come off as timid due to her personality. Sister Aloysius’ costume, due to her personality, made her come off as stern and bitter. Mrs. Muller that was played by Tamera Burden and her costume really depicts the time period the play takes place in. When meeting with Sister
Not knowing what this play was about, I went to go see it Wednesday after noon at Holyoke Community College in the Leslie Phillips Theater. I had many mixed emotions about this play. I thought some parts were very funny, but others were a little uncomfortable because of some racia...
In conclusion I think that the stage directions and dramatic irony are significant to the play, and without them there would be no need for a lot of the events that happen in the play.
“The 1960’s were a period of incredible change and upheaval. The Beatles, the JFK, RFK, MLK assassinations, the Vietnam War, hippies…” (Kate Ingram). The setting proved most beneficiary as with all the social conflicts occurring in the play it would be only fitting to put it during the most socially revolutionary time period in history. Also the fact that the play is revolved around nuns and their life allowed it to draw influence from the classics. “The play is an homage to the myriad of nun movies and plays produced thought the twentieth century including Agnes of God, Doubt, Black Narcissus, The Bells of St. Mary’s, The Singing Nun, The Song of Bernadette, and The Sound of Music” (Teresa Kilzi). This play fits with others during its timeline as it is provocative and stimulates emotions that pushes boundaries just like what was occurring in the 1960’s. For instance, the scene where Mother Superior kisses Jeremy, or Sister Walburga and her want to have a threesome with God and Sister Acacius. Those ideas would have been seen as blasphemy in any period before the
...der further than what we have in front of us. We want to impose our opinion on everything. We want to relate to it in a way that can only be done through out imagination. So, due to this, when we are not given the flexibility, then the context no longer becomes entertaining. The viewers do not want to be told how to think. Given these points, if they are influenced to believe that Sister Aloysius is a cruel individual like the movie portrays, then at the end of the movie and book when Sister Aloysius says, “ I have doubts! I have such doubts!” they will take that as a confession from her, and be further lead to believe that the accusations against Father Flynn are false. I think John Patrick Shanley chooses specific diction to create a conflict that has no precise resolution,he wanted the reader get lost in story and enter into their own story manifested within.
Abigail Elmore did an excellent interpretation of Sister Aloysius. Just by the look she had on her face and the judgmental stare it made her seem like the kind of person to accuse you for giving yourself a nosebleed with a ballpoint pen. Even how she talked and composed herself gave off the same vibe. Also during the conversations with Sister James and the arguments with Father Flynn you can tell she is the kind of person who forks for what she wants and will stop at nothing for perfection and the truth.
As part of my English GCSE I have been asked to evaluate the 1st and 2nd
encouraged “To want to get on.” Most of us we would never go as far
The differences between the movie doubt and the play have significant differences that would influence ones opinion about certain characters and situations in the story. Though the differences are few one would agree that at least one of these differences are game changers or at the very least they get you thinking and having doubts of your own.
The scenery shows realistic sets in the play. The text is very episodic that show the parts of the events in a story. The conflict shows a rough experience of growing up with adults, who are treating the orphaned boys very abusive and having some troubles on where they belonged. Peter, other boys, and Molly have some kinds of conflicts about being a leader and succeeding the mission where the Lord Astar (Molly’s father) have to send to Molly. The conflict has already resolved when they have completed their mission and kept their group safe. It also affects my overall experience that the conflict between different characters did show different perspectives on how they lead and express their experience of leadership in their mission. The space of the theater was small, but it’s large enough for the actors to perform and for the audience to see. The scenery designer Andrew Breithaupt of this play did show a specific place and time. For example, the beginning shows the ship and what era is it. The scenery is also very real locale in the play, and it’s very appropriate views toward the audience for non-professional and school play. The scenery of this play did show more realistic-moving type, but it did move some parts of the scene that I see in the play. Also, it showed the surprising element of changing the sets than the scene. Costume Designer Amy Zsadanyi-Yale did give the clues about the timeline, personalities of every character in the play. But I believe that the costumes should get focused on connecting the situations in the play. For example, an orphanage that the nameless boy (Peter) and other boys lived should have ragged-looking or something damage into the costumes so it can create an effect on costumes from the scene. The costumes show the conflicts and interpersonal relationships, but I should consider that the social groups in this play should look something different from the orphanage and upper class. Lightning and
The play is about a young woman, Catherine who had been taking care of her father during his last years of life. Anne Heche plays Catherine. Prior to this play, I have never seen Anne Heche in any acting performance. I have to say she did an outstanding job in her portrayal of Catherine. She did a fantastic job of immediately drawing you into Catherine’s world. She aptly portrays the characteristics of a girl who never got a chance to grow up and the slight madness of the genius she inherited from her father. One can easily feel sad for her because after all she gave up all her dreams to take care of her ailing father. Anne Heche plays Catherine so well that it easy for you to fall in love with Catherine and desire only good things for her.
Since this is a review and its based on my opinion, I would have to say this was one of the worst plays I've ever seen in my life. I wasn't entertained by the play at all. The only good parts were the good-looking girls in the play. I like the main character Marisol based only on her looks. She played on ok job of acting. I realize she had a lot of lines to memorize which she had down, but she just didn't get to me. I think the costumes were ok. They had nothing special, or out of the ordinary except for the angel's wings, which were pretty nice. I didn't like the lighting or the scenery. I didn't know where the scene was supposed to be at some points.
The most successful aspect of the performance for me were the scene changes. I found that the rotation of the blackboard, center stage, where the actors were able to stoop beneath it in order to enter and exit the stage, was an effective touch to this non naturalistic performance. When this was first used, at the end of the first scene, when the characters Ruth and Al left the stage, I thought it didn't quite fit as at the beginning the style was leaning towards realism. But as the play progressed and the acting style became more and more non naturalistic, and this rotation of the black board technique was used more frequently it fitted in really well and became really effective.
This play shows the importance of the staging, gestures, and props making the atmosphere of a play. Without the development of these things through directions from the author, the whole point of the play will be missed. The dialog in this play only complements the unspoken. Words definitely do not tell the whole story.
On stage, these points were, looking at the opinions of a majority of both the audiences and the critics, presented successfully by Brook and the cast he worked with. From the prison guards who loomed in the background, clothed in butcher aprons and armed with clubs, to the half-naked Marat, slouched in a tub and covered in wet rags, forever scratching and writing, to the small group of singers, dressed and painted up as clowns, to the narcoleptic but murderous Charlotte Corday, Weiss and Brook offered a stage production that both engaged and amazed the audience, while at the same time forced them to question their role as the audience; no better exemplified than at the very end of the play, where the inmates, standing menacingly at the edge of the stage, actually begin to applaud the very people who applaud their performance, aggravating and confusing some, but forcing most t...
Two characters that express themselves differently but, through their use of disguise and similar affect on the audience, manage to successfully portray the depth of a drama by connecting with the audience and acting as a channel for the cathartic moment, which marks a drama. These two women represent the same character but portray her in different ways. Viola’s portrayal is directed toward the fantastical, comedic setting of Twelfth Night, whereas Blanche is a much harsher, real, relatable character where the true fight with these emotion can be felt in an authentic way.