Realism in Theatre

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The theatrical plays of “Angels in America” and “August: Osage County” both of the playwrights create a heart wrenching, tear jerking, and amazing work. Each character is developed to have its own sets of values, beliefs, and attitudes towards life and so there are no two characters alike. With each character having its own identity, it brings a sense of excitement and unpredictability in the plays. Tracy Letts the writer for “August: Osage County” establishes a sense of reality in his play by developing characters that everyone can relate too. His play is about family, the use of drugs, cancer, and suicide, subjects that people go through during their lifetime. Tony Kushner the playwright of “Angels in America” provides the same feeling of realism in his play, by having his characters deal with prescription drug addiction, terminal illness, and relationship tribulations. There are many similarities between these two plays such as the use of realism, having the characters be part of unhealthy relationships, and experiencing life threatening illnesses. There are not that many differences between these two plays, but one in particular is that in “August: Osage County” the entire play’s location is at a home- upstairs, kitchen, patio, or in a living room while “Angels in America” have some scenes taken place in the hospital, office, and the bedroom. As one can see both of these plays are more similar than they are different and equally incorporate realism into the production.

For a play to be considered realism, Janie Jones implies it [the play] must hold the idea of the stage as an environment, rather than as an acting platform (Jones). Actors are trained never to give their backs to the audience. This is apparent when the chara...

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... Prior will die because of this disease. Prior has accepted his condition and knows that death is inevitable, but will keep pushing to the end. This type of strength by Prior portrays what every terminal ill person goes through, their courage of not giving up and knowing that time is not on their side. Tony Kushner allows the reader to follow Prior and Roy who is a successful New York lawyer battle their way with AIDS and seeing them suffer from this dreadful disease. The realistic nature of this play is unbelievable and as a reader you become dedicated to these characters and the need to know what their future entails for them becomes necessary.

Works Cited

"Black Comedy." 2011. eNotes. 13 May 2011 .

Jones, Janie. The Modern Theatre: Realism. n.d. 13 May 2011 .

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