The Ways that Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay are Presented in Our Day Out by Willie Russell
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The Ways that Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay are Presented in Our Day Out by Willie Russell
Our Day out by Willie Russell is an energetic and humorous play, about
a school trip to Conwy castle. The 'progress class', a class for
illiterate children, are on a trip to Wales where the liberal Mrs Kay
and the strict Mr Briggs have completely different ideas about the day
should be organised.
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Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs have two distinct personalities that clash
frequently throughout the play and Willie Russell presents both in an
interesting and comical way in his drama.
Mrs Kay is a benevolent and fun teacher who treats the children as if
they were her own. 'She always reminds me of a mother hen rather than
a teacher'. Mr Briggs says this and it sums up exactly what Mrs Kay is
like and her attitude to the children.
Her aim on the school trip is for everyone to have fun with the only
rule being '...think of yourselves but also think of others'. She
genuinely cares for the children and wants them to have an enjoyable
day out to assuage the social injustice that they find themselves up
against.
Mr Briggs' ideology of the children is contrary to Mrs Kay's. Mr
Briggs is a strict, intolerant and old-fashioned teacher who is has
firm standards and is harsh towards the students. 'Stop! Slater,
walk…walk! You, boy…come here. Now stop. All of you…stop!' Mr Briggs
is shouting as the children get off the coach but Mrs Kay casually
walks past and pours out some coffee.
At the zoo, Mr Briggs lightens up a little and we get to see more of
the soft and loving side that he conceals in favour of the harsh and
angry one. He is enjoying himself when he explains about all of the
different animal types to the children, and in the café with Mrs Kay,
he even offers to do a small presentation at school with some slides.
'I didn't think the kids who came to you would be too interested in
Our Day out by Willie Russell is an energetic and humorous play, about
a school trip to Conwy castle. The 'progress class', a class for
illiterate children, are on a trip to Wales where the liberal Mrs Kay
and the strict Mr Briggs have completely different ideas about the day
should be organised.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs have two distinct personalities that clash
frequently throughout the play and Willie Russell presents both in an
interesting and comical way in his drama.
Mrs Kay is a benevolent and fun teacher who treats the children as if
they were her own. 'She always reminds me of a mother hen rather than
a teacher'. Mr Briggs says this and it sums up exactly what Mrs Kay is
like and her attitude to the children.
Her aim on the school trip is for everyone to have fun with the only
rule being '...think of yourselves but also think of others'. She
genuinely cares for the children and wants them to have an enjoyable
day out to assuage the social injustice that they find themselves up
against.
Mr Briggs' ideology of the children is contrary to Mrs Kay's. Mr
Briggs is a strict, intolerant and old-fashioned teacher who is has
firm standards and is harsh towards the students. 'Stop! Slater,
walk…walk! You, boy…come here. Now stop. All of you…stop!' Mr Briggs
is shouting as the children get off the coach but Mrs Kay casually
walks past and pours out some coffee.
At the zoo, Mr Briggs lightens up a little and we get to see more of
the soft and loving side that he conceals in favour of the harsh and
angry one. He is enjoying himself when he explains about all of the
different animal types to the children, and in the café with Mrs Kay,
he even offers to do a small presentation at school with some slides.
'I didn't think the kids who came to you would be too interested in