Noses Off

Motif: One motif that stood out to me was how they were treating each show like was the rehearsal. Of course in the first scene, it truly was a rehearsal, but for the second and third act, it wasn’t. For instance, in the last scene, you have Gary (Roger) stumbling back and forth over his lines, and worrying about a task that isn’t in his stage directions. Then you also have Dotty (Miss Crokett) saying whatever the hell she feels like, then telling Gary and Broke ( Roger and Vicki) to clean a mess, that shouldn’t be there in the first scene. This whole play just reads like a train wreck (obviously).

Tag lines: “It’s like a battlefield out there.” On the stage, there usually isn’t any direction – although Lloyd tires – to what the actors are doing. It’s like they’re incapable of focusing on the task at hand. They’re always either ignoring what Lloyd is telling them, or are missing their cues left and right. At one point, the phone is flying across the stage, sardines managed to get mushed, and no one’s delivering the right lines. Then off stage, you have a completely different battlefield area. We have everyone trying to keep selsdon away from any alcohol, Lloyd is trying to woo broke, all while Poppy is carrying Lloyd’s child. It all seems like a HUGE mess. Everyone’s gossiping about one another, sleeping around, and missing their damn ques. I feel like it’s the best statement out of the entire dialogue.

I also wanted to say: Yes, I know this was a comedy. However, reading this play really just bothered me. Maybe it’s the obsessive person inside of me that hates it when people don’t listen, or do what they’re told, I don’t know. But I didn’t quite enjoy this as other people did.

Glass of Water

I wouldn't say who is THE protagonist, but rather, who are the PROTAGONISTS? In my own personal opinion, I would say that Abigail and Masham are the two main protagonists in this play. The play mainly focuses on the struggle of Abigail and Masham to be together and get married, which is why I would choose them as the main protagonists.

When one would first being to read the play, they would think to themselves, “Oh, this must be about the hate-war thing going on between Duchess and Bolingbroke.” I thought that too at first, but then I thought to really think about all the details. The Duchess and The Queen both are trying to advance Masham, but on the other hand, The Queen and Boling broke both are trying to advance Abigail as well. In addition to this, you also have a love-plot between Masham and Abigail. Therefore, I would consider Abigail and Masham the main protagonist since almost everything happening within the story line and plot is about - or even just involves - the both of them.

 I also feel like these two characters are who Scribe wants us to root for; mainly for simple reasons. In this play, we have the usual young characters that are in love, but they have to fight through greatly opposing forces to finally be together. This romantic idea/ situation will (almost) always encourage the audience – or reader- to root for their happiness. It’s a daydream most people want or hope to experience, basically as a way of say their love for another person can endure and rise above any obstacle. On a side note, why would we want to root for a spineless queen, gambler of a man, or a woman that’s trying to encourage a great war? I could see the twist reasoning behind it, but as a general audience, we tend to go for those who are out for the “light” emotions rather than the “dark”.