Related Texts: Plays
If you don't like reading very much, try using a play as a related text. Plays are quick to read and make you look like a serious student but you're less likely to pick the same text as the rest of NSW than if you picked a poem or a classic novel.
When you read a play try to picture it like a film in your mind. Think about the stage directions and the way the dialogue makes each character different.
· Albee, Esward. (). Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolfe. (Read it online at http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/afraidofwoolf/context.html or Ms Carmyn has a copy). Relationships are made and broken at George and Martha’s dinner party where the ‘fun and games’ reveal the character’s true selves, leading to psychological and eventually physical violence. The film version with Elizabeth Taylor is well worth watching, but don’t get side tracked away from examining the dialogue and stage directions (esp. the symbolism of the setting) of the actual play. An American classic, this is an ex HSC text so your markers will know it very well. Recommended for advanced students. A good study guide can be found at http://www.shmoop.com/afraid-of-virginia-woolf/ .
· Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot (842.914 BEC). In this absurdist play Vladimir and Estrogon wait endlessly on a road waiting for Godot to arrive. Belonging is expressed in a literal sense (the road belonging to everyone, but even food scraps belong to the landowner) and in an emotional sense (the joint act of waiting, the sharing of a carrot) throughout the play. There are lots of study guides out there on this play, but you will have to reinterpret them to relate the text to belonging. Recommended for advanced students or students who have studied enough drama to discuss absurdist theatre (vs realism).
· Beynon, Richard. (1960) The Shifting Heart (A822.3 BEY) This play develops the conflict between Anglo-Australian Pratt family and Italian Bianchi family in 1950’s Australia (ie. the era of assimilation). Focus on the symbolism of the setting and the emotive dialogue. Think about which characters the audience identifies with and why. You could use this text to discuss whether (if belonging means assimilation) belonging is always a good thing.
· Cornelius, Patricia. Boy Overboard (A822 COR) This children’s play tells the story of a refugee boy whose ambition is to play soccer in a peaceful country. Pay special attention to the way the language and characterisation make a complex topic simple enough for a young audience.
· Enright, Nick. Black Rock (A822 ENR) A chilling play which explores the reactions of a community when a teenager is raped at a local party. Focus on the way the community fragments under pressure and how this is revealed through the dialogue.
· French, Jackie. Hitler’s Daughter (A822 FRE) this play begins with a group of school children discussing the fate of Heidi, Hitler’s hypotheitical daughter, and takes us into WWII Berlin.It examines the impact of social fears and prejudices on an individual’s experience of belonging. Although this play is aimed at young people, the structure and staging give you lots of techniques to talk about in your essays. Further information about the Monkey Baa production can be found at http://www.monkeybaa.com.au/hitlers-daughter.html .
· Gibbs, Paige. Lockie Leonard: Human Torpedo (A822 GIB). Surfer-boy, Lockie, is the alienated new boy in town – until he meets Vicki. The exaggerated characterisation and dialogue are an excellent way to present ideas about belonging to a young audience. Recommended for standard students.
· Gow, Micheal Away (A822 GOW) this play is set at a beach during th3e Christmas holidays. Three families meet during a storm and explore and resolve the problems that divide each family. Analyse the Shakespearean references, the symbolism of the setting and the way the dialogue conveys patterns of alienation and belonging between the characters. This is an ex-HSC text, which is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well.
· Guare, John Six Degrees of Separation (822 GUA) When Paul turns up to New York art dealer’s flat with a stab wound, they accept him as their son’s friend. However, as the play continues, they discover friends with the same story. This play explores the idea that all people on earth are connected by six degrees of separation – someone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows the original person. As an ex-HSC text, it is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well (so don’t just watch the film). The Study guide at http://npproseminar.pbworks.com/f/Guare+Resource+Guide.pdf has useful references you could follow up through Auburn library. The theory is tested at Indya.com at http://www.slideshare.net/bharathi26/six-degrees-of-separation .
· Ireland, Vicky. Secrets (822 WIL) Based on Jaqueline Wilson’s best selling novel, this play explores the role of secrets and diaries in the world of early teen girls’ friendships. Discuss the way the dialogue and staging make this play appropriate for a primary school and early-high school audience. Recommended for ESL and standard students only.
· Ireland, Vicky. The Suitcase Kid (822 WIL) Based on Jaqueline Wilson’s best selling novel, this play explores the effect of divorce on a young girl who travels back and forth between her parents houses. Discuss the way the dialogue and staging make this play appropriate for a primary school and early-high school audience. Recommended for ESL and standard students only.
· Lawler, Ray Summer of the Seventeeth Doll (A822.3 LAW) This Australian classic explores the tenuous relationships between seasonal workers (sugar cane cutters) and their partners in the seventeenth year of their relationship. Examine the way connections are made and broken through the colloquial Australian dialogue and the role of symbols. This is an ex-HSC text, which is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well.
· Marsden, John. So much to tell you. In this play a young girl who chooses not to speak after a traumatic experience (revealed later in the play). Focus on the way stage directions and dialogue (esp. by other characters) reveals her gradual sense of belonging. Recommended for ESL and standard students only.
· Morris, Mary. Two Weeks with the Queen: The Play. (A822 MOR). One of the funniest plays you will ever read about death and illness. When Luke’s brother is diagnosed with terminal cancer he is sent to England to live with his uncle. Together with his over-protected cousin and the help of Griff, whose partner is dying of Aids, Luke finds ways to save his brother and come to terms with the concept of death. This play is written for children, so you will need to discuss the way humour, stereotypes and hyperbolic characterisation are used to describe the patterns of belonging established between Luke, his family, his uncle’s family and Griff. Recommended for ESL and standard students
· Oswald, Debra. Dags (A822 OSW) Sixteen year old Gillian arrives on stage with her head in a paper bag – not an auspicious beginning for a girl in search of ‘Lurve’. The play depicts her progression from alienation through conformity to her acceptance of herself as an individual. Lots of techniques to discuss here, including the role of puppets on stage, the language changes between Gillian’s monologues to the audience and her dialogue with other characters, the use of gender and social stereotypes and the role of stage directions (esp tone of voice) in creating relationships between the characters. Recommended to standard students and advanced students who can analyse the postmodern aspects of the staging.
· Parsons, Nick. Dead Heart (A822.3 PAR) When a man is killed on a remote Aboriginal community, Senior Constable Ray Lorkin struggles to connect Aboriginal tradition and Australian law. Focus on the use of Aboriginal and standard English and the symbolism setting and props. You may be able to find the film version at your local video store.
· Russel, Willy. Blood Brothers (822.914 RUS) This musical examines the relationship of twins who were separated at birth but are found united in death. Focus on the way the dialogue reveals their different upbringings and the things that bring the twins together. Don’t forget to explain why the composer chose to reveal their death in the opening scene.
· Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing http://shakespeare.mit.edu/much_ado/full.html While Hero and Claudio are courting, they tell prickly personalities Benedick and Beatrice into believing they are in love with each other – with hilarious results. Look at the way certain metaphors are extended through the play to establish belonging/not belonging and pay particular attention to Beatrice nad Benedick’s witty repartee. A film version is available below.
· Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion (822.9 SHA or online at http://www.enotes.com/pygmalion-text ). The story of a lowly flower girl who ‘becomes’ an aristocrat after learning to speak “high class” English. This play is full of witty comments about the artificiality of a society that uses language to define belonging. Look in particular at the symbolism of the title, the use of cockney dialect and the way stage directions bring characters together. There are several film versions of this play and it was made into the musical My Fair Lady (F MYF)
· Shaw, Bernard. Saint Joan (822.9 SHA) This play traces the life of famous military leader Joan of Arc from the first moment she reveals that God sent her to save France from the evil English through military victories to her trial before the English inquisition and eventual canonisation by the Catholic church. Focus on the alternation of Joan’s acceptance and rejection by other characters and the way the author satirises the fact that she was made into a saint. Look for irony in the plot and the dialogue. Ms Carmyn has an (old) film version.
· Tulloch, Richard. Space Demons: The Play (A822 TUL) Based on Gillian Rubenstein’s novel, Space Demons, this play examines the problem of computer game addiction the the characters of two boys who are drawn into a game based on anger and hate. Focus on the way the plot develops tension (and eventually a sense of belonging) between alienated characters and the way the dialogue represents human and mechanical experiences of the world. Recommended for standards students.
· Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest (822 WIL) This late Victorian play is a social satire of the English Upper classes. Filled with exaggerated characters, mistaken identity and witty word play, it follows the fortunes of Jack/Ernest, an orphan found in a hand bag in a London railway station. An ex-HSC text, there are lots of study guides (including http://www.shmoop.com/importance-of-being-earnest/ ) on this play as well as a couple of films (don’t forget your text is the actual play). Your markers are likely to know it very well. Recommended for advanced students.
· Williamson, David. The Club (A822.3 WIL) A social satire of the way football clubs operate, buying and selling players like property. Examine the representation of conflict between the coach, the club president and the players, and the way the dialogue (esp. colloquialisms and profanities) create a sense of belonging/rejection. A 1970s version of this play can be found at F THE; your video store may have a more recent production.
· Wright, Nicholaus. His Dark Materials (822 WRI). Based on Phillip Pullman’s best selling fantasy trilogy, this play is set in a world where people’s souls are manifest externally as companion animals called ‘daemons’. Although the characters are children, the play is written for a wide audience and contains interesting philosophical ideas about identity and belonging. Recommended for standard students who enjoy fantasy and advanced students who are willing to investigate the literary, religious and scientific references (look online – there are lots of analyses).
When you read a play try to picture it like a film in your mind. Think about the stage directions and the way the dialogue makes each character different.
· Albee, Esward. (). Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolfe. (Read it online at http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/afraidofwoolf/context.html or Ms Carmyn has a copy). Relationships are made and broken at George and Martha’s dinner party where the ‘fun and games’ reveal the character’s true selves, leading to psychological and eventually physical violence. The film version with Elizabeth Taylor is well worth watching, but don’t get side tracked away from examining the dialogue and stage directions (esp. the symbolism of the setting) of the actual play. An American classic, this is an ex HSC text so your markers will know it very well. Recommended for advanced students. A good study guide can be found at http://www.shmoop.com/afraid-of-virginia-woolf/ .
· Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot (842.914 BEC). In this absurdist play Vladimir and Estrogon wait endlessly on a road waiting for Godot to arrive. Belonging is expressed in a literal sense (the road belonging to everyone, but even food scraps belong to the landowner) and in an emotional sense (the joint act of waiting, the sharing of a carrot) throughout the play. There are lots of study guides out there on this play, but you will have to reinterpret them to relate the text to belonging. Recommended for advanced students or students who have studied enough drama to discuss absurdist theatre (vs realism).
· Beynon, Richard. (1960) The Shifting Heart (A822.3 BEY) This play develops the conflict between Anglo-Australian Pratt family and Italian Bianchi family in 1950’s Australia (ie. the era of assimilation). Focus on the symbolism of the setting and the emotive dialogue. Think about which characters the audience identifies with and why. You could use this text to discuss whether (if belonging means assimilation) belonging is always a good thing.
· Cornelius, Patricia. Boy Overboard (A822 COR) This children’s play tells the story of a refugee boy whose ambition is to play soccer in a peaceful country. Pay special attention to the way the language and characterisation make a complex topic simple enough for a young audience.
· Enright, Nick. Black Rock (A822 ENR) A chilling play which explores the reactions of a community when a teenager is raped at a local party. Focus on the way the community fragments under pressure and how this is revealed through the dialogue.
· French, Jackie. Hitler’s Daughter (A822 FRE) this play begins with a group of school children discussing the fate of Heidi, Hitler’s hypotheitical daughter, and takes us into WWII Berlin.It examines the impact of social fears and prejudices on an individual’s experience of belonging. Although this play is aimed at young people, the structure and staging give you lots of techniques to talk about in your essays. Further information about the Monkey Baa production can be found at http://www.monkeybaa.com.au/hitlers-daughter.html .
· Gibbs, Paige. Lockie Leonard: Human Torpedo (A822 GIB). Surfer-boy, Lockie, is the alienated new boy in town – until he meets Vicki. The exaggerated characterisation and dialogue are an excellent way to present ideas about belonging to a young audience. Recommended for standard students.
· Gow, Micheal Away (A822 GOW) this play is set at a beach during th3e Christmas holidays. Three families meet during a storm and explore and resolve the problems that divide each family. Analyse the Shakespearean references, the symbolism of the setting and the way the dialogue conveys patterns of alienation and belonging between the characters. This is an ex-HSC text, which is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well.
· Guare, John Six Degrees of Separation (822 GUA) When Paul turns up to New York art dealer’s flat with a stab wound, they accept him as their son’s friend. However, as the play continues, they discover friends with the same story. This play explores the idea that all people on earth are connected by six degrees of separation – someone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows the original person. As an ex-HSC text, it is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well (so don’t just watch the film). The Study guide at http://npproseminar.pbworks.com/f/Guare+Resource+Guide.pdf has useful references you could follow up through Auburn library. The theory is tested at Indya.com at http://www.slideshare.net/bharathi26/six-degrees-of-separation .
· Ireland, Vicky. Secrets (822 WIL) Based on Jaqueline Wilson’s best selling novel, this play explores the role of secrets and diaries in the world of early teen girls’ friendships. Discuss the way the dialogue and staging make this play appropriate for a primary school and early-high school audience. Recommended for ESL and standard students only.
· Ireland, Vicky. The Suitcase Kid (822 WIL) Based on Jaqueline Wilson’s best selling novel, this play explores the effect of divorce on a young girl who travels back and forth between her parents houses. Discuss the way the dialogue and staging make this play appropriate for a primary school and early-high school audience. Recommended for ESL and standard students only.
· Lawler, Ray Summer of the Seventeeth Doll (A822.3 LAW) This Australian classic explores the tenuous relationships between seasonal workers (sugar cane cutters) and their partners in the seventeenth year of their relationship. Examine the way connections are made and broken through the colloquial Australian dialogue and the role of symbols. This is an ex-HSC text, which is useful for advanced students, but be aware that your markers are likely to know the play well.
· Marsden, John. So much to tell you. In this play a young girl who chooses not to speak after a traumatic experience (revealed later in the play). Focus on the way stage directions and dialogue (esp. by other characters) reveals her gradual sense of belonging. Recommended for ESL and standard students only.
· Morris, Mary. Two Weeks with the Queen: The Play. (A822 MOR). One of the funniest plays you will ever read about death and illness. When Luke’s brother is diagnosed with terminal cancer he is sent to England to live with his uncle. Together with his over-protected cousin and the help of Griff, whose partner is dying of Aids, Luke finds ways to save his brother and come to terms with the concept of death. This play is written for children, so you will need to discuss the way humour, stereotypes and hyperbolic characterisation are used to describe the patterns of belonging established between Luke, his family, his uncle’s family and Griff. Recommended for ESL and standard students
· Oswald, Debra. Dags (A822 OSW) Sixteen year old Gillian arrives on stage with her head in a paper bag – not an auspicious beginning for a girl in search of ‘Lurve’. The play depicts her progression from alienation through conformity to her acceptance of herself as an individual. Lots of techniques to discuss here, including the role of puppets on stage, the language changes between Gillian’s monologues to the audience and her dialogue with other characters, the use of gender and social stereotypes and the role of stage directions (esp tone of voice) in creating relationships between the characters. Recommended to standard students and advanced students who can analyse the postmodern aspects of the staging.
· Parsons, Nick. Dead Heart (A822.3 PAR) When a man is killed on a remote Aboriginal community, Senior Constable Ray Lorkin struggles to connect Aboriginal tradition and Australian law. Focus on the use of Aboriginal and standard English and the symbolism setting and props. You may be able to find the film version at your local video store.
· Russel, Willy. Blood Brothers (822.914 RUS) This musical examines the relationship of twins who were separated at birth but are found united in death. Focus on the way the dialogue reveals their different upbringings and the things that bring the twins together. Don’t forget to explain why the composer chose to reveal their death in the opening scene.
· Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing http://shakespeare.mit.edu/much_ado/full.html While Hero and Claudio are courting, they tell prickly personalities Benedick and Beatrice into believing they are in love with each other – with hilarious results. Look at the way certain metaphors are extended through the play to establish belonging/not belonging and pay particular attention to Beatrice nad Benedick’s witty repartee. A film version is available below.
· Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion (822.9 SHA or online at http://www.enotes.com/pygmalion-text ). The story of a lowly flower girl who ‘becomes’ an aristocrat after learning to speak “high class” English. This play is full of witty comments about the artificiality of a society that uses language to define belonging. Look in particular at the symbolism of the title, the use of cockney dialect and the way stage directions bring characters together. There are several film versions of this play and it was made into the musical My Fair Lady (F MYF)
· Shaw, Bernard. Saint Joan (822.9 SHA) This play traces the life of famous military leader Joan of Arc from the first moment she reveals that God sent her to save France from the evil English through military victories to her trial before the English inquisition and eventual canonisation by the Catholic church. Focus on the alternation of Joan’s acceptance and rejection by other characters and the way the author satirises the fact that she was made into a saint. Look for irony in the plot and the dialogue. Ms Carmyn has an (old) film version.
· Tulloch, Richard. Space Demons: The Play (A822 TUL) Based on Gillian Rubenstein’s novel, Space Demons, this play examines the problem of computer game addiction the the characters of two boys who are drawn into a game based on anger and hate. Focus on the way the plot develops tension (and eventually a sense of belonging) between alienated characters and the way the dialogue represents human and mechanical experiences of the world. Recommended for standards students.
· Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest (822 WIL) This late Victorian play is a social satire of the English Upper classes. Filled with exaggerated characters, mistaken identity and witty word play, it follows the fortunes of Jack/Ernest, an orphan found in a hand bag in a London railway station. An ex-HSC text, there are lots of study guides (including http://www.shmoop.com/importance-of-being-earnest/ ) on this play as well as a couple of films (don’t forget your text is the actual play). Your markers are likely to know it very well. Recommended for advanced students.
· Williamson, David. The Club (A822.3 WIL) A social satire of the way football clubs operate, buying and selling players like property. Examine the representation of conflict between the coach, the club president and the players, and the way the dialogue (esp. colloquialisms and profanities) create a sense of belonging/rejection. A 1970s version of this play can be found at F THE; your video store may have a more recent production.
· Wright, Nicholaus. His Dark Materials (822 WRI). Based on Phillip Pullman’s best selling fantasy trilogy, this play is set in a world where people’s souls are manifest externally as companion animals called ‘daemons’. Although the characters are children, the play is written for a wide audience and contains interesting philosophical ideas about identity and belonging. Recommended for standard students who enjoy fantasy and advanced students who are willing to investigate the literary, religious and scientific references (look online – there are lots of analyses).
