Comments for Everyone

1. http://korn2130.blogspot.com/2013/05/show-and-tell-post-3.html#comment-form

2. http://sstev31.blogspot.com/2013/05/show-and-tell-3-next-to-normal.html?showComment=1367700587196#c5082089584876555715

3. http://tweber7.blogspot.com/2013/04/all-kings-men.html?showComment=1367700780794#c3295398623577559499

4. http://austinthtr2130.blogspot.com/2013/04/prompt-twelve-on-verge-or-geography-of.html?showComment=1367701069143#c1503794997525850132

5. http://georgianoelle.blogspot.com/2013/05/drowsy-chaperone.html?showComment=1367701248801#c6491169584635148210

The Women

The Women is a comedy written about eight Manhattan women. It follows the elite socialites, the women attempting to become elite, and the gossip and drama that relatively destroys their lives. Clare Boothe Luce's play opened on Broadway in 1936, where it ran for 666 performances.

The play was transformed into a movie in 1939. It was directed by George Cukor and starred Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. Next, the play was turned into a musical film, called The Opposite Sex, in 1956. The play first revived on Broadway in 1973 and closed after a short run of 63 performances. It was once again was revived in 2001. Finally, and most famously, it was remade into the 2008 film staring Meg Ryan and Eva Mendes.

The plot revolves around women attempting to play their "correct" roles in a vain and fake society. When Mary, a good housewife, finds out her husband, Steven, is cheating on her with an "up-and-commer", Crystal, she originally goes out of her way to try to make herself better. Eventually, she leaves him to focus on herself.The other women go through similar power struggles to figure out who they are and what they want.

One of the most important dramaturgical choices is the fact that while the play seemingly circles around men, no men are ever shown onstage. It makes you focus on the women and their inner struggles, and their inner strength, rather then the power the receive or have taken away from them by the men in their lives. 

The Drowsy Chaperone

I think it's important to point out the theme of escape. As lovers of theatre we always invite an audience to "escape" with us into a different world. "The Man" does exactly that. He invites us to escape with him into the 1920's musical. The 1920's alone are a time of fun and frivolity, but add the spectacle of a musical and you know we're in for a ride. It's interesting that most productions bring the musical "to life" in "The Man's" apartment. Usually the apartment is gray and dreary, making the bright and flashy musical stand as an escape from the boring normal everyday-ness of his life. When it comes to the character's in the musical, we see Mr. Feldzieg attempt to escape being  captured by gangsters. We also see Kitty trying to escape normalcy, very much like "The Man", and achieve stardom. The largest example of "escape" is shown by Janet, specifically in the song "Show Off". Janet is attempting to escape the world of show business, and showing off, in favor of settling down and getting married like women her age should be doing.

Vewings...There's Three of Them

Three Viewings has a bunch of common themes, but I think the theme of death, and its ability to make us realize the good things we had is one that stands out. Emil doesn't truly realize how much he loved his wife until he has to deal with the death of Tessie and her funeral. After stealing from Mrs. Nettie James, Mac has to understand how much she was affected by the death of her husband and children. Then of course there is Virginia and Ed. While we really see how the list affects her, gotta love that ambiguity, we're lead to believe that she realizes how much she's overlooked and now how much she has lost.

On the Verge...of time travel

I think the language of the play is something that's so vital to the play that it's only natural to have it featured on the poster. I also think that the time travel aspect of the show is something that is important to emphasize. I would love the poster to have the lines completely covering the page in gray lettering, used as a background if you will. From far away it would probably look like a weird gray pattern, but on closer inspection you would be able to read it. I would want it to be darker at the top and then fade lighter. Almost, the idea of fading out of time.  In the center I would like a victorian umbrella, a modern eggbeater, and a womanly safari hat. These things are hinting at plot points and the time traveling aspects, since you have a traveler's safari hat and the different era props. I would want On the Verge to be written below the safari hat, umbrella, and egg beater. I would use neon red "diner" lettering, like the signs you see in bars..or 50's diners. Since the second act is set in a diner it continues with the idea of time travel and tying into the show.