M. Butterfly

Let me start by saying that I loved this play. I thought it was a perfect melding of the best elements of the plays we have read this semester. To write about everything I liked about this play would take too long, so instead ill pick just one thing to talk about.

The thing I probably liked most about the play was the secret of Song's gender and how it was revealed, both to the characters and the audience. I thought it was a perfect blend of subtle clues and fairly obvious ones, finalized in the without-a-doubt revelation when he strips. Though I figured it out pretty quickly, and I hadn't read the back of the book, I could see how Rene might not figure it out. First of all, he did not have the benefit of characters like Chin more or less spelling it out. Second, he was in love and he was knowingly passing along secrets. To believe that Song was not a girl would mean betraying his country and himself. In that time there is no way he could admit to loving a man, yet he needed that love. If Rene had known of the betrayal by Song he probably wouldn't have been able to live with himself, as shown by his suicide at the end of the play. I loved that this was clearly portrayed while still showing the audience, or at least those paying attention, early enough in the play for everything to make sense. 

There is so much more I could say about this play, and I'm sure we will touch on much of it in class.  The reveal of the secret is easily my favorite part but the whole play is really good. I only wish I was planning on working somewhere where i could direct this show, but I don't think it would be appropriate for a high school!

Mother Courage

I'm not really sure what I can say about Mother Courage and Her Children. I honestly really hated this play. I couldn't connect to anything, the plot, the characters nothing. I'm not sure why. I think it may have been that the writing was dry and difficult to get through. If thats the case then maybe I would like it better if I saw the play performed. Anyway, I get what Brecht was trying to do, and I guess if he didn't want people to enjoy it then he succeeded. 

The only thing I kind of appreciated was the use of songs. I think it was really interesting that Brecht used a convention usually saved for happy or funny shows for something so opposite. His songs made The otherwise really boring play at least a little interesting. I can only imagine how they would sound but from listening to the song from Three Penny Opera, I think it would be pretty good.  I just wish that this had carried into the rest of play.

Overall, though I get and appreciate what Brecht did for Theatre, I just really can't stand this play.  I wish I liked it, really I do, but i just can't find anything in it. To those of you who do like it, can you tell me what it is you like, maybe that will help.

Buried Child

Wow I'm behind. Oops. I'll make up for it in the next few weeks. For now I'm going to focus on Buried Child.

I have to start by saying that I love this play. Yes, its bizarre, yes there is an incest baby, but it all comes together to make something that is just so, good. I don't know how to put it really. I think its just how everything in the play, all the symbols, all the weirdness, seem to work together perfectly. 

Often when I read a play I consider if I would want to be in it or direct it. I guess this is because I am so into performing. With this play it is an absolute yes. I would love to play either of female roles in this play. The main reason is that there is so much to work with. With Shelley you have that she is new to this situation and must figure it out. Coming up with reactions to everything going on would be amazing. I would also explore why she doesn't just leave, wither with or without Vince, when the family doesn't recognize him. With Halie there is just so much. He knowledge of the "secret" and how that plays out. Her obvious delusions that everything is perfectly normal. She would just be such an interesting character to portray. 

I know that a lot of people don't like this play, for one reason or another, but I think it is great and something that I would love to be involved with in one way or another.