Week 11 | Poorly Chosen Rambles
“What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out”
- Alfred Hitchcock
I’ve never really been interested in drama. I guess that’s because I’ve never really had the real chance to take it seriously. And also, I’m terribly shy in front of large groups of people. However, preparing for the Literature performance has allowed me to give it a chance.
There is so much that goes behind an 8 minute performance! Memorising the lines. What to wear. Hair. Make up. Body language. Lighting. Interaction. Remember not to exclude people from the play by turning your back towards them. Remember not to laugh at inappropriate moments.
So far, I’m enjoying it! I’ve even started saying my lines in my sleep. Yes, much dedication indeed! I’ve even started seeing the characters of the play that I will be performing next Wednesday (fingers crossed) in my day to day life.
The scenes from the play that I’ll be performing next week, alongside my group, is “Tone Cluster” by Joyce Carol Oates, you see. In a nut shell, it is about parents, Frank & Emily Gulick, defending their son, Carl Gulick, who has been accused of murder. A mysterious voice interrogates them as they, throughout the entire play, assert their son’s innocence, “He is innocent” and “I am innocent he said... I looked into my son’s eyes and saw the truth shining”. The question that imbeds itself within the readers mind, (clawing itself in their brain, making it their new home and sucking off their brain juice, turning it to paralysed pulp), is he really innocent? Or has he been rightfully charged?
The question is never answered. This forces the reader/audience to come up with their own conclusion based on the content on the play. Here are some plausible conclusions -
1. Carl Gulick was rightfully charged for the murder of Edith Kaminsky.
2. Frank and Emily Gulick are telling the truth that Carl Gulick did not murder Edith Kaminsky and committed the murder themselves (Kelly’s theory!)
3. It is one big giant metaphor. Intriguing?
Referring back to Alfred Hitchcock’s quote, writing a play about let’s say your friend Bob who’s in accounting may not really be that interesting. However, let’s say that Bob, because he is in accounting, is often judged as a 40-year-old virgin and still lives with his mum at first glance. However, perhaps Bob is actually content with his single life and still lives with his mother because she’s quite elderly and enjoys looking after her. You can mix it this up and ta-da! You get “Tone Clusters”. How so?
From my perspective, “Tone Clusters” could be a metaphor for a very real and ordinary problem. Perhaps the murder of Edith Kaminsky could symbolise conflict within a society that divides a society. Carl is guilty. Carl is innocent. And. Bob is a 40-year-old mama’s boy. Bob is a sweetheart, looking after his frail mother.
Overall, whether the play “Tone Clusters” is what you see before you or has some double meaning, this experience has allowed me to take a step back and really appreciate the performing arts. Memorising the lines. What to wear. Hair. Make up. Body language. Lighting. Interaction. Remember not to exclude people from the play by turning your back towards them. Remember not to laugh at inappropriate moments.