Directive Piece: Ray Lawlers Summer of the seventeenth
... Bubba As a “shy” young character of 22, she is possibly portrayed as a character that is very much ‘out to impress’. As a young woman she has a very diverse personality that could be perceived in a variety of different ways. At the start of the play, she is “busily tying ribbons around two … walking sticks”. This suggests that she is trying to make the best of things, as she dresses up something possibly plain. However, as a young woman, she could be perceived as someone with her head in the clouds. Her actions in the scene suggest a woman acting her age. However, as she talks to Pearl, with a “touch of wistful authoritivness” we see a side of her character that shows maturity, as the quote suggests her keeping Pearl from making tactless comments. I feel all these suggestions lead to Bubba as a character, that is young and considered by others as ‘unaware of the ways of the world’. Olive Olive is an interesting character. She seems to be unaware of her “eagerness - that properly belongs to extreme youth”. However, her age begins to show as her “surface of cynicism” trait comes to surface. “Despite…cynicism” she is a fun, young character – aged 39 - out for a good time. “It makes a party look a party I think”. Olive is a very a ‘people person’, especially in contrast to the anti social Pearl. Unlike Pearl, she “enjoys her job”. This suggests she has a more buzzing social life and that she maybe a loud character and well known within her community. There is a feeling and a connotation in the play that says other people can see she still feels 22, despite her real age. Character Relationships Firstly, Bubba makes a lot of topic changes towards Nancy, there’s also a lot of references and made towards Nancy. Anyone that knew Nancy may be bugged by this constant conversation change; however, Pearl is very inquisitive about her and doesn’t mind hearing about her. Secondly, Pearl is possibly very jealous of Bubba. Bubba is young, and in the know. She liked, well known, whilst Pearl is in the dark and a bit of an outcast in the group. Pearl longs for the social security Bubba has and also her close relationship with Pearl, but of course – Pearl would possibly prefer a higher class circle of friends. Olive is not Pearl’s biggest fan. Olive isn’t afraid to put her in her place – however – Olive does this then quickly remembers her manners, and comes back down to a welcoming woman of the house. (This is where my idea of the up and down atmosphere came from. Olive’s character goes through several emotions in a small space of time so I was aiming to portray this on the stage) Finally, Olive and Pearl clash. There two different people, from two different extremes of the spectrum. Olive is the young partying people person, whilst Pearl is extremely mature and introverted. Pearl seems to clash with the other female characters, and I want to intensify these feelings within my direction. Direction Section One Pearl, sitting on the very edge of the sofa, is slyly looking at ads in the back of a local newspaper, as she seldom day dreams to leave her ‘crude’ trade. Pearl stays say for the entire scene. I’m aiming to have her movements portray her introverted character – her focus downwards making infrequent eye contact with the other characters. Her stage left position is away from the other characters as well, to help achieve the portrayal of arrogance in her character. Section Two Bubba is very informative in this section; she’ll be closer to the audience at the front of the stage, to involve them. Pearl is still keeping to herself inward motions, to maintain the sense of pretension in her character. Section Three In the opening part of Section Three, Olive picks a small argument with Bubba. Bubba stands on stage staring at Pearl in a “What’s wrong with you?” state of shock, standing in front of her. As Olive goes to justify her, she moves stage right and Pearl’s expression is o...