I think that storytelling is a theatrical device that is utilized throughout the play. We see a evolution in the retelling of the Simpsons episode throughout the play with different storytelling methods being utilized in Act 1-Act 3. In Act 1 people are trying to verbally remember the episode, in Act 2 (7 years later) they're performing the episode, in Act 3 (70 years later) the episode has become a opera and does not resemble the episode "Cape Fear" which the opera is based on.

I absolutely love the Simpsons and really enjoyed this play. I have had many conversations exactly like the one that takes place in Act 1 where they try to piece together a Simpsons episode. I think it's very interesting that this play was created in a devised theater process where actors were prompted to try to remember a Simpsons episode that they haven't seen in a long time. I think the dialogue that was captured during that process is very reflective of natural dialogue.

A present theme in the play is the struggle over memory. Memory is seen as something that forms you and as something that can hold you back. Characters are frequently struggling to remember or begging to forget. This idea is especially present in the character Lopakhin whose present status as a businessman conflicts with his childhood as a peasant.

I find these stage directions to be very effective in creating a specific mood and climate for the characters. I prefer expressive stage directions over bare stage directions when reading a play because it helps the play "jump" off the page. These stage directions invoke a feeling that the world is changing as it becomes spring, but winter has not surrendered yet. This reminds me of the impact the theme of memory has on the play.

I think this conversation between White Person 1 & White Person 2 is exploring the natural privileges white people experience. Many white people don't have to be consciously aware of their identity at all times because no matter what space they enter the odds are that the school, company, party or event is white led or has been created to cater to wealthy white people.

I think it is interesting that the characters in Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven don't have names but are labeled by their idenitiies. I think this is because the play is exploring themes of racism and identity. The play is not a traditional narrative play but a production that combines several elements of performance like stand up, projection, dance, and vaudeville.

I think it is interesting that the playwright has chosen to include this performance in between acts to allow the actors time to adjust their make-up for the next scene. I think this is a solution the playwright is offering to the challenge of covering such a long period of time with so many actors. I wonder how staging the play in the style of theater of the poor where such hyper realistic changes may not be required would change this element of the play.

The number of characters and period of time which is being covered in Teahouse is very intimidating. The characters descriptions alone take on 3 pages of the text. I would be very interested to see the play performed live in a theater. I would also be very interested to see a film adaptation, as I think it is easier to include a high volume of characters in film than in the theater.

I found this play to be very difficult to read, but I'd be very enthusiastic to see it performed. I feel there are many stage actions and pictures, such as Groit playing Melissa Yade's voice out of a cassette player, that would be much more impactful if I was able to see the play performed.

Sylvain Bemba utilizes a mix of expressionistic language and natural dialogue in Black Wedding Candles for Blessed Antigone. This really engages the audience and the different communication styles helps to emphasize the dialogue. These different communication styles also reveal information about the characters as to their current circumstance, motivations, and importance in the story.

I think the end result of the musical being that the plants begin to spread throughout america and are fed humans by more and more people is a unique metaphor for how capitalism harms the world and puts people in a position to exploit or harm others for their own gain. You can look at climate change, international child labor abuses, or Amazon's harmful treatment of their works. All require human beings to harm other human beings in exchange for profit or convenience.

This Author's note from Howard Ashman sets the tone for actors portraying the characters in Little Shop of Horrors. I think advising actors to use a simple, honest and sweet performance style instead of a camp and low comedy style is the right choice because it highlights the absurdity of the text and creates more comedy.

It is striking how the play reads as a suicide note, given that we know Sarah Kane committed suicide after writing the play. I think this makes the play ethically challenging to analyze as the line between play and suicide note is blurred. This play has had a great impact on the discussion of mental health within theater.

Stage directions in this play are very sparse and largely leave the reader or prospective director to make their own decision on how to stage the play. The most frequent stage direction within the play is "silence". I think this is a good example of how post modern the play is and that there is no universal truth within the play.

I find this creepy melody very engaging as a reader because it establishes that Antigona is in a different world than the other two characters. This creepy invokes a feeling of surrealism and reminds me of the opening to Woyzeck. I think opening works of theater in this way can help establish a mood which sets proper expectations with the audience for the remainder of the play.

This note from the translator identifies the Boalian influence which is present in Antigona Furiosa. The play revolves around the act of role playing with the shell acting as a device to signify who has the power. This makes the play engaging and asks the audience to question how power can change the nature of a human being.

I think it's an interesting stylistic choice to title the scenes as if they're chapters in a book or episodes in a tv show. Although plays are intended for live performance and not for reading I think it is a nice touch. I wonder if any productions have utlized the scene titles in live performance.

In this early exchange in the play between Galy Gay and his wife in regards to buying fish we can see Brecht's awareness of class. Galy Gay describes himself as a penniless porter from the harbour. I think this is a result of Brecht's focus on his plays having a political purpose.

"Well what happens if I shit where I starve" This line resonates with me because I think it speaks to the desperation that can be felt among playwrights. Especially black playwrights who are often not produced at the same rate as white playwrights. I think that Brendan Jacob Jenkins is articulating that he really has nothing to lose and should just create the kind of theater he's interested in instead of worrying about if it will be profitable.

I think it's interesting that in the plays beginning it is established that in the world of the play Branden Jacob Jenkins is inspired to write the play by his therapis as a means of improving is mental health and connecting with something he has positive feelings for. But then Branden Jacob Jenkins character announces that he doesn't have a therapist. I wonder which version is true, which is just the world of the play, and if perhaps there's a grey area where some is true and some isn't.

In this song we listen to Alison grapple with the death of her Father. Alison suspects that her father's death was a suicide. We see Alison wonder what it would have been like for her dad to commit suicide. And if it was her fault. Alison continues to wonder what happened. This mystery is a huge part of Alison's trauma and the missed opportunity to talk to her father about her sexuality and his.

I find the Fun Home commercial comedic because it's using word play to bring levity to something that is often depressing. I find the idea of the commodification of death comedic as well. I think we can see other elements of this morbid comedy throughout the musical which is likely a result of the family's the business Bechdel Funeral Home.

A Major theme in the play is the cruelty of human beings and the idea that humans are no better than animals. We see this theme communicated when Woyzeck is asked to eat only peas by the doctor, Woyzeck’s wife Marie cheating on him with a Drum Major, and Woyzeck murdering Marie.

The monkey and horse display human traits and are said to be humans. The function of scene 4 & 5 is to illustrate the simalriites betweens human beings and animals and the idea that humans are animals, which is a theme throughout the play.The purpose of this comparison for the overall drama is to communicate the idea that human beings are cruel, self serving, and barbaric in nature.

Stridenberg's naturalistic play is a reaction to early European feminism. While as a contemporary reader I interpret the text as a take down of misogyny this was likely not the author's intention. The author likely intended for this last seen to signify Julie receiving consequences for attempting to defy gender roles, rather than an example of the way gender roles can oppress women.

Jean's monologue which turns out to be a lie is an example of manipulation. The objective of the lie most likely being to seduce Julie, not because Jeans loves her, but because Jean wishes to use her class status to advance his own social position. In a way this reminds me of the contemporary term, gaslighting