getting comfortable with the “D” word Tell it Like it Isn’t explored the theme of first love. This year, The One Sure Thing takes a look at the one thing we can count on in this life. Prior to the show, we advise that you prepare your students for the content of the performance. There may be some scenes that, for students who have experienced the death of a loved one, may be upsetting. The monologues are all very different – some cheeky, some uplifting and others quite moving. It is our intention to provide a thoughtprovoking performance without exploiting the emotions of the students.
classroom activity BRAINSTORM In groups of three, make a list of the plays, novels, songs, poems and artworks that you know that explore the themes of change, transition and death. Share your list with the class and upload them to the interactive whiteboard or write them up for the class to see. PRACTICAL TASK Group the titles into similar genres. For example, you may use categories such as “comedy”, “tragedy” etc, or “demographic groupings”, or pieces that move you and those that are more objective in their reflection of death. It‟s up to you as a class to decide how to split the “works”. You may change the groupings until, as a class, you agree how to classify them. Discuss why you grouped the titles as you did. REFLECTION Answer the following questions in your Drama journal. You may also like to discuss them as a class. How do you feel about seeing a production about death? How do you think you‟ll feel at the end of the show? Choose an object that represents “transition” for you. Find a picture of it or draw it in your Drama Journal. Write a “stream of consciousness” inner monologue from the perspective of the object. Write for 15 minutes. (Stream of consciousness is an unedited progression of thoughts that you write continuously). Don‟t read over it until after you have seen the production. After you have seen the performance, read your “stream of consciousness”. Compare and contrast your ideas to those that were presented in the performance. Bookend the experience with questions before seeing the show that can be answered at the end of the performance. - The playwrights have expressed the theme of death differently in each monologue. Look for differences in style, costumes, lighting and language. How do these interpretations work with or work against the theme? - Look for differences in acting styles. What effect does this have on the theme and on you as an audience member?