god of carnage
Project Description: After studying modern theatre in The Zoo Story and contemporary theatre in the last two assignments including Doubt which is a period piece, you are ready to tackle a full production of contemporary theatre. The play for your final is God of Carnage by Yazmina Reza. Rena is a French playwright who won the 2009 Tony for Best Play. Dramatists Play Services' website has this to say about the work:
THE STORY: A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses, and the rum flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award. "[A] streamlined anatomy of the human animal…delivers the cathartic release of watching other people's marriages go boom. A study in the tension between civilized surface and savage instinct, this play is itself a satisfyingly primitive entertainment." —NY Times. "Elegant, acerbic and entertainingly fueled on pure bile. It's Reza's sharpest work since 'Art'." —Variety. "Brutally entertaining…in another of Christopher Hampton's exquisite translations, [Reza] cannily manipulates social observations that appeal to vast audiences and creates characters that bring out the best in actors." —NY Newsday. "Reza has established herself as a master [of] magnificently constructed plays." —Entertainment Weekly.
Essential Questions: Why, in your opinion, do everyday circumstances/relationships work or not work as subject matters for plays? How do you think you can you portray a character that is not you, or even close to you in age? How can you apply what you have learned over the semester to this play?
Activity 1: Read the play God of Carnage by Yazmina Reza. Take notes on the play and it's contents. Re-read the play concentrating on a character to which you've been assigned.
Activity 2: Read the play as a group and begin memorization of your lines. Each group will be assigned 1/4 of the play (10 - 12 pages). This will be blocked and rehearsed by the group as a collaborative. In Google Classroom, you will keep a production journal in weekly assignments.
Activity 3: The class will be divided into two groups, each performing on a particular day. The performances will be adjudicated by an outside judge. This will result in a project grade for the performance (see rubric below).
Activity 4: The exam - You will write an essay about your experience developing your character. Use the Essential questions as a guidelines. The essay should be at least 5 paragraphs (three pages) but no more than 5 pages. (See graphic organizer below).
THE STORY: A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses, and the rum flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award. "[A] streamlined anatomy of the human animal…delivers the cathartic release of watching other people's marriages go boom. A study in the tension between civilized surface and savage instinct, this play is itself a satisfyingly primitive entertainment." —NY Times. "Elegant, acerbic and entertainingly fueled on pure bile. It's Reza's sharpest work since 'Art'." —Variety. "Brutally entertaining…in another of Christopher Hampton's exquisite translations, [Reza] cannily manipulates social observations that appeal to vast audiences and creates characters that bring out the best in actors." —NY Newsday. "Reza has established herself as a master [of] magnificently constructed plays." —Entertainment Weekly.
Essential Questions: Why, in your opinion, do everyday circumstances/relationships work or not work as subject matters for plays? How do you think you can you portray a character that is not you, or even close to you in age? How can you apply what you have learned over the semester to this play?
Activity 1: Read the play God of Carnage by Yazmina Reza. Take notes on the play and it's contents. Re-read the play concentrating on a character to which you've been assigned.
Activity 2: Read the play as a group and begin memorization of your lines. Each group will be assigned 1/4 of the play (10 - 12 pages). This will be blocked and rehearsed by the group as a collaborative. In Google Classroom, you will keep a production journal in weekly assignments.
Activity 3: The class will be divided into two groups, each performing on a particular day. The performances will be adjudicated by an outside judge. This will result in a project grade for the performance (see rubric below).
Activity 4: The exam - You will write an essay about your experience developing your character. Use the Essential questions as a guidelines. The essay should be at least 5 paragraphs (three pages) but no more than 5 pages. (See graphic organizer below).
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