The Rivals

1
The Rivals

• Essay -
• How would you direct your cast to create
  comedy for an audience?

2
Writing the Introduction

• Directorial overview
• In the introduction it is essential to create the
  impression of a clear directorial overview of the
  play and to show that you understand what the
  comic methods are.
• (make sure that you state your dramatic
  intentions!!)

3
Comic References

• Comic situations-
• Lucys dealings with Sir Lucius
• Lydias refusal to look at Absolute/Beverley A3
  Sc3
• Bob Acres preparation for the duel
• Faulklands self imposed misery
• Comic exchanges of wit/banter -
• Sir Anthonys exchanges with Jack about marriage
• Mrs Malaprops exchanges with Lydia
• Mrs Malaprop on the education of young girls.

4
Characterisations

• Mrs Malaprop and her delivery of Malapropisms
• Bob Acres - the country bumpkin come to town
• OTrigger - stock character - the Irish Squire

5
Potential in Performance

• Identification of comic potential
• casting/appearance of each character/
  physicality/ absurdities
• vocal qualities/performance style/ the delivery
  of the lines/ pace
• comic interaction between characters
• use of stage by actors
• use of costume/properties

6
Social and Cultural context

• Restoration comic style
• Caricature
• Georgian staging conventions
• appropriate stage setting/furnishings/ props/
  costume
• sensitive to the language of the play

7
Potential effectiveness for an audience

• Clarity and coherence of the interpretation of
  the scenes for an audience
• clearly defined theatrical conventions within the
  style - in terms of creating comedy
• audiences responses to the comedy
• empathy/ distancing/ laughter
• purposeful ideas designed to highlight the comedy