FARCE: Arsenic and Old Lace

Today we are looking at FARCE.   Here are three slightly different definitions of the term:

• A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

·         A light dramatic work in which highly improbable plot situations, exaggerated characters,

      and often  slapstick elements are used for humorous effect.

·         a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than upon the development of character.

We are watching the classic farce Arsenic and Old Lace, released in 1944, directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre.    The movie is based on the Broadway smash hit Arsenic and Old Lace written by American playwright Joseph Kesselring.

Look here to see The Arts Club Theatre Company's student booklet for the play, which includes great background information on the play, playwright and the historical/theatrical context.  There is also a theatre etiquette section, so that students who have never been to a real theatre know how to behave appropriately.

 

Note:  Arsenic and Old Lace had over 1,400 performances on Broadway over three years.  The role of Jonathon, which is played in the movie by Raymond Massey, was actually played by Boris Karloff on stage.  This made the joke about his character looking like Boris Karloff as Frankenstein even funnier!

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein

Raymond Massey as Jonathon Brewster, originally played on Broadway by Boris Karloff.

 

Art from Art: Edward Ballad Performances

Buses were cancelled today and no full group attended class.  A huge thank you to the students who sorted and took inventory of the props.  You will have first dibs on those for future work!

You will have about 10 minutes on Wednesday, March 28 to run through the scene(s) you have developed to provide the explanation for the ballad "Edward, Edward" that I read to you in class on Tuesday.

Here it is in the original Scots dialect: edward edward ballad.

This is what Edward's sword ("brand") might have looked like if the setting were 1380 AD.  (More info on Scottish swords.)

Here's information on hunting and hawking--check out the other links on this site for Scottish history.

Here are examples of a 'tower house castle' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HallbarTower5.jpg 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Borthwick_Castle,_Midlothian.jpg


If you are interested, here are more medieval ballads--very dramatic!