If I were analyzing the show-within-the-show Drowsy Chaperone versus the as-is
meta-show The Drowsy Chaperone the
entire analysis would differ. For
example, in the show within the show an example of choice would be the rhythm
of the play in that in the show with in the show there is a huge augmentation
of tension being built up until it is reveled that Janet was disguised as the French
girl and that they decide to get married anyway which was the release. Another Hornby element in the show within the
show is choice. An example of choice is
that the full extent and story of Janet and Robert’s events and drama are staged
leading up to their decision to have their wedding, while Tottendle and
Underling, Drowsy and Aldopho, and Feldzing and Kitty’s drama around heir
weddings is not, yet in the end all four of their weddings are staged. However, in the meta-show The Drowsy Chaperone an example of rhythm
would be a consistent pattern of tension and release when ever the tension on
stage gets really high, the man interrupts and comments, typically making fun
of the shenanigans or giving background making the tragedies on stage be
comical and there for having comedic release.
An example of choice in the meta show would be that the playwrights
chose the man’s actions to actually reflect the play with in the play, like
when he put on the wrong record, it completely changed the rest of the play and
added in that ridiculous Asian song rather than just have him as a person with
commentary on the show. Also the
playwrights chose tot have the man always break the 4th wall, while
in the show with in the show, the character never break the fourth wall.
I completely agree with you Yvette. I think there’s a big difference in rhythm and choice in the “two” pieces. I also saw Man as the release point because when tension was at its highest, he or the world he was in interrupted the musical. I talked about the 4th wall being broken in one sense but not in the other as well; I guess great minds do think alike. Seriously though, I agree. I like that you noted how the musical focuses on the love story of Robert and Janet and not so much on the other three couples whose love just seemed to happen. I didn’t even think about that.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way your write. It's very specific and expressive. I agree that the differences in rhythm and choice are drastic. I also like that you touched on the breaking and upholding of the fourth wall. I hadn't considered that at all. That is an extreme difference between the play and the play within the play. It is a difference that partially accounts for why the Man could be forgotten as a character.
ReplyDeleteYvette, rhythm is a good Hornby element that would definitely differ depending on which part of the play you were analyzing. I think that the tension would be a lot less if you were analyzing the show as a whole, as opposed to the show-within-a show. I totally forgot about that random Asian song! That shows a huge difference in the show-within-a-show and the meta-show. That Asian song is something everyone will leave the theater and remember, so to think that the show-within-the-show does not consists of that creates a huge contrast between the two.
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