Another point for comparison is costumes. The costumes in “Teechers” have to be very simplistic, as they are constantly changing, and usually only consist of one item, for example, a leather jacket for Oggy Moxon. The costumes in “Grease” are typical 1950’s costumes and very much to the period, and in A “Weekend Away”, the period of time is not stated, but judging by the language that the characters use, it suggests a more modern, up to date time frame, as the characters talk about the mini bus which is more modern.
“Teechers” is in an unusual category, as it is only a play for three actors. “Grease” has a cast of about 13 main characters, and a lot of people in the chorus, and a “Weekend Away” has quite a few characters in too.
The set for “Teechers” is very simplistic. The writer says that “Teechers” only needed to be performed with two chairs and a table for set. “Grease” is mainly set in school corridors and lunchrooms. The set isn’t realistic, but isn’t quite as simplistic as “Teechers”. A “Weekend Away”, however is a different play all together. The set is rather “realistic” in the sense that we used tables and chairs to mimic a dining table and to give the audience a sense of realism.
Music is a very important part of any play, and the three plays I have chosen use music very differently. “Grease” is a full musical, and the characters express their deepest thoughts/feelings through song. There are specific songs to sing, and the score of music tells them how to perform them. “Teechers” is not a musical, but it suggests using music as a good way of linking scenes together smoothly. There is no specific music to play, except in Act Two, when the song “Don’t You Want Me Baby” is mentioned when they are at the disco. A “Weekend Away”, however has no music, and doesn’t suggest that any music should/shouldn’t be played. It leaves it open for the actors to interpret the script in their own fashion and decide whether it is a good is a good idea to use music, and if so, what.
These plays are very different in many ways. One of which is the way they are performed/written. “Teechers” is a play WITHIN a play, whereas “Grease” and A “Weekend Away” are straight plays.
It has been interesting performing and rehearsing these plays, and learning new techniques and styles as I go. I like the idea of using music to communicate emotions, and I like the idea of a play within a play, and found that employing these new techniques will be very useful to use in the future.
Lily Milton 10 Q