drama coursework

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Drama coursework

Ms Tindsley

Drama Coursework

The two pieces I have chosen to compare are; ‘Twelfth Night’, written by Shakespeare and another piece ‘Complications’, devised by my group about confusion.  I recognise that ‘Twelfth Night’ being such an old play has been presented and performed in various ways and I am focusing on just one film and play therefore some of the information may be irrelevant to some particular portrayals of the play. The pieces show similar story lines however being set in to very different eras they also show some vast differences.  Our modern version of the piece was set in the 21st century; and ‘Twelfth Night’ was set in the 16th century (Shakespearean times).  This already implies that both plays will show very different views and perceptions to the characters, their personalities and approaches, also they may show different reactions to situations.

Both pieces are about two siblings and confusion of them and who they are.  In ‘Twelfth Night’ both characters knew of their existence however at that time did not recognise each other and did not know who they were, however in our piece both characters although knowing each other did not know of their relationship with one another (being twins). ‘Twelfth Night’ forced the ‘sister’, Viola to dress up as a man in order to get a job to seek her brother however, in the modern version, sexism is not an issue now as they are both girls and they are both accepted for their diverse characters. Nowadays parents in a relationship both parents are often of the same status and importance, for example: job recognition, how they are treated by society; something that was not common in the past.  In focus of culture, ‘Twelfth Night’ portrays Viola and Sebastian of having alike behaviour, this could be due to the fact that they were brought up together in the same circumstances however the behaviour of the two sisters in our play are completely opposite.  One character is quiet and does not argue back whereas the other sister argues and is very feisty.  The characters in our play ‘confusion’ are also brought up with different types of parents; one set of parents quiet and calm towards each other, the other a single mother in a ‘high flying’ job. This contrasts with ‘Twelfth Night’ as there women could not get a job and this mother has a great busy job, continuously dressed in suits.  Even now; business people are still stereotypically thought of as being men however it has evolved considerably in the last 20 years.

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In our play there is the role of ‘the other women’ whom the father went off with when the original mother and father split up.  This would be frowned upon in the 16th century as they are expected to put up with any grief or misery they encounter, not saying that all of them were unhappy; however now in the 21st century it is seen as acceptable and people believe that nobody should be treated differently and have more priority in a relationship and it is about both people regardless of their sex.  People in the 16th century were expected to live with ...

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