Our Day Out, by Willy Russell - review

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Sarah Cundy 11A _                30/01/03

Draft English Coursework

"Our Day Out" is a 20th century drama play.  It is written by Willie Russell and is based around a school trip from Inner city Liverpool to Conway Castle, Wales. During the play we see visible differences between the two leading teachers Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs (whose name in the play was just seen as BRIGGS).

Although attitudes towards pupils differ greatly and both teachers believe in a different way of teaching and they disagree in the ways which the other one behaves and conducts activities, both teachers finish at the same point - both believe that when they speak, they speak on behalf of the majority.

Mrs Kay is portrayed as a kind, warm woman who treats children as if they are on the same level as here as people, but talks down to them as stupid. She reinforces throughout the book that the children are the ‘progress class’ and although are human beings, can still be seen as young children and to a certain extent stupid. Whilst thinking she is trying to be helpful with the children, it is clear to see how she belittles them. To me a clear example is on page 31, just as Mrs Kay has announced a trip to the zoo.

“But Progress Class, we’re very lucky today to have Mr Briggs with us…”

Clearly here she is reinforcing that the class is the progress class, whereas Briggs would refer to the class as ‘kids’.

However Mr Briggs is the opposite to Mrs Kay and is portrayed at the beginning of the play as ‘the bad guy’ and ‘nasty’ man. However this is only because of his strictness and intolerance of bad behaviour. Whilst this is seen as harsh and bad natured, Briggs speaks to the children as though they were a class of his own – a higher-level class. He teaches the children facts and information, where as Mrs Kay seems to try to protect from all things around them. Because of this the children seem uninterested in her and all she has to say, unless it will benefit them directly, i.e. a trip to the zoo.

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Although Briggs seems uninterested in the children, this is only true when compared to Mrs Kay. Whilst on his own he is seen as an average teacher would be seen – smart, educational and quick to the point. Yet when put in the same place as Mrs Kay he is seen as strict, bossy and intolerant. A good example of this is shown during the children’s trip to the Zoo.

Briggs: “ And a brown bear is an extremely dangerous animal. You see those claws, they could a really nasty mark.”

Andrews: “Could it kill y’sir?”

Briggs: “Well ...

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