Eva (Noticeably irritated by the question she quickly changes the subject.) I...em... (Looking for a subject to change to, then quickening the pace of her speech up.) I like you, you're really charming.
Eric (Stammering a little and a little taken aback by her last comment.) Well that's good because I really....really like you. You're a lot different from the other girls I'm used to. (Suddenly realising she may take offence) Of course I mean that in a good way.
Eva I know you do, don't worry, I'm flattered you like me, really. I mean you're an awful lot nicer than the rest of the men that come into the Palace Bar. I mean I do (Pauses) I mean I do like you, ............... a lot.
Eric That's great. (Pausing stammering.) I have a place near here we could go. You know, somewhere to get out of this slum.
.
Eva That would be nice, thanks.
They set off together barely managing to make it to the front room of Eric's friend's apartment. This would be shown on stage by a slow, obviously tipsy, walk off the stage as the set changes. As they enter the room the lights change into soft purples and blues. There is still smoke but it is getting a little heavier around the actors. The audience still hasn't seen much of what Eva Smith looks like, except her basic shadow. In the room there are few pieces of furniture and cloths covering the tables and most of the furnishings.
Eva Why are there cloths covering all the furnishing?
Eric This isn't actually my apartment, it's my friend's, I'm looking after it until he returns from abroad.
Eva Should we even be here then? I mean he doesn't know about it.
Eric Look, it will be fine, I mean what he doesn't know won't hurt him.
Erik then pulls a sheet off a chair and they both sit down together, they then turn to face each other.
Eva Do you think this is right?
The light then dulls, returning to the original play where Erik is being questioned.
Analysis
In 1912 things were a bit different from now. Society was moving at quite a fast pace in terms of money and technological developments. Many new businesses had sprung up, but it was also the date when the world's largest ship was built, the Titanic. Many people saw this as a glimpse of what was to come. Also at that time it was the middle of the suffragette movement. This was a very controversial subject, many supported it but also many felt that it was a matter of little consequence. In 1912 it was a big time of change. I think this is why the author set the play at this particular time, because the play was written in the 1960's; this was also a major time of change and that's why I think the writer of the play has set the play in 1912, so that it will hold some reference for the audience.
I have opened the play up with the following stage directions because I wanted the audience to still be in a slight wonder about who Eva Smith really is. I also wanted the smoke effect to make the scenes seem a little hazy, as if they were truly plucked out of someone's memory. I have also made sure throughout the play that the audience never get a true glimpse of what Eva Smith really looks like, so that I can make sure that it keeps the audience interested. They will think that they may get a true glimpse of what Eva's face looks like. Towards the end of the opening stage directions I have brightened the lights up near the main actors so that the audience can see them more clearly. I also think by doing this it draws the audience's attention to the characters in the play and by dulling the lights round the fill in actors it puts all the focus on Eric and Eva.
The first thing that I made the character Eric do is ask the barkeeper for a drink. I used this as a starting point for the rest of the following conversation, and as a way to emphasise to the audience that he had had a lot to drink even before he started talking to Eva Smith. I then made Eva slowly come into the light but not enough for the audience to actually see her clearly; this was done for suspense.
The next stage I had to do was to get Eric and Eva talking. I did this by making Eric chat Eva up. I then made Eric ask her if she wanted a drink. I did this because it is quite polite and I think it is probably what Eric would do. I got the impression from this because throughout the play he does seem to be quite nice underneath all the drinking. I think this because near the beginning of the play when he is talking to his father, he is polite. And then at the end of the play when he is being questioned by the inspector he says that he was only trying to help her when he steals the money.
In the next few lines I let them get to know each other a little better, by giving them a subject of conversation that was used previously. This gave me chance to let them have a conversation, but it would also not lose the audience's interest because the conversation had only just been brought up. The reason I make Eric flood her with complements is firstly I believe it is what Eric's character is like, because he seems young and charming and he likes people to like him. Secondly I need to make them get on very quickly in a short space of time, because the whole flashback scene can't be very long,otherwise it will detract from the play and may become another play in itself.
The next thing I thought may grab the audience's attention was perhaps to say something about what had happened to Eva Smith prior to this event, seeing as the audience had already heard much of Eva's story. The next thing that needed to be established was that they really liked each other and to hint that there was perhaps something a little different about each of them. I did this by using pauses and stammering, and having both of them trying to be very polite in a awkward situation. This however works two ways. It tells the audience their true feelings , but it also tests the characters to a certain extent. It test their characters because they both feel that they have to be polite and not say the wrong thing and they both have to be a little witty (which is not easy if you are drunk).
The next thing I needed to do was to get them away from the Palace Bar and I needed to do it quite quickly , otherwise the audience's attention would begin to lapse. So I felt that the only way to draw their attention back to the flashback scene was to change the scenery and make it a little more private and secluded. The change wouldn't take that long because they could dull the lights and then, put a new back drop on and put one couch on and cover the existing furniture with cloths. It shouldn't take more than two minutes.
The next thing was the next section of stage directions, which needed to include how they moved from one area to the next. I decided to include again the fact that they were drunk, I did this as a reminder to the audience. The reason that I increased the smoke is to make the first break off point to the audience that the scene is finally coming to an end. The interchange here would be a gradual change as the smoke throughout would start off fairly light and towards the end get heavier. I also make sure that the audience still haven't seen Eva, so that it also adds to the tension and lets the audience imagine what Eva Smith looks like. The reason I make the place where they spend the night a friend's apartment, so that it gives the impression to the audience that Eric is still very reliant on his parents for money and shelter. Also it lets Eva known that Eric may not be as well off as he first makes out to be. Also by being at a friend's it also creates a bit of danger. The quote "Do you think this is right?" is significant because it shows that there is still doubt in Eva's mind right until the last minute.
