‘How effective is the first scene as the opening of the play?’
Brian Friel named this play, 'Translations.' By definition a translation is
'the process of rendering from one language to another, and the product of
this process.' However, something is inferred in a translation, the original text looses some of its subtleties as well as some of the sounds of the words, the phonetics, and the ways in which the words are spelt, the orthographics. Sp not only is the title referring to the change of language, but also the loss of something in the process. Immediately, even before the play has begun, this title hints to the audience or reader of the topic and perhaps themes contained within
the text; namely that of language.
The opening line of the play belongs to Manus; Brian Friel has 'thrown' his
audience into the scene mid-conversation. From Manus's line it appears that
this has been an on-going dialogue for perhaps quite some time. This also provides a sense of continuity, a continuity that will soon be destroyed - Manus's tutoring of Sarah is obviously on-going, as is Jimmy Jack's love of the Classics; we're not just in mid-conversation, we're in a time segment of their everyday, mundane lives - this is a huge contrast to the tumult later in the play. This allows
the audience to immediately get a feel of the situation and of the
characters.
There is no formal introduction to the characters; the audience is gradually
introduced to them by watching their mannerisms, and observing their input
into the story. This enables the audience to come to their own conclusions
about each character. It allows each character to be viewed more personally and allows the symbolism of each character to be revealed. Rather than just being told what to think of each character, and what emotion to associate with them, they are forced to come to their own conclusions. This is a very effective technique as each member of the audience becomes attached to each character; it becomes more intimate.
