There were a variety of different dramatic techniques used throughout the play to create tension. The whole play was a series of flash backs beginning with the deaths of Mickey and Edward and then describing the event before hand. The narrator was used throughout the play as an external character that would reflect on what had occurred in the scene or even tell the audience a little about what was to happen, like a fortune-teller and so lead the audience through the play. He was seen and spoken to by Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons showing the audience their worries and fears. For example he acted like Mrs Johnstone’s conscience when she agreed to give her child away, trying to make her realize what she was doing was wrong. He also aided to Mrs Lyons’ paranoia when she thought that Mrs Johnstone was following her. Slow motion was used here to create tension when Mrs Lyons attempted the stab Mrs Johnstone. She then staggered onto the stage where both shattered gobo and red lights were used to enhance her anger and confusion. The children then performed a vocal collage called “Mad Women” as a childish game, which was juxtaposed with Mrs Lyons as she came onto the stage, referring her to be the women in the song. Juxtaposition was used a number of times in the play, first to showing Mickey and Edward’s feelings about wanting to be like the other and secondly when the police officer reacted in different ways, when Mickey and Edward performed a serious offence. This showed the different classes for example, he threatened Mrs Johnstone with imprisonment however had a drink with Mr Lyons, letting Edward off. Another dramatic technique that was used was a freeze frame when Mickey and Linda were at the fair to capture the excitement of the people on the roller coaster.
The stage was small, however this allowed everything to be seen clearly as most of the action happened in the centre of the stage. It was also raked, this was done to gain perspective and allow the audience to see what exactly was happening. The stage represented Mickey and Edward’s homes when they were young through the graffiti on the walls, which said Everton and the silhouettes of the buildings, setting both time and place.
Each actor cleverly brought on the props they required, to the stage as they came on to perform their parts e.g. Mickey brought his armchair and Mrs Johnstone brought her brush on to show the audience her occupation as a house cleaner, and when the scene was over they took these props with them. A significant prop that was used in the play was the locket Mrs Johnstone gave to Eddie to remember her and Mickey as she thought they were never going to meet again. This prop consequently had the opposite effect. Another prop was the sweets Edward gave to Mickey as a gesture of friendship. This showed the audience that Edward was a character who used his personal belongings, that he thought little of, to make friends. A prop that was used in different ways throughout the play was a gun. This prop went through the stages of firstly being a child’s finger, then to a cap gun, then to a air gun and finally to a real gun. This convention highlighted the progress of crime from a simple finger action of killing someone to actually killing someone. It also symbolized the play gradually becoming darker and twisted as the age of the characters progressed.
Sound effects were used in a variety of different ways to create mood and tension. For example the beating of Mrs Johnstone’s heart was played loudly when she swore on the Bible that she would give one of her unborn children to Mrs Lyons. This was done to show the exasperation and panic Mrs Johnstone was being put under and to emphasise that specific event because this formed the basis of the play’s plot. The volume of the beating also made the audience feel claustrophobic, which made them relate to pressure Mrs Johnston was under and that this was a decision she could not escape. As the narrator spoke the music was played louder and he spoke over this. This was done to create atmospheric tension resulting in shocking and scaring the audience.
As each character sung a soliloquy a spot light formed around them because they were the main characters in that scene. The lighting changed throughout the play, for instance to show the narrator was angry, the whole stage went red to make the audience frightened. However, a tight fixed spot was kept on the narrator so the attention of the audience was not diverted from him. A gobo of prison bars was also used to show that Mickey was in prison.
The costumes represented time. This was shown through the clothes of the children, as they wore bright and vivid colours. This then matured when they grew older and their clothes became blander in colour. The clothes also represented different classes. Edward for example, when he was young was dressed up as if he was going to boarding school, wearing shorts with knee high socks and a shirt with a tie and a sleeveless jumper. Mickey was wearing a green jumper, which was full of holes and looked like it hade been passed down because it was far too big for him. This showed that Edward’s family was rich whereas Mickey’s family was not. Class was also shown through Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone’s clothes, which didn’t change in style through the play. Mrs Lyons wore a lot of what looked like expensive jewellery whereas Mrs Johnstone wore the same working coat telling the audience her job as well as telling them she wasn’t very rich.
I thought the play was very well written and performed. I enjoyed the way it was portrayed in a stylised manner and found the acting of the whole cast to be very pleasing. The story line was exceptional and very enjoyable for all ages. Even though the play was sad, it still effectively made the audience understand all the different issues that were raised.
