How does Clarke engage the reader through the opening of the play?
Brian Clarke uses several techniques to engage the reader. He immediately shows the audience Kens humorous personality, as he says “I am afraid I cant offer you my hand you will just have to put up with my backside instead”. This is a crude joke, but also he introduces sexual innuendo, which will later become a recurring technique. On the first page Ken is seen to be helpless, because in the stage directions it says, “They rub spirit and talc into his back”. This gives us the impression he cannot do it himself, and also it hints his condition. This is a good technique as it leaves the audience wanting to know more about his condition and how it happened.