Play Analysis Essay (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 8
Play from the Internet, YouTube, DVD, iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, etc.
1 primary source (written version of selected play)

Instructions

Plays are meant to be performed, rather than read. The purpose of dramatic arts often extends far beyond the words written on a page; staging, lighting, costumes intonation, expression, and audience experience are all part of the experience of a theatrical production. To develop your understanding of the cultural role of the dramatic arts, you will view a production of a play this week and write a reflection to explain your viewing experience. Choose a play that you would like to view and find a version online, YouTube, DVD or iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, etc. You can also choose to see a play live if you prefer.

Play Suggestions:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Romeo and Juliet
As You Like It
Taming of the Shrew
The Tempest
Much Ado About Nothing
The Comedy of Errors
Macbeth
King Lear

If you have another idea, please ask your instructor to approve it.

Then, select and address one of the following options:

Option 1: Write an analysis of the play that you viewed. Include at least one quote from the play in your essay. In your essay, address the following:

Identify the performance that you have selected.
Describe the staging, lighting, costumes, and characters of the performance. How do these match or revise the written version of the play? You do not need to read the entire play, but you should skim the text.
What type of mood and tone does the performance create? How?
What parts of the play are easier to understand through performance? What are some details that stood out through performance?
What are your feelings about this performance? What did you take away from viewing it?

Option 2: Find an adaptation or transformation of a play. Choose an adaptation with some significant differences from the original, such as transposed plots and characters into a variety of different settings and historical contexts. Here are some examples:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999) or A Midsummer Night’s DREAM (2018)
Romeo and Juliet – Romeo + Juliet (1996) or West Side Story (1961) or Romeo Must Die (2000)
As You Like It – As You Like It (2006)
Taming of the Shrew – 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) or Kiss Me, Kate (1948)
Much Ado About Nothing – Much Ado About Nothing (2012)
The Comedy of Errors – The Bomb-itty of Errors (2012)
King Lear – A Thousand Acres (1997)
Othello – O (2001)
Hamlet – The Lion King (2019 or 1994) or Hamlet (2000)
Twelfth Night – She’s the Man (2006)

If you have another idea, please ask your instructor to approve it.

Watch the original version and the adapted version. In your essay, address the following:

How is the adaptation the same as the original? Discuss plot, characters, theme, conflict, language, etc.
How does the adaptation differ from the original? Discuss setting, time period, characters, plot, language, etc.
Does the original story translate well in the adaptation? Why or why not? Did the adaptation work in a different setting, time period, etc. Why or why not?
Why do you think Shakespeare’s plays are adapted so often?

Writing Requirements (APA format)

Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page (minimum of 1 source)

ANSWER

Play Analysis

Option 1

There are significant thematic similarities between the Lion King and Hamlet. Both films focus on fatherless princes (Simba and Hamlet) exiled from their homes after their fathers are murdered. In both films, the murdered kings appear to their sons as apparitions or ghosts, compelling them to seek vengeance for their deaths. Another similarity between the films is that they feature an uncle as the story’s villain. Scar (Simba’s uncle) and Claudius (Hamlet’s uncle) kill their siblings and seize their thrones. Both villains exploit their power and drive their kingdoms into destruction. Both Simba and Hamlet return home and avenge their father’s death. These themes demonstrate that Hamlet heavily inspired Lion King.

Despite these thematic relationships, the adaptation slightly differs from the original production. Lion King did not imitate the overall tone of Hamlet. As McElveen and Rohlfs (1998) indicated, “Lion King placed a children’s facade on a very serious story of responsibility and revenge.” Lion King was created for children; hence, its tone was playful. In contrast, Hamlet is not a children’s literature as the plot is complex and requires critical analysis. Another difference is that Hamlet is based on real people and history, while Lion King focuses on animals in an imaginary Jungle in Africa. Hamlet was the King of Denmark, while Mufasa was the king of Pride Lands. The setting of Hamlet is in Denmark, while that of the Lion King is in Africa.

I think the original story does not translate well in the adaptation. Although Lion King successfully reflected the notions of political power, nationalism, and duty to the monarchical system, the film’s ending completely changed the original story. Hamlet ended in tragedy. Foley (2012) believes this tragic ending reflects the overall havoc of human existence, the inevitability of pain and suffering in life, and the futility of human action. If Foley’s (2012) conclusions are accurate, then Hamlet’s story teaches us that our endeavors are vain and that the final victim of any power struggle will always be the country.

In contrast, the ending of Lion King is completely different. Scar was an aristocratic and utilitarian who desired absolute power. During his reign, the balance of nature was destroyed: herds fled, water sources dried up, and the Prideland’s landscape became a wasteland. When Simba re-captured the throne, he restored the land to its original state of balance. This ending implies that authoritative leadership and power-hungry individuals should be destroyed, while good leaders should be glorified. However, it ignores the critical role of the opposition in politics. All animals bow to Simba (implied submission to authority), and the rebels (hyenas) are confined, leaving no room for peaceful co-existence with opposition. The ending in the adaptation significantly changed the original film’s final message. For this reason, I think the original story did not translate well in the adaptation.

Yes, the adaptation worked well in a different setting. The adaptation’s setting is in Africa, and the audience is treated to Africa-sounding music and language. Hakuna Matata, a song in Lion King, is a Swahili phrase, meaning no problems. Other songs in the film are sang in Xhosa, Zulu, and Pidgin English.

I think Shakespeare is adapted so often because of the captivating nature of his work and its universal appeal. He also wrote in various styles, including tragedies, histories, etc. These variations leave much room for interpretation in his work, increasing its adaptability. Shakespeare’s verbal dexterity allowed him to coin English phrases that have transcended time. He based his plays on real events, giving his audience some sense of familiarity. Also, his work contains a complex interaction of depth and breadth, pathos and sublimity, intensity and sweep, and humor and fun, making it stand out.

Option 2

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Comparison between the Performance and play’s Staging, Lighting, Costumes and characters

The film and play have the same characters, although some of the film characters are underdeveloped. For example, characters such as Rosaline, Lord and Lady Capulet, Paris, and Mercutio in the film are underdeveloped due to substantial cutting of dialogues (Walker, 2000). The film’s setting, stage directions, and props differ from the original play. Act one of scene one in the play features warring families, while the film features warring Mafia empires. In the Play, Montagues and Capulets finally face each other after a long conflict, while the film starts this scene with Montagues’ men carelessly driving around in yellow convertibles. A news report replaces the prologue chorus, while the balcony scene in the play is replaced with a pool scene. The modernity in the film is apparent.

The film uses an image-intensive medium (i.e., camerawork, lighting, and special effects) to enhance viewers’ visual experience, while the play emphasizes the aural experience. The original play was performed on an open-air stage with few props and costumes, emphasizing the aural instead of the visual experience. The filmmakers used cinematographic techniques such as close-ups and music to intensify emotions and dramatize the fights. The costumes in the film were dramatic and colorful compared to the play.

Mood and Tone of the Performance How

The mood of the film is youthful and sultry. The film’s first half is characterized by coarse jokes, love poetry, and a costume parties. It is not until Tybalt murders Mercutio near the film’s midpoint that things start becoming tragic. The filmmakers use lighting, camera motions, angles, and other filming techniques to create the appropriate mood and tone. For example, the film uses rapid zooming to dramatize the fight scenes and intensify the characters’ emotions. They also use bright-colored costumes to portray a happy mood. Music also helps to highlight the mood and specific moments in the show.

Performance’s Unique Details and its Impact on my understanding of the Play

Understanding the language in the original Shakespeare play was daunting, but the film made it easier to understand. For example, near the beginning of the balcony scene, Juliet asks, “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Martin & Jacobus, 2019). I thought she was asking where Romeo was, a wrong interpretation of the sentence. The actual interpretation is Juliet wondering why her lover’s name was Romeo. The film tried to retain the original language, but it contained many interpretative gestures, e.g., tone, mannerism, and facial expressions that facilitated understanding of the language.

The details that stood out throughout the performance were the characters’ emotions. As mentioned before, the filmmakers leveraged camera motions, angles, lighting, etc., to intensify and dramatize the emotions and feelings of the characters. These effects increased participation and enhanced my experience of the Play.

Personal Take on the Performance and Key Takeaway

I think the film was a creative work and well done. Although Luhrmann’s version has been criticized for not being true to the original script, the filmmakers successfully created a sense of relatability or familiarity with the movie (Walker, 2000). The film brings the story into a modern setting and provides a new context in which viewers can perceive the drama’s actions. He exploits the cinematic potential and places the original language in a new space that even readers new to Shakespeare’s work can easily comprehend.

The takeaway from watching the video is that visual elements significantly impact experiences. Elements such as mise en scene, lighting, locations, casting, sets & costumes, and music can strengthen an original work, consequently impacting viewers’ experiences. Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet is characterized by heavy imagery and music, significantly improving the audience’s experience. The Play’s scenes and speeches are broken down into digestible snippets, and their effect is supported by music, camerawork, and various visual elements.

References

Foley, A. (2012). Heaven or havoc? The end of hamlet. Shakespeare in Southern Africa, 24(1), 45-56.

Martin, F. D., & Jacobus, L. (2019). Humanities through the Arts. McGraw-Hill Education

McElveen, T., & Rohlfs, M. (1998). Hamlet and The Lion King: Shakespearean Influences on Modern Entertainment. https://www.eixdelmon.com/wp-content/papercite-data/pdf/Hamlet-and-The-Lion-King.pdf

Walker, E. (2000). Pop goes the Shakespeare: Baz Luhrmann’s William Shakespeare’s Romeo+ Juliet Walker, Elsie. Literature/Film Quarterly, 28, 2.