Stage Drama Essay- Question One .
In the play Away by Richard Gow, a historical and cultural context including established connotations and characters roles from Historical Literature, and significant events in history are employed to enable the viewer to understand the play on the abstract level.
A writer can recycle established meanings from historical literature to allow their audience a full understanding of the concepts of the play. Gow has recreated scenes from the Shakespeare play Twelfth Night , in the opening scene of Away, and The Tempest, in the closing scene of Away. Both these plays involve a shipwreck, and the storm that causes the shipwreck also served to redirect central characters into fresh lifegiving pathways, the same role the storm in Away played. The theatrical audience had been exposed to this metaphorical storm in the past, and can understand the role it is playing. The beach scene in Away where all characters assemble after the storm to regenerate and start a new life, is also 'stolen' from The Tempest. Therefore the audience can see that the beach symbolises harmony and self realisation.
The writer of a play can also give the roles of characters from historical literature to the characters in their play, in order to create a character that can be related to and understood. This is evident in Away from Act 1 Scene 1 where Tom plays 'Puck' in the Highschool play A Midsummer's Night Dream. 'Puck' is a mischievous character whose magic helps to confuse, but finally reconcile the pairs of lovers in the play. In Away Tom takes on this role, but his magic is not love potions it is courage and sense of reality. It is his courage that affects Jim and Gwen, and his sense of reality that got Coral back on track. His curse caused the healing storm. Without him all problems would of gone without resolution. The audience can pick this role up early because of Tom playing the same role in the Highschool production.
