Preparing to see a play

Under normal circumstances, this class would have taken as two of its most important texts Travesties and The Hostage. We've missed Travesties altogether, and The Hostage is going to be opening at Theatre St. Thomas on February 20, which is not enough time for us to organize a group and produce a Web page and playgoer's guide.

We can, however, do as a group some of the things that would have been involved in preparation for seeing the production of The Hostage.  We'll begin by reading the script.

I'll distribute copies of it. Between now and Friday you should read through the play, paying particular attention to questions that arise -- references you don't understand, or that you think many people won't understand, things the author seems to be assuming you feel or know that you don't, background information you think a viewer might need, or might find helpful in understanding characters' motivations, questions about why things are done one way rather than another.  You should probably have at least one question for every couple of pages.  We're going to begin working with those questions on Friday, so bring your annotated copy of the script -- with at least one marginal question for each couple of pages -- to class with you.