This blog is specifically designed for Hanover High School students in Ms. Piro's English 9 course.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Question of the Week (10/1/10)
What is your opinion of the Stage Manager? Is the Stage Manage gender specific? What was Thornton Wilder's purpose in having the Stage Manager speak directly to the audience? How effective is this approach? Enjoy your weekend!
I think the stage manager is very descriptive which is a good thing for this play because there are so many people and it is confusing. For some reason I've been getting the feeling that the stage manager is male but it could easily be played by either gender. I feel like Thorton Wilder's purpose in having the stage manager talk to the audience was so that the play was engaging and also it helps the plot move along and helps in the explanation of the play. Personally I feel like if I was in the crowd this approach would not be a good one, half because I feel like it takes you out of getting sucked into the play, like in a book. The stage manager brings you back to reality. Also if I was watching the play I"m a visual learner so it would be easier to put names to faces rather then it is to memorize who people are in the book.
I think the purpose of the stage manager is to help explain the story. He/she is like a narator, who is part of the story as well. He knows everything there is to know about Grover's Corner, the town. I think that he speaks directly to the audience to make them feel like they are part of the story and the play. Although we have not read too far yet, I think that as the story gets more complicated he will clear things up and give the reader background information. I actually quite like how he is a "character" in the play, but is also involved with us. Sometimes I feel a little detached from stories. I think the author's goal is to involve and interest the reader when he implements the use of this stage manager/narator. Its as if the stage manager was giving us, the readers, a tour of his town. A main part of the play is to represent a town that could be anywhere. The narator, helps the story do this, by making the readers feel like they belong there and that it is their home. I don't agree with Jeremiah. He said that the Stage Manager takes away from the experience. Although he may seem unnecessary at times, I think he links us with the characters and having him there is the only way for that to happen. When you say, "If I was in the crowd this approach would not be a good one." Do you think that having the stage manager when you're watching the play is not helpful, but when you're reading it it is?
I think that the stage manager is a Man. I think his purpose is to be the narrator. I think that he is also there to help the story along and to help explain it to people. He also knows everyone in the town and knows everything about the town and its history. Him speaking to the audience helps them feel like they are part of the story.
I don't really like the role of the Stage Manager because it is sort of like a narrator, but it interacts with the characters and the audience in a way that I don't think adds anything to the play itself. I don't really think the role is gender specific although on the first page, it says it comes out with a top hat and a pipe, which makes you think it is a man, but then plays the role of Mrs. Forrest on page 28, so the role isn't completely clear on the gender. I think the reason for having the stage manager is to explain who characters are and also to engage the audience and get them involved, but I don't think this is effective because it chops up the play so there isn't as much flow to it and it detracts from what is actually happening in the play. I agree with Jeremiah and disagree with Zola because I really don't like the role of the Stage Manager because for me, he just interrupts the play.
I think that the stage manager is a man because Joe Crowell called him sir. I think that the Stage Manager talks to the audience so that it makes them feel like they are getting personally shown around Grover’s Corners. I don’t think that it really worked that well, it just made the story kind of confusing. However, it might have worked better if people were watching as a play. I agree with Araya because the way the Stage Manager interacts with the characters and narrates at the same time is kind of weird.
To me, the stage manager gave me the feeling that he was a man. The way he spoke seemed more like the other men in the play that had promenant roles. Unlike the women because they seem to have a little bit of a less extensive vocabulary. I don't really like the stage manager let alone the play. I think that the play is boring and the stage manaager is just someone who tries to make it interesting in the way he interacts with the other people... I don't think it works. I think that Mr. Thornton tried to be creative when doing this but instead just made another dull addition to his play. Like most of the peole above talked about, I think the satge manager is there to "guide" you through the play but I agree with Arya when she says it chops up the play. It also makes it very confusing like Cathleen said.
Personally, I don't really like the stage manager. I feel as if his part takes away from the play. With the stage manager it makes it seem like it's not really a story. I believe that this role could be played by a male or female. However, like Araya said he came in wearing a top hat and had a pipe making me think he's a male. I believe his purpose is so the audience becomes familiar with the town. He makes the story flow from one scene to the other. I think it's effective in the fact that eh makes the scene flow well, but he makes the story not as interesting. I agree with Araya's opinion completely about how the stage manager doesn't add to the play. It makes the story not as entertaining to read.
The stage manager is the narrator to the story. It helps set the scene, and give details that cannot be presented in only dialog. While reading the stage managers text it came across to me that it was a male and I never occurred to me that it could have been a female which it very well could be. Having the stage manager talking directly to the audience is a good way to explain the story, and make the audience feel like they are part of the play. Lots of plays have narrators, even Antigone did, but in Our Town the stage manager is almost like the main character. He (or she) connects with the audience making the scene more welcoming and realistic. He also makes the scenes connect to each other when he talks in between each one. If this was performed on stage, this would be a good time to change the set of the scene while the stage manager is talking. In contrast, I agree with jeremiah that the stage manager doesn't let the audience get "sucked into" the play as much. It brings everybody back into reality.
I think that the stage manager is an interesting concept, but is poorly executed. I think it is a sort of genderless object, just another facet of the play. It seems as if the stage manager is a narrator at some points, but then part of the play at others. For me it just makes it more confusing, because it seems like it is a play of a play, and you are watching the inner one 90 percent of the time. I think that a traditional narrator would be better for this play, and make for much easier reading, but I can also see why it was included. I agreed with John that it somewhat connect the scenes and gives time to change, but it makes me focus on the stage manager and not on the scenes, instead of providing a break. Maybe this would change if I was watching the show, but reading it makes it a lot less interesting. Jack
I think that the stage manager is sort of like a narrator and I think that the stage manager is also unlike a narrator because it interacts more with the audience and sort of breaks down what is happening at that point and time. I think that the purpose of the stage manager is to really allow the audience to get what is happening and give them a bit of background. I agree with Araya about how the stage manager interrupts the play.
I dislike the Stage Managers presence in the play. Although I think it is imperative for their to be a narrative figure because the play is confusing at points, I think it could have been done differently. When I first started reading the book I pictured the Stage Manager as a man, I'm not sure why though. I suppose to could be a women or a man. So far it wouldn't have had an effect on the story. I don't like how the Stage Manager is active in the play. I would prefer them to be the narrator, and only the narrator. I like to be completely engaged in plays or books, and when the Stage Manager comes onto the stage its a reminder that we are only the audience. The Stage Manager is also helpful by presenting us with useful background information, knowing about all the aspects of the town, Grover's Corner, and helping move the story along. I agree with Cathleen in her reasoning for thinking that the Stage Manager is a man. I did not pick up on that while reading it though for the first time.
I think that the stage manager is a narrator and helps the story move along. I think that the narrator doesn't really have a gender, but it is more of a man than a woman in my opinion. The stage manager describes the town and who everyone is. He/she really helps the reader understand what is going on. I think that the stage manager just interrupts the play, but it is very useful. I agree with Zola that the stage manager makes the reader feel like he/she is part of the story.
I personally like the stage manager. I think that he takes the place of scenery in the play because otherwise there isn’t really a set. I think the stage manager makes Our Town unique. It makes it seem more like someone is telling a story. It actually really reminds me of Death in the Book Thief because of the way he speaks directly to the reader and can tell what will happen and what has already happened. I think that in some productions the stage manager could be woman. I agree with Araya that the hat and pipe makes it a man, but not all productions follow the stage directions exactly. However at some points in the play, the stage manager interacts with the characters as though it is a man. Thornton Wilder probably meant for it to be a man. I think it is open to interpretation. I think that Thornton Wilder had the Stage Manager speak directly to the audience to really get them involved in the story. The stage manager talks to the audience as though he is speaking about his town and is telling us a story about it. If I was watching the play, I think he would give me a really good idea about what the town looks like. He helps the audience visualize the scene while still allowing the crowd to use their imagination. With scenery, the set kind of takes away some of that imagination. I think that using this freedom lets you imagine your own town in place of Grover’s Corners. I agree with Zola that it is like he is giving us a tour of Grover’s Corners. I think the stage manager engages the audience and helps them connect with the characters.
The stage manager in the play "Our Town" acted as the narrator in the play. The stage manager gives background on each character, introduces the characters and shows you around the town that "Our Town" takes place in. I find the stage manager very useful, with out him I would be very lost. I agree with Nathalie, he makes "Our Town" unique in the way it's like someone is telling a story. The author, Thornton Wilder made it so the stage manager was talking to the audience. I think Thorton Wilder was trying to use this technique to make the play feel like someone is telling a story. I also think this technique gives the play a personal vibe like Zola said, it makes you feel like apart of the story. This technique has been used in other stories like in Mary Poppins, and Fiddler On The Roof two very successful musicals. I think that the stage manager was a man, because in the early 1900's, stage managers were usually men, and not women. I think the stage manager is a very interesting character, and is very useful to explain what's going on in the story.
I believe that the Stage Manager is a very important part of the play. I definitely think that the he is a man, although I'm sure that he could played by a woman. In the writing of this play, however, the author uses male pronouns when talking about the Stage Manager. Thorton Wilder chose to have the Stage Manager be like a narrator, except with more of a character. While a normal narrator just tells the story, Thorton Wilder's version interacts with the characters and it seems as though he knows the people in that town. This approach is very effective because it helps the audience to understand the plot and what's going on throughout the transitions and it helps to answer any questions the audience could have. I disagree with Jack when he says that the character of the Stage Manager is poorly executed, because, personally, I find the story much easier to read with the Stage Manager and I think that it is a lot more interesting than it would be with a normal narrator.
The Stage Manager is the narrator of the play who can also interact with the audience. At first I didn't understand how the role of the State Manager worked. I was confused about why he/she was talking about Doc and Mrs. Gibb's death, and then jumping to a scene where they were alive. I think the State Manager can switch genders. Like Jeremiah, I thought of the State Manager as a man for some reason, but then on pg. 28 the SM played the part of Mrs. Forrest for a line. The State Manager reminds me of the chorus in a Greek play. Thornton Wilder uses the role to explain things to the audience since there are so many characters introduced in the beginning and the time-line keeps changing. I also agree with Jeremiah because the State Manager does get you "out of the zone" from getting sucked into the play or book. Like Jeremiah said, it brings you back to reality. I don't mind the State Manager now, it is effective, but I hope his or her role decreases as the play unfolds.
I think that the stage manager helps make the story flow better, he is just like a narrator. He/ She descriptively tell what is happening at what point. The stage manager could easily be a man or a woman. I think that Thornton Wilder's purpose to have a stage manager is to help the audience understand the whole concept of the story better. Having someone to narrate on the story helps me realize what is happening in the story better when it gets confusing. Caroline, I like how you compared the stage manager with the Chorus in the Greek plays. It also reminds me of them because the Chorus is still narrating the story, but just as a group.
I think that the play would not be known as a play without the stage manager because the stage manager is basically like the omniscient narrator of the story. A stage manager is normally played by a male but it never really matters what gender the stage manager is. The stage manager also describes the set and the current scene in the play. The stage manager has to talk directly to the audience so that he can give the audience a clue about what is happening. This approach has a big effect for the play because it is what tells the audience what is happening in the play at the moment, so that is how the audience keeps up with the play. I agree with Sarah because the stage manager tells the audience what is happening and he also sets the scene. without the stage manager the people in the audience would get confused.
I think that the stage manager is a really good idea. I inferred that it was a male but now that it was brought up I suppose that it could have been a women. I don't think that the stage manager is Thornton Wilder trying to talk to the audience i just think that he is put there to try to tell the people what is going on in the play, he helps the audience understand facts about the town and he introduces us to many characters. He is sort of like a narator. I disagree with what John Flory said, i dont thin that the stage manager takes away from the story part, it's not like the whole cast is talking to the audience, the stage manager just helps the audience get more out of the play.
I think that wilder wanted his play to be very different. I think that having the stage manager speak to the audience, and be kind of a narrator is one of the ways he made our town special. I think that most of us would think of the stage manager as a male, but i dont think he/she needs to be male. I think that the stage manager is a cool character, and it is pretty effective.
I think that the Stage Manager is the person who knows all. He tells us the story of Grover’s Corner and the people of the town from his perspective. I like the stage manager because he shows us Grover’s Corner how he wants it to be portrayed. The Stage Manager is a person with an opinion who is in the play but also is narrating it to us, which is a cool way to portray the play. I think that the gender of the Stage Manager should be determined by what the writer says. Wilder shows you that the Stage Manager’s gender is male. The director could change the gender of the Stage Manager, but it would ultimately loose some of the effect that the author set out for it to show. I think that Wilder’s purpose of having the Stage Manager speak right to the audience is that it doesn’t put the audience in a position of where they are fully emerged in the play it. If I went to the Wizard of Oz, I would get fully emerged in the performance and forget about reality, in Our Town, the Stage Manager talking directly to the audience puts the audience member back into reality. I agree with Emma about how the Stage Manager can be confusing at times.
i think it was a fine idea to have the stage manager talk right to the people in the crowd. yes i belive it is a male because of the pipe.it is a more direct aporch and i think it adds effect.i agree with mattew s if the director could change the gender but there would be a loss effectt
I like the stage manager. He seems reasonable and sets agood tone for the story. I kind of pictured him as male, because I've heard of other stories where there was a male narrator who fit this story. But the stage manager could easily be either. I think that Thornton Wilder used a stage manager in an interesting way. He is a narrator who explains the landscape. He also tells about future events. By having those it really changes the book and stresses the importance of the middle, or how things happen. he also interacts with characters, making him seem very nice and friendly. I think he is very important and makes the book very unique. I agree with.. Twilightfan.. that the stage manager was a man because he did have a pipe and that was very uncommon to women back then. Its a very good point that I didn't think of.
I like how Thornton Wilder uses the stage manager. I think it is effective because in a play when only one person is on the stage everybody listens. I think the stage manager does a good job of explaining the story and the history of Grover's Corners. I thought the stage manager was a male but now that the question is brought up it could be either gender. The stage manager seems like it knows all about the history of the town. The stage manager is an important part in the play because it is like a narrator who knows all about the play. I like how the stage manager interacts with the audience and the characters. It is a very interesting character and is not used in normal plays. I agree with Hailey how the stage manager makes the story flow better.
Personally, I like how the stage manager is used in "Our Town". He helps to explain the story to the reader, and being able to see into the future only helps him. From the beginning of the story, I thought that the stage manager was a man just by the way he talked to the different residents of Grovers Corners and by the fact that it mentions he is wearing a top hat and smoking a pipe. I think that Thornton Wilder's puprose for having the stage manager is so that he could have a character that would lead the reader through the story and keep him/her constantly involved. By my personal experience of reading "Our Town", I have liked having the stage manager and it has helped me keep the story plot straight. Overall, I think it is very effective.
I think that the stage manager's role in this play is very crucial. I feel that the story floes a lot better with the Stage manager there. I always thought that the stage manger was a man, but now that you bring up the idea that the stage manager is a woman, it opens up loads of possibilities. I thought that the stage manager is there to give us the info that we don't know about. He makes the story easier to understand and flow a lot better. The idea that the stage manager has the ability to talk to the audience is very unique. It shows that he can step out of Grovers Corner and have the Audience interact with the play. I think that it's a very good approach. It is a way of giving the narrations to the audience. I agree with Tomas that the idea of the Stage manager being there is a way to keep the audience involved.
I think that the stage managers role in the play is different than anything in normal plays, but I also enjoy it, because it is like he is really talking to you. He is omnicient, which means he knows all, so it can get kind of confusing when he switched time periods. The things that the stage manager does don’t suggest a specific gender, but male pronouns are used in the set instructions. Having the stage manager talk directly to the audience makes it feel more like someone telling you a story, but sense there are actors too, it never gets boring. I like the way that Thornton Wilder wrote this play, because it makes the audience feel like they are apart of the story, or engaging in a conversation with the narrator. I agree with Nathalie in saying that the sense there aren’t a lot of props or scenery, the stage manager helps to create more of a visual in your head.
As we learned in class, the Stage Manager is an omniscient narrator. In some ways it benefits the audience, because the first act into a play can be confusing, but in a different sense it almost makes the play predictable. Maybe this was even the goal of Thornton Wilder. If the play was predictable, like every forgettable, regular day is, then it drives home the point that Grover’s Corners was a regular town with average people. People that are living just the same as we are a thousand years later. Gender with this character does not matter, I think. The role could be played by either and the difference does not change the effect over the audience. Speaking directly to the crowd allows them to engage the audience and bring them to a reality much like theirs. The stage manager and the characters come off as very casual and allows for the play to be relatable. It is most likely unlike any other written at the time, about preserving our day-to-day history and human connection. Austin commented on how the play was boring and Wilder failed to add spunk to his play through the manager. I agree with him....partially. The play is a tad boring, but I think this is because we are so used to reading literature full of details, action, plot and emphasized everything, that when it comes to reading reality it can be disappointing. Part of the reason I love to read is getting away from reality for a bit. Yet, when reading it, especially in this play, it can remind one so much of your own that it is, like I said, disappointing. Life is what you make it though, so I presume what you come away with reading is too.
I think that the stage manager is very specific and welcoming. He really makes sure that you know what's going on in the town, and helps you understand its basic history. He helps you to feel like it's your town. I feel like the play was written for the stage manager to be a man, because the way the women who have been introduced so far talk, it seems like a women wouldn't say the types of things that the stage manager says. I think that Thornton Wilder was trying to make the stage manager bring you into the town. I like it and I think that it works. I disagree with Jeremiah. I think that the approach taken with the stage manager works very well.
The way the stage manager is described in the book that it seems that it is a male, although it can be played by either gender. I think that it is a unique and interesting way to make the stage manager talk to the audience I think its important because it narrates the story and engages with them but, also that he is in the play as well. He knows everything about the town,Grover’s Corners. I agree with Sarah that the stage manager helps the scene because not all information and details comes from only dialog. I understand what she meant that it reminders her of the main character which makes sense to me. She had also said that from the text you could tell that it was a male and that he narrated the story.
The stage manager plays the part of the narrator in this play. Personally, I find the stage manager very confusing, because he acts as the narrator and interacts with the characters and audience. For me he adds more confusion to parts of the book that are confusing to begin with. For me, the stage manager is a man. I really don't know why I think that it is a man, but that is just what I had assumed when I started the book. I think that the Thornton Wilder was trying to get the audience to feel like they were actually in the town, but also to keep the audience engaged in the play. I think that it is a creative approach, but at the same time very confusing.
I agree with Araya when she says that the stage manager interrupts the play, because personally I think he does. Also he doesn't add anything to the play himself.
Well in my opinion i picture the stage manager as a girl (because i saw this play acted out and the stage manager was a girl). i think he or she talks directly to the audience so the audience can understand whats going on in the play.This approach is semi efective, it is good to understand what is going on but it bores you a little. The stage manager is from the future and sometimes remarks peoples deaths and what will happen in their life in the future.
The stage manager in Our Town is a great way to give a more personal and knowing aspect on a play about the insignificance of particular human lives. I think that the stage manager takes more of a god-like role during the first half. He lives in the present but sees into the future, and can usher people on and off stage. With the stage manager on stage most of the time, his conversations with certain characters help to make the meaning of the play more obvious. I do not think that the stage manager is gender specific. I know I have referred to the stage manager as "he" for the previous part of the paragraph, but that is only what I think of him in my imagination. There is no indication of whether the stage manager is a he or a she during the play. An all seeing narrator is not usually your typical human being, making me believe that it does not matter whatsoever if your narrator is male or female. Thornton Wilder's purpose for having the stage manager speak to the audience is to help pass the message that their specific lives do not matter to the human race as a whole. Having a god-like narrator talking to the audience helps send the message in a more personal way. This method is very effective because specifically telling someone what you want them to receive from the production helps them to think more deeply about it.
I disagree with Zola, The manager may not always be necessary but having him on stage at all times help to accentuate the all knowing, usher like quality that makes the stage manager interesting.
I think the stage manager does the job as both a stage manager and a narrator. He/she helps the audience understand what is going on or reminds them of what happened previously and how it connects to the part of the play that is about to happen or just happened. I think the stage manager could be either a male or a female with nothing causing any problems about the gender but is a male when i picture a scene that he/she is talking in. The purpose of having the stage manager talk directly to the audience is to either get their attention or (as i said earlier) remind or explain something to them. I agree with Mattson that even though the stage manager interrupts the play to speak, he/she makes the play more understandable.
I think that the stage manager is very interesting. He talks to the audience, but also to the characters. I think he is not very gender specific, because it could easily be a man talking. I think that it is a man, because of the way he talks to the male/female characters. I think that the purpose of having him talk as a character, but also talk to the audience allows the audience to think of the town as they want, and really participate in the play by being talked to, like when they asked the questions about the town, that could have also helped. I think that this approach is very good, because it is easily understood, and it allows the reader to fell like he/she is in the play easily.
I think the stage manager was made to show the audience more about the town that you wouldn't know just by seeing the play. I think that because he can tell the future to the audience it gives them something to think about. Thorton Wilder made this book to show the everyday living of a small town. I think that the stage manager is a man because of the way he talks. He seems like a man. I think that the way he makes this it helps the play move along better. Without it, it would be even slower. In response to roccos coment i agree that is a man because of the way he talks to people. MIke Mayo
In this play the stage manager plays the narrator. I quite like the part. I think it adds a personal aspect to the play and makes it easier to relate to. It almost seems like your experiencing everything with the characters. I don't think the stage manager is a male or female. I think the author lets you decide what you want it to be. He does this to add that universal aspect. In every other town this character would represent a high authority figure or well respected person. This is done for the same reason there are no props. I agree with Camille that the stage manager talks to us to keep us involved. This play can get boring sometimes so they just want to keep us involved.
I find it annoying that the stage manager interrupts the play, but I find him very informative. This play at times, can be very confusing. The stage manager does appear to be a man because of the clothing he wears and the pipe. Not to many women that I know of wear those clothes or smoke a pipe. I also agree with Camille that the stage manager is trying to keep us involved. He is a different way of presenting the role of a narrator.
i think wilder's choice in having th estage manager speak directly to the audience is a way of breaking the third wall, almost like a soliliquiy except it goes throughout the whole play. It really brings the audience into the play and gives it a different experience - instead of just watching things happen on stage, they are brought into the play and asked to almost participate. Especially when the stage manager actually asks the audience if htey have any questions, thats really different from most other plays and it really lets the audience participate. I disagree with Jared. Just because someone smokes a pipe doesnt mean they have to be a man, thats incredibly stereotypical - even though you may not see that very often, it doesnt mean that it cant happen. I think that since the stage manager sometimes comes in and plays certain parts whether they be a male or female part, it shows that thorton wilder implied that the casting director should make the decision of whether it should be a woman or man, and the rest of it is pretty much neutral.
I think the stage manager plays an important part in the play. He shares a lot of the important details so there doesn't have to be unnessicary conversation in the play. I don't think it would make much of a difference wether the stage manager were a male or female. I think his purpose in having the manager speaking directly to audience is so that he can share information without adding extra parts to the play, just like i said before. I think that it iterupts the play but also will help you understand a lot more about what is going on.
The stage manager is the all-known person in this play. He describes the things clearly and shows us the situations very clearly, too. So I think he is a very good stage manager! I think that there is no difference between female or male stage manager. It's how you speak and not if you are male or female! I agree with Carolyn, too!
the stage manager is a critical part of the play because he is the foreshadower, the moderator, and the father figure. the stage manager helps the charcters stay on task throuhout the play, and he helps he listeners/readers of the play by flling in the events that happened before a main event.
I think the stage manager is very descriptive which is a good thing for this play because there are so many people and it is confusing. For some reason I've been getting the feeling that the stage manager is male but it could easily be played by either gender. I feel like Thorton Wilder's purpose in having the stage manager talk to the audience was so that the play was engaging and also it helps the plot move along and helps in the explanation of the play. Personally I feel like if I was in the crowd this approach would not be a good one, half because I feel like it takes you out of getting sucked into the play, like in a book. The stage manager brings you back to reality. Also if I was watching the play I"m a visual learner so it would be easier to put names to faces rather then it is to memorize who people are in the book.
ReplyDeleteI think the purpose of the stage manager is to help explain the story. He/she is like a narator, who is part of the story as well. He knows everything there is to know about Grover's Corner, the town. I think that he speaks directly to the audience to make them feel like they are part of the story and the play. Although we have not read too far yet, I think that as the story gets more complicated he will clear things up and give the reader background information. I actually quite like how he is a "character" in the play, but is also involved with us. Sometimes I feel a little detached from stories. I think the author's goal is to involve and interest the reader when he implements the use of this stage manager/narator. Its as if the stage manager was giving us, the readers, a tour of his town. A main part of the play is to represent a town that could be anywhere. The narator, helps the story do this, by making the readers feel like they belong there and that it is their home.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with Jeremiah. He said that the Stage Manager takes away from the experience. Although he may seem unnecessary at times, I think he links us with the characters and having him there is the only way for that to happen. When you say, "If I was in the crowd this approach would not be a good one." Do you think that having the stage manager when you're watching the play is not helpful, but when you're reading it it is?
I think that the stage manager is a Man. I think his purpose is to be the narrator. I think that he is also there to help the story along and to help explain it to people. He also knows everyone in the town and knows everything about the town and its history. Him speaking to the audience helps them feel like they are part of the story.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like the role of the Stage Manager because it is sort of like a narrator, but it interacts with the characters and the audience in a way that I don't think adds anything to the play itself. I don't really think the role is gender specific although on the first page, it says it comes out with a top hat and a pipe, which makes you think it is a man, but then plays the role of Mrs. Forrest on page 28, so the role isn't completely clear on the gender. I think the reason for having the stage manager is to explain who characters are and also to engage the audience and get them involved, but I don't think this is effective because it chops up the play so there isn't as much flow to it and it detracts from what is actually happening in the play.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeremiah and disagree with Zola because I really don't like the role of the Stage Manager because for me, he just interrupts the play.
I think that the stage manager is a man because Joe Crowell called him sir. I think that the Stage Manager talks to the audience so that it makes them feel like they are getting personally shown around Grover’s Corners. I don’t think that it really worked that well, it just made the story kind of confusing. However, it might have worked better if people were watching as a play. I agree with Araya because the way the Stage Manager interacts with the characters and narrates at the same time is kind of weird.
ReplyDeleteActually, the stage manager could be a man or a woman. Joe was talking to Dr. Gibbs.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the stage manager gave me the feeling that he was a man. The way he spoke seemed more like the other men in the play that had promenant roles. Unlike the women because they seem to have a little bit of a less extensive vocabulary. I don't really like the stage manager let alone the play. I think that the play is boring and the stage manaager is just someone who tries to make it interesting in the way he interacts with the other people... I don't think it works. I think that Mr. Thornton tried to be creative when doing this but instead just made another dull addition to his play. Like most of the peole above talked about, I think the satge manager is there to "guide" you through the play but I agree with Arya when she says it chops up the play. It also makes it very confusing like Cathleen said.
ReplyDeleteThis is Austin Tate f.y.i.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't really like the stage manager. I feel as if his part takes away from the play. With the stage manager it makes it seem like it's not really a story. I believe that this role could be played by a male or female. However, like Araya said he came in wearing a top hat and had a pipe making me think he's a male. I believe his purpose is so the audience becomes familiar with the town. He makes the story flow from one scene to the other. I think it's effective in the fact that eh makes the scene flow well, but he makes the story not as interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Araya's opinion completely about how the stage manager doesn't add to the play. It makes the story not as entertaining to read.
The stage manager is the narrator to the story. It helps set the scene, and give details that cannot be presented in only dialog. While reading the stage managers text it came across to me that it was a male and I never occurred to me that it could have been a female which it very well could be. Having the stage manager talking directly to the audience is a good way to explain the story, and make the audience feel like they are part of the play. Lots of plays have narrators, even Antigone did, but in Our Town the stage manager is almost like the main character. He (or she) connects with the audience making the scene more welcoming and realistic. He also makes the scenes connect to each other when he talks in between each one. If this was performed on stage, this would be a good time to change the set of the scene while the stage manager is talking. In contrast, I agree with jeremiah that the stage manager doesn't let the audience get "sucked into" the play as much. It brings everybody back into reality.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stage manager is an interesting concept, but is poorly executed. I think it is a sort of genderless object, just another facet of the play. It seems as if the stage manager is a narrator at some points, but then part of the play at others. For me it just makes it more confusing, because it seems like it is a play of a play, and you are watching the inner one 90 percent of the time. I think that a traditional narrator would be better for this play, and make for much easier reading, but I can also see why it was included. I agreed with John that it somewhat connect the scenes and gives time to change, but it makes me focus on the stage manager and not on the scenes, instead of providing a break. Maybe this would change if I was watching the show, but reading it makes it a lot less interesting.
ReplyDeleteJack
I think that the stage manager is sort of like a narrator and I think that the stage manager is also unlike a narrator because it interacts more with the audience and sort of breaks down what is happening at that point and time. I think that the purpose of the stage manager is to really allow the audience to get what is happening and give them a bit of background. I agree with Araya about how the stage manager interrupts the play.
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ReplyDeleteI dislike the Stage Managers presence in the play. Although I think it is imperative for their to be a narrative figure because the play is confusing at points, I think it could have been done differently. When I first started reading the book I pictured the Stage Manager as a man, I'm not sure why though. I suppose to could be a women or a man. So far it wouldn't have had an effect on the story. I don't like how the Stage Manager is active in the play. I would prefer them to be the narrator, and only the narrator. I like to be completely engaged in plays or books, and when the Stage Manager comes onto the stage its a reminder that we are only the audience. The Stage Manager is also helpful by presenting us with useful background information, knowing about all the aspects of the town, Grover's Corner, and helping move the story along. I agree with Cathleen in her reasoning for thinking that the Stage Manager is a man. I did not pick up on that while reading it though for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stage manager is a narrator and helps the story move along. I think that the narrator doesn't really have a gender, but it is more of a man than a woman in my opinion. The stage manager describes the town and who everyone is. He/she really helps the reader understand what is going on. I think that the stage manager just interrupts the play, but it is very useful. I agree with Zola that the stage manager makes the reader feel like he/she is part of the story.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the stage manager. I think that he takes the place of scenery in the play because otherwise there isn’t really a set. I think the stage manager makes Our Town unique. It makes it seem more like someone is telling a story. It actually really reminds me of Death in the Book Thief because of the way he speaks directly to the reader and can tell what will happen and what has already happened.
ReplyDeleteI think that in some productions the stage manager could be woman. I agree with Araya that the hat and pipe makes it a man, but not all productions follow the stage directions exactly. However at some points in the play, the stage manager interacts with the characters as though it is a man. Thornton Wilder probably meant for it to be a man. I think it is open to interpretation.
I think that Thornton Wilder had the Stage Manager speak directly to the audience to really get them involved in the story. The stage manager talks to the audience as though he is speaking about his town and is telling us a story about it. If I was watching the play, I think he would give me a really good idea about what the town looks like. He helps the audience visualize the scene while still allowing the crowd to use their imagination. With scenery, the set kind of takes away some of that imagination. I think that using this freedom lets you imagine your own town in place of Grover’s Corners. I agree with Zola that it is like he is giving us a tour of Grover’s Corners. I think the stage manager engages the audience and helps them connect with the characters.
The stage manager in the play "Our Town" acted as the narrator in the play. The stage manager gives background on each character, introduces the characters and shows you around the town that "Our Town" takes place in. I find the stage manager very useful, with out him I would be very lost. I agree with Nathalie, he makes "Our Town" unique in the way it's like someone is telling a story.
ReplyDeleteThe author, Thornton Wilder made it so the stage manager was talking to the audience. I think Thorton Wilder was trying to use this technique to make the play feel like someone is telling a story. I also think this technique gives the play a personal vibe like Zola said, it makes you feel like apart of the story. This technique has been used in other stories like in Mary Poppins, and Fiddler On The Roof two very successful musicals.
I think that the stage manager was a man, because in the early 1900's, stage managers were usually men, and not women.
I think the stage manager is a very interesting character, and is very useful to explain what's going on in the story.
I believe that the Stage Manager is a very important part of the play. I definitely think that the he is a man, although I'm sure that he could played by a woman. In the writing of this play, however, the author uses male pronouns when talking about the Stage Manager. Thorton Wilder chose to have the Stage Manager be like a narrator, except with more of a character. While a normal narrator just tells the story, Thorton Wilder's version interacts with the characters and it seems as though he knows the people in that town. This approach is very effective because it helps the audience to understand the plot and what's going on throughout the transitions and it helps to answer any questions the audience could have.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Jack when he says that the character of the Stage Manager is poorly executed, because, personally, I find the story much easier to read with the Stage Manager and I think that it is a lot more interesting than it would be with a normal narrator.
The Stage Manager is the narrator of the play who can also interact with the audience. At first I didn't understand how the role of the State Manager worked. I was confused about why he/she was talking about Doc and Mrs. Gibb's death, and then jumping to a scene where they were alive. I think the State Manager can switch genders. Like Jeremiah, I thought of the State Manager as a man for some reason, but then on pg. 28 the SM played the part of Mrs. Forrest for a line. The State Manager reminds me of the chorus in a Greek play. Thornton Wilder uses the role to explain things to the audience since there are so many characters introduced in the beginning and the time-line keeps changing. I also agree with Jeremiah because the State Manager does get you "out of the zone" from getting sucked into the play or book. Like Jeremiah said, it brings you back to reality. I don't mind the State Manager now, it is effective, but I hope his or her role decreases as the play unfolds.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stage manager helps make the story flow better, he is just like a narrator. He/ She descriptively tell what is happening at what point. The stage manager could easily be a man or a woman. I think that Thornton Wilder's purpose to have a stage manager is to help the audience understand the whole concept of the story better. Having someone to narrate on the story helps me realize what is happening in the story better when it gets confusing. Caroline, I like how you compared the stage manager with the Chorus in the Greek plays. It also reminds me of them because the Chorus is still narrating the story, but just as a group.
ReplyDeleteI think that the play would not be known as a play without the stage manager because the stage manager is basically like the omniscient narrator of the story. A stage manager is normally played by a male but it never really matters what gender the stage manager is. The stage manager also describes the set and the current scene in the play. The stage manager has to talk directly to the audience so that he can give the audience a clue about what is happening. This approach has a big effect for the play because it is what tells the audience what is happening in the play at the moment, so that is how the audience keeps up with the play. I agree with Sarah because the stage manager tells the audience what is happening and he also sets the scene. without the stage manager the people in the audience would get confused.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stage manager is a really good idea. I inferred that it was a male but now that it was brought up I suppose that it could have been a women. I don't think that the stage manager is Thornton Wilder trying to talk to the audience i just think that he is put there to try to tell the people what is going on in the play, he helps the audience understand facts about the town and he introduces us to many characters. He is sort of like a narator. I disagree with what John Flory said, i dont thin that the stage manager takes away from the story part, it's not like the whole cast is talking to the audience, the stage manager just helps the audience get more out of the play.
ReplyDeleteI think that wilder wanted his play to be very different. I think that having the stage manager speak to the audience, and be kind of a narrator is one of the ways he made our town special. I think that most of us would think of the stage manager as a male, but i dont think he/she needs to be male. I think that the stage manager is a cool character, and it is pretty effective.
ReplyDeletei agree with mattson, the stage manager helps the play be understood, even though he interupts the play
ReplyDeleteI think that the Stage Manager is the person who knows all. He tells us the story of Grover’s Corner and the people of the town from his perspective. I like the stage manager because he shows us Grover’s Corner how he wants it to be portrayed. The Stage Manager is a person with an opinion who is in the play but also is narrating it to us, which is a cool way to portray the play. I think that the gender of the Stage Manager should be determined by what the writer says. Wilder shows you that the Stage Manager’s gender is male. The director could change the gender of the Stage Manager, but it would ultimately loose some of the effect that the author set out for it to show. I think that Wilder’s purpose of having the Stage Manager speak right to the audience is that it doesn’t put the audience in a position of where they are fully emerged in the play it. If I went to the Wizard of Oz, I would get fully emerged in the performance and forget about reality, in Our Town, the Stage Manager talking directly to the audience puts the audience member back into reality. I agree with Emma about how the Stage Manager can be confusing at times.
ReplyDeletei think it was a fine idea to have the stage manager talk right to the people in the crowd. yes i belive it is a male because of the pipe.it is a more direct aporch and i think it adds effect.i agree with mattew s if the director could change the gender but there would be a loss effectt
ReplyDeleteI like the stage manager. He seems reasonable and sets agood tone for the story. I kind of pictured him as male, because I've heard of other stories where there was a male narrator who fit this story. But the stage manager could easily be either. I think that Thornton Wilder used a stage manager in an interesting way. He is a narrator who explains the landscape. He also tells about future events. By having those it really changes the book and stresses the importance of the middle, or how things happen. he also interacts with characters, making him seem very nice and friendly. I think he is very important and makes the book very unique.
ReplyDeleteI agree with.. Twilightfan.. that the stage manager was a man because he did have a pipe and that was very uncommon to women back then. Its a very good point that I didn't think of.
I like how Thornton Wilder uses the stage manager. I think it is effective because in a play when only one person is on the stage everybody listens. I think the stage manager does a good job of explaining the story and the history of Grover's Corners. I thought the stage manager was a male but now that the question is brought up it could be either gender. The stage manager seems like it knows all about the history of the town. The stage manager is an important part in the play because it is like a narrator who knows all about the play. I like how the stage manager interacts with the audience and the characters. It is a very interesting character and is not used in normal plays. I agree with Hailey how the stage manager makes the story flow better.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like how the stage manager is used in "Our Town". He helps to explain the story to the reader, and being able to see into the future only helps him. From the beginning of the story, I thought that the stage manager was a man just by the way he talked to the different residents of Grovers Corners and by the fact that it mentions he is wearing a top hat and smoking a pipe. I think that Thornton Wilder's puprose for having the stage manager is so that he could have a character that would lead the reader through the story and keep him/her constantly involved. By my personal experience of reading "Our Town", I have liked having the stage manager and it has helped me keep the story plot straight. Overall, I think it is very effective.
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ReplyDeleteI think that the stage manager's role in this play is very crucial. I feel that the story floes a lot better with the Stage manager there. I always thought that the stage manger was a man, but now that you bring up the idea that the stage manager is a woman, it opens up loads of possibilities. I thought that the stage manager is there to give us the info that we don't know about. He makes the story easier to understand and flow a lot better. The idea that the stage manager has the ability to talk to the audience is very unique. It shows that he can step out of Grovers Corner and have the Audience interact with the play. I think that it's a very good approach. It is a way of giving the narrations to the audience. I agree with Tomas that the idea of the Stage manager being there is a way to keep the audience involved.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stage managers role in the play is different than anything in normal plays, but I also enjoy it, because it is like he is really talking to you. He is omnicient, which means he knows all, so it can get kind of confusing when he switched time periods. The things that the stage manager does don’t suggest a specific gender, but male pronouns are used in the set instructions. Having the stage manager talk directly to the audience makes it feel more like someone telling you a story, but sense there are actors too, it never gets boring. I like the way that Thornton Wilder wrote this play, because it makes the audience feel like they are apart of the story, or engaging in a conversation with the narrator. I agree with Nathalie in saying that the sense there aren’t a lot of props or scenery, the stage manager helps to create more of a visual in your head.
ReplyDeleteAs we learned in class, the Stage Manager is an omniscient narrator. In some ways it benefits the audience, because the first act into a play can be confusing, but in a different sense it almost makes the play predictable. Maybe this was even the goal of Thornton Wilder. If the play was predictable, like every forgettable, regular day is, then it drives home the point that Grover’s Corners was a regular town with average people. People that are living just the same as we are a thousand years later.
ReplyDeleteGender with this character does not matter, I think. The role could be played by either and the difference does not change the effect over the audience. Speaking directly to the crowd allows them to engage the audience and bring them to a reality much like theirs. The stage manager and the characters come off as very casual and allows for the play to be relatable. It is most likely unlike any other written at the time, about preserving our day-to-day history and human connection.
Austin commented on how the play was boring and Wilder failed to add spunk to his play through the manager. I agree with him....partially. The play is a tad boring, but I think this is because we are so used to reading literature full of details, action, plot and emphasized everything, that when it comes to reading reality it can be disappointing. Part of the reason I love to read is getting away from reality for a bit. Yet, when reading it, especially in this play, it can remind one so much of your own that it is, like I said, disappointing. Life is what you make it though, so I presume what you come away with reading is too.
I think that the stage manager is very specific and welcoming. He really makes sure that you know what's going on in the town, and helps you understand its basic history. He helps you to feel like it's your town. I feel like the play was written for the stage manager to be a man, because the way the women who have been introduced so far talk, it seems like a women wouldn't say the types of things that the stage manager says. I think that Thornton Wilder was trying to make the stage manager bring you into the town. I like it and I think that it works.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Jeremiah. I think that the approach taken with the stage manager works very well.
The way the stage manager is described in the book that it seems that it is a male, although it can be played by either gender. I think that it is a unique and interesting way to make the stage manager talk to the audience I think its important because it narrates the story and engages with them but, also that he is in the play as well. He knows everything about the town,Grover’s Corners.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah that the stage manager helps the scene because not all information and details comes from only dialog. I understand what she meant that it reminders her of the main character which makes sense to me. She had also said that from the text you could tell that it was a male and that he narrated the story.
The stage manager plays the part of the narrator in this play. Personally, I find the stage manager very confusing, because he acts as the narrator and interacts with the characters and audience. For me he adds more confusion to parts of the book that are confusing to begin with. For me, the stage manager is a man. I really don't know why I think that it is a man, but that is just what I had assumed when I started the book. I think that the Thornton Wilder was trying to get the audience to feel like they were actually in the town, but also to keep the audience engaged in the play. I think that it is a creative approach, but at the same time very confusing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Araya when she says that the stage manager interrupts the play, because personally I think he does. Also he doesn't add anything to the play himself.
Well in my opinion i picture the stage manager as a girl (because i saw this play acted out and the stage manager was a girl). i think he or she talks directly to the audience so the audience can understand whats going on in the play.This approach is semi efective, it is good to understand what is going on but it bores you a little. The stage manager is from the future and sometimes remarks peoples deaths and what will happen in their life in the future.
ReplyDelete- Jordan Levin
ReplyDeleteThe stage manager in Our Town is a great way to give a more personal and knowing aspect on a play about the insignificance of particular human lives. I think that the stage manager takes more of a god-like role during the first half. He lives in the present but sees into the future, and can usher people on and off stage. With the stage manager on stage most of the time, his conversations with certain characters help to make the meaning of the play more obvious. I do not think that the stage manager is gender specific. I know I have referred to the stage manager as "he" for the previous part of the paragraph, but that is only what I think of him in my imagination. There is no indication of whether the stage manager is a he or a she during the play. An all seeing narrator is not usually your typical human being, making me believe that it does not matter whatsoever if your narrator is male or female. Thornton Wilder's purpose for having the stage manager speak to the audience is to help pass the message that their specific lives do not matter to the human race as a whole. Having a god-like narrator talking to the audience helps send the message in a more personal way. This method is very effective because specifically telling someone what you want them to receive from the production helps them to think more deeply about it.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Zola, The manager may not always be necessary but having him on stage at all times help to accentuate the all knowing, usher like quality that makes the stage manager interesting.
I think the stage manager does the job as both a stage manager and a narrator. He/she helps the audience understand what is going on or reminds them of what happened previously and how it connects to the part of the play that is about to happen or just happened. I think the stage manager could be either a male or a female with nothing causing any problems about the gender but is a male when i picture a scene that he/she is talking in. The purpose of having the stage manager talk directly to the audience is to either get their attention or (as i said earlier) remind or explain something to them. I agree with Mattson that even though the stage manager interrupts the play to speak, he/she makes the play more understandable.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stage manager is very interesting. He talks to the audience, but also to the characters. I think he is not very gender specific, because it could easily be a man talking. I think that it is a man, because of the way he talks to the male/female characters. I think that the purpose of having him talk as a character, but also talk to the audience allows the audience to think of the town as they want, and really participate in the play by being talked to, like when they asked the questions about the town, that could have also helped. I think that this approach is very good, because it is easily understood, and it allows the reader to fell like he/she is in the play easily.
ReplyDeleteI think the stage manager was made to show the audience more about the town that you wouldn't know just by seeing the play. I think that because he can tell the future to the audience it gives them something to think about. Thorton Wilder made this book to show the everyday living of a small town. I think that the stage manager is a man because of the way he talks. He seems like a man. I think that the way he makes this it helps the play move along better. Without it, it would be even slower. In response to roccos coment i agree that is a man because of the way he talks to people. MIke Mayo
ReplyDeleteIn this play the stage manager plays the narrator. I quite like the part. I think it adds a personal aspect to the play and makes it easier to relate to. It almost seems like your experiencing everything with the characters. I don't think the stage manager is a male or female. I think the author lets you decide what you want it to be. He does this to add that universal aspect. In every other town this character would represent a high authority figure or well respected person. This is done for the same reason there are no props. I agree with Camille that the stage manager talks to us to keep us involved. This play can get boring sometimes so they just want to keep us involved.
ReplyDeleteI find it annoying that the stage manager interrupts the play, but I find him very informative. This play at times, can be very confusing. The stage manager does appear to be a man because of the clothing he wears and the pipe. Not to many women that I know of wear those clothes or smoke a pipe. I also agree with Camille that the stage manager is trying to keep us involved. He is a different way of presenting the role of a narrator.
ReplyDeletei think wilder's choice in having th estage manager speak directly to the audience is a way of breaking the third wall, almost like a soliliquiy except it goes throughout the whole play. It really brings the audience into the play and gives it a different experience - instead of just watching things happen on stage, they are brought into the play and asked to almost participate. Especially when the stage manager actually asks the audience if htey have any questions, thats really different from most other plays and it really lets the audience participate.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Jared. Just because someone smokes a pipe doesnt mean they have to be a man, thats incredibly stereotypical - even though you may not see that very often, it doesnt mean that it cant happen. I think that since the stage manager sometimes comes in and plays certain parts whether they be a male or female part, it shows that thorton wilder implied that the casting director should make the decision of whether it should be a woman or man, and the rest of it is pretty much neutral.
I think the stage manager plays an important part in the play. He shares a lot of the important details so there doesn't have to be unnessicary conversation in the play. I don't think it would make much of a difference wether the stage manager were a male or female. I think his purpose in having the manager speaking directly to audience is so that he can share information without adding extra parts to the play, just like i said before. I think that it iterupts the play but also will help you understand a lot more about what is going on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with carolyn, I think that the stage manager comes across as a narrator. Which in a way is what he or she is.
ReplyDeleteThe stage manager is the all-known person in this play. He describes the things clearly and shows us the situations very clearly, too. So I think he is a very good stage manager!
ReplyDeleteI think that there is no difference between female or male stage manager. It's how you speak and not if you are male or female!
I agree with Carolyn, too!
the stage manager is a critical part of the play because he is the foreshadower, the moderator, and the father figure. the stage manager helps the charcters stay on task throuhout the play, and he helps he listeners/readers of the play by flling in the events that happened before a main event.
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