Overall I enjoyed the play “The Woolgatherer”, I had done some research so I had an idea of what to expect. The play was actually a lot funnier that what I had expected. The two actors Joe Guzman who played the character Cliff and Amanda Schoonover (Rose) were perfect for the play. They physically looked the part also. Cliff’s character was a scruffy man with a heavy New Yorker accent, which Guzman played very well. While Roses character was a very petite women who had a very timid voice that you could tell she was an emotional wreck. The two actors kept me interested the whole play, you could see and hear how Cliff and Roses relationship change by the great acting. You could see how Cliff’s feelings changed toward Rose and that he started looking at her in a different way than just a booty call. The most memorable acting was the last scene. There were so many emotions going on stage. There was yelling, crying, laughter, love and so many more. You see how their friendship turns into love for each other. The directing in this play was on point. In the program, it explains what a woolgatherer is. Woolgathering (noun): indulgence in idle fancies and in daydreaming; absentmindedness. After seeing the play, its title makes a lot of sense. The play was set in South Philadelphia during the early 70’s.The two characters are both dreamers and find each other in a hospital where Rose was a candy stripper. Towards the end of the play you start to put two and two together that both of them are dreamers. They are isolated from the world but in different ways. Cliff is a truck driver that is in and out of states while Rose isolates herself after witnessing a terrible attack on the Philadelphia Zoo’s cranes which, I found out really happened because my parents remember hearing about it. Right before the ten-minute intermission, you start to feel like everything is being dragged on. The concept of the play was very interesting. Seeing two lonely people figure out they need each other. You see how everything leads up to the end and how the characters put down their walls for each other. The stage design for the play was only Roses apartment. You could tell the apt was meant for one person and it was not very homey. The costumes were on point also. Cliffs dingy sweater with holes in it and Roses simply poncho/sweater all helped the imagery of the play. There was no music but they made up for it by shouting. Walking away from the play it made me think of how no one is better off alone and that people need each other. You cannot live in a dream or just wish that it would come true as you see how it affected both characters. The acting and design of the play really put oneself into the play and relationship of Cliff and Rose. Although, writing wise, some parts feel like they lasted way to long. The play was very enjoyable and gave me goose bumps.

The play I chose to see was “ The Woolgatherer” by William Mastrosimone. It was directed by Neill Hartley and preformed at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. When you first walk in you are shocked at how intimate the staging is. There were only about thirty seats that started a few feet away from the stage. The stage design was of a south Philadelphia walk in apartment that was very meager. There was no stage changing except for the lighting. There was very minimal belongings in Rose’s apartment. There were also just two characters in the play Rose and Cliff. Everything about the play was very personal and small. The illusion in this play brought me close into Rose and Cliff’s relationship. I sat in the second row and I felt like I was sitting at the kitchen table with them and was involved in everything they were going thru. The staff did a very good job in making illusions such as in the concluding scene where Cliff and Rose are arguing because Cliff becomes interested in Roses closet because she is so secretive about what she keeps in there. He starts accusing Rose thinking that she is keeping a man in the closet dead or alive. I know that when he swung the closet door open I thought I was going to see a dead body hanging there but instead you see a closet full of sweaters. The illusions in this play kept me interested and made the play different than any other love story between two opposite people.

   Julie Taymore made a huge impact in theater. Thanks to her, we have such great plays and performances that include puppetry, masks, imaginative scenic design, and many other things. One play that many know and love is the Broadway performance “The Lion King”. She took a child’s play and turned it into a performance that people of all ages can watch and enjoy. I believe that the play was enjoyable to all because kids enjoyed the fantasy of talking animals while the adults enjoyed the creative scenic design. The musical included scenic designs of Africa and its wildlife. Also, it included masks and puppetry of the animals. The musical made a huge progression in theater. It was the first time that a woman walked away with an impressive honor for a Broadway musical. I believe that Taymore’s theatrical past helped her achieve her great talent and eye for theater. Growing up she was involved in plays, playwrights and studied abroad where she picked up many art forms including mime.  We learned that there are many different forms of theater around the world and all one has to do is travel to learn these other art forms. Julie Taymore did exactly this and it worked out in everyone’s favor because she picked up many art forms and included it into our plays here in the states.

http://www.arts.gov/index.html

The website was very insightful and easy to use. The links for all the parts of the websites worked. Sometimes on older websites all the links do not work, and it leaves users unhappy and can lead to the website being shut down. This website gave me very useful information on the National Endowment of the Arts, and with that information I now know and understand it a little better. The website is very user friendly and it can be used for all ages. It is very easy to follow and allows the user to see and know exactly where in the website they are going, and exactly what they are doing. The website seems like it needs to be updated, because it has the annual fiscal income from years 1999-2006, but there is nothing there for 2007. While on the website I found the contact us link to be very useful, sometimes all this link gives is an email, but this link gives a phone number, address, email, and different links to choose why you need to contact them. Again this website is useful and very user friendly, and I now know if I ever need anything that deals with the National Endowment of the Arts which website to go to.

http://myvanwy.tripod.com/companies/ghent/leenane.html

I was shocked to read that the producer of “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”, Martin McDonagh wrote the play in only eight days. I know for me to just write a five page paper takes me some time. I enjoyed reading about this play because it is very disturbing and entertaining. Seeing a scene where someone dies in front of you in completely different than seeing it in a movie on a big screen. You hear that person scream and cry in front of you and you hear them just fall to the ground really just gets you.

http://www.newcitystage.org/home.html

I plan on seeing the production “The Woolgatherer” that is directed by Neill Hartley. I was not sure on how to go about picking a play to go see so I did a little research on all of the plays listed in my area. When I read “The Woolgatherer” I knew right away that that was the play I wanted to see. I expect to see a romantic comedy with a cute ending. I enjoy reading books and watching movies about people’s hardships and how they overcome their life’s challenges. Also, I am excited to see how the play ends since both characters have secrets that have a big impact on their lives. Also, I prefer smaller plays because I feel like I am on stage with them and have a part in the show. Although, there are not many cast members in the play I have this feeling that I may become tired or bored of the two main characters.

My name is Stephanie Taliaferro and I am from Southampton, Pa. I am about 30 to forty-five minutes from North East Philadelphia, which is also where I was born and raised till I was three. I recently finished my second year at Indiana University of Pa, where my major is Childhood Development and Family relation with a minor in Sociology. I am not quite sure what I want to do with my major just as long as I get to work with children. I have always loved kids and take pleasure in learning how their minds grow and function.

With this class I want to learn why theater is so important in people’s life and what makes a good play so great. Also, I am interested in seeing how Theater itself has evolved from centuries ago. I enjoy theater because I can relate to many plays and their themes and conflicts. I hope that within the next three weeks I will learn everything I can about theater and some answers for my questions.