Directions: many modern plays have stage direction, but the primary aim of writing a screenplay is to allow the director creative license and to let the dialogue carry the exposition and relate the plot and action. Please read The Reprimand, by Jane Anderson and answer the following questions: Based on what you already know, what are the plot and theme of the play? When you read the scene, what do you picture--what would the scene look like to you if you were to perform or direct the play? Offer a 100-200 word summary of the scene.
Initial reply due before class on Wednesday, November 5th.
Response to classmate: comment on a classmate's summary by offering a suggestion for how the play might be different than the classmate believed, given that s/he seems to have missed one aspect of the dialogue. If you believe the scene your classmate depicted is fairly accurate, point out one or two specific aspects of your classmate's summary that were particularly interesting.
Reply due before 5pm on Friday, November 7th.
The plot of the play is about two ladies talking about their presentation of a project at work. Rhona is upset that Mim made a reference to her weight, and how Mim’s comment might have distracted from all the effort that Rhona put into the project. The ladies agree that working for a man like Jim requires that they have clear communication between the two of them. The story ends with what looks like a resolution to the conflict, but once Rhona hangs up Mim calls her a “fat pig” (1325). The theme of the play is a female’s tendency to catfight and argue with other females. This scene would look like two women sitting in office chairs in different cities, talking to each other over the phone. Both women would be dressed in business casual attire. The women would be very over- dramatic in speaking their lines, and might even be chewing gum or the end of a pen obnoxiously. When someone in the office gets Rhona’s attention, I imagine her peeking over the top of her cubicle to tell the person she would be right there and then settling back in her chair to continue to talk to Mim (1325). When Rhona hangs up the phone, Mim mumbles about how much she can’t stand Rhona and then rolls her eyes as she calls Rhona a fat pig (1325).
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of making them comic and obnoxious. I agree that the conversation would probably be over-exaggerated, although they would probably be in the same city since they have just done a presentation together.
DeleteI like how describe how you think the ladies in detail. And I think that you hit the nail on the head in the theme. However do you think that they are really in two different cities? I only ask because they gave a conference and that is how they got into the whole discussion because of the chair... Just a thought :)
DeleteThe story or plot of the play is about two women who are talking about a meeting that was earlier in the day. The one character Mim passes an off handed comment to her co-worker Rhona that may or may not have been meant as a nasty comment, or at least that is taken as that at the beginning. Rhona talks to Mim and expresses her feelings. Mim apologizes and explains how she didn't mean it that way. As she continues on the reader begins to believe that it wasn't really a nasty comment. Wen the poem comes to an end the reader sees what Mim is really like. If I were to see this play in person I would see Mim as a gorgeous younger women dressed flashy and possibly immodestly. Rhona would be more business and possibly slightly overweight, also more of a authority figure. If I directed this play I would use it as a lesson or something. I didn't really care for it but I think that was the point of the play.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you would depict Rhona and Mim, I think it captures their characters very well.
DeleteI must ask: do you have any idea of what point you would like to convey if you were to direct this phone-play?
Yeah I was thinking about that as I wrote this. It is hard to say. I don't feel like there is a major theme... more just like a slightly comical anecdote. Maybe the theme would be that people shouldn't hold grudges in a work place regardless of how rude one person can be.
DeleteIn your first sentence, I appreciate that you mentioned that the meeting had been earlier in the day. I feel like a reader could easily get off track if they miss smaller details like that. Also, I like your description of Mim and Rhona; everyone seemed to have a similar view on how the characters would look if the play had been performed on stage. If you had directed/and or wrote the play, what would you have done to express the theme that the author was trying to express?
DeleteThe short play, “The Reprimand,” by Jane Anderson tells a story of a confrontation between two characters, Mim and Rhona. Rhona and Mim are co-workers. Rhona calls Mim and claims that Mim has made an inappropriate remark during a work meeting. Mim re-assures Rhona that she didn’t intend for the remark to sound hurtful, but at the end of the play, she contradicts the response she gave to Rhona without Rhona’s knowledge. The plot of this story is that Rhona tries to resolve conflict with Mim. Also, Anderson’s theme centers on the following idea: anyone who has dealt with workplace conflict. If the scene were to be performed on stage, I could see a wall separating the two actors. Because satire is included in the play, I would expect the two actors to have an exaggerated character profile. Mim would most likely look and perform very proper and naive, yet clearly annoyed. Given the information from the play, Rhona would look slightly overweight. As well, Rhona would be perceived as proper and, as the title states, a reprimand who is irritated and defensive. Moreover, I could see both of the characters exaggerated and using snide facial expressions during their phone conversation. I think that the use of satire would make this play enjoyable to watch!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of satire is genus! It would capture perfectly how seeming asinine the conversation come across. Indeed a show like that would be very enjoyable to watch (and to perform).
Delete“The Reprimand” features Mim and Rhona as coworkers who work at an unnamed firm. The plot revolves around a comment that Mim made at a meeting, and how the comment almost undermined their project. The conversation eventually turns to how their boss may in fact be lying to Mim because of her attractiveness.
ReplyDeleteSummary: The scene begins with the two sitting in two cubicles that are place right next to each other. Mim would be a thin actress and Rhona would be heavier, and each would be wearing casual business attire. The sets would be mostly gray and dull, but Mim and Rhona would be brightly dressed to draw the audience’s attention to these characters. There could be a few other people dressed in business attire to suggest that the two are so wrapped up in their conversation to note their surroundings. Ambient noises would be provided by staplers, fax and copy machines, and keyboard typing.
“The Reprimand” appears to tell us about the unfortunate implications of an ostensibly innocuous statement, but quickly turns into a conversation about how men will often use women for their appearance rather than their skills or work ethic. “The Reprimand” delivers the message that a seemingly small issue may actually be the first sign of a larger problem.
As someone who has spent some time in performances I can tell you that ambient noise on stage is rarely a good idea; either it is too loud and detracts from the show, or it is hardly there and simply a nuisance. But I appreciate your idea of other people to show how oblivious Rhona and Mim are as they converse.
DeleteThe plot of the play is about two female co-workers at a firm discussing a situation that happened during an important meeting taking place. One of the main characters, Mim, makes a comment which is difficult to analyze leading the other main character Rhona decides to settle the matter over the phone. Mim claims that she didn’t mean to hurt Rhona in anyway, yet Rhona seems not to truly believe her. By the end of the scene, Mim is a mixture of annoyed and surprised by the events that she does fact call Rhona a “Fat Pig”. The theme of this scene is the meaning of your words can have an other meaning to another person. This is clear with what Mim had said in the meeting and Rhona’s meaning about the comment. If this scene was performed on stage, the setting would be a business like set with desks, filing cabinets, office job structure. Both main characters would be nice looking women, however, with Rhona’s character would be a bit larger than Mim. Since the scene takes the two characters talking with each other on the phone, the stage would be split between Mim and Rhona’s offices.
ReplyDeleteThe plot, of “The Reprimand” by Jane Anderson, begins with a project leader, Rhona, reprimanding a coworker, Mim, pertaining to a comment Mim made about a chair. The story progress with Rhona saying even the manager, Jim, thought the comment was inappropriate. Leading Rhona into a discussion of how Jim treats Mim as a “window dressing,” instead of giving her due credit for her work. The conversation closes with both women agreeing they like working with one another, although the sentiment is not genuine. The theme that comes from this play is to play the game of office politics. As I was reading I pictured a woman standing in the doorway of another woman’s office, talking. Then at the end I realized the phone part and re-read the scene, picturing two women, each in their own office on the phone. If I were to direct the scene I would have two desks separated on stage, maybe each in its spotlight, one with a heavier set woman and the other with an “attractive” woman. The performance of this play would not require much as the dialogue makes the story.
ReplyDeleteI think you depicted this scene well. When I read this I thought it was two women standing in the same room talking. I didn't picture it or catch that it was a phone conversation. I think that realizing it is a phone conversation changes the complexity of the story a bit. Calling Mim instead of saying something to her in person, says something about Rhona's character.
DeleteI enjoyed how you described this scene. I agree without your theme as well when it comes from the game of office politics and how the dialogue makes the story. Could you picture this scene in a different setting instead of taking place in an office?
DeleteYes Courtney, I could definitely see the same scene take place in other settings, in fact anywhere, all that's needed is two women that are "frenemies" and conversing. Possibly in a college setting, a
Delete"mommy and me class", among in-laws, or a volunteer organization!
The plot of this play is a conversation between two female coworkers about office politics and a remark made by Mim that she denies was meant as an insult. The theme is how people can be perfectly civil to each others' face, and be judgmental and rude about them as soon as they are out of earshot. I imagine this play would be set up with two separate cubicles on the stage, perhaps on the very edges of the stage to emphasize that they cannot hear each other outside of the phone call. In short, Rhona calls Mim to confront her about the comment Mim made that seemed to be about Rhona's weight. Mim says that she did not mean it that way, and then they begin to discuss the meeting. After they confirm that there are supposedly no hard feelings, Rhona hangs up and Mim calls her a "fat pig" to herself, indicating that there are indeed hard feelings between them.
ReplyDeleteI like your point of view of this theme. It works perfectly. Nice job with the quotes
DeleteThe plot of The Reprimand is about two co-workers having a conversation at work. Rhona is offended by a comment Mim had made and Rhona confronts her. Rhona was presenting a project and thought that the comment Mim had made could have possible taken the focus off of Rhona’s project. They talk it out and let each other know how they feel and agree that they like working with each other. When I read the scene I pictured two girls sitting in a cubical of a big office building. I pictured Rhona sitting at her desk and Mim standing. If I were directing the play I would perform it like I pictured it, two adult women in an office building having a conversation.
ReplyDeleteYour comment on my post about Rhona’s character was thought provoking. Realizing it was a phone conversation versus a face-to-face conversation, made me consider a trait I hadn’t thought about before. Based on the phone call aspect, would you change your version of the play or keep it the way you first envisioned it?
DeleteThe plot of The Reprimand is a telephone conversation between two co-workers, discussing a presentation earlier that day. The instigator, Rhona, insinuates that Mim (only other character in the play) made a well hidden dig about Rhona’s weight because Mim offered her a :bigger chair” Rhona claims that the call is not about her personal feeling, but the feelings of another co-worker, Jim, who thinks the comment could have “undermined the project.” Mim of course denies the claim she was actually acting out of respect, this is Rhona’s project, she should get the bigger chair. Rhona give example after example of why this is not the case. The conversation progresses to a point where it seems the women have made up and will get along- that is until Rhona hangs up and Mim utters “Fat pig” at the now gone Rhona. The theme of the play is quite simply the two-faced human nature; the ability to be very professional to an individual’s face, while retaining malevolence toward them.
ReplyDeleteI imagine this phone-play would be presented in a set of Anderson’s other phone plays; the consistent theme being a wall down center stage, and two telephone receivers, one on each side. various props and flats would contribute to each play- changing every time. In The Reprimand Rhona’s side would be her office at work, while Mim would be at home. I imagine the characters would be facing opposite directions (Rhona facing DSR, Mim pointed to DSL). Their expressions and action would have to be exaggerated, in a satirical fashion- very much like what Poeme described.
I really like your summary and your detail. I like your theme and think it is sadly so common in society. I didn't realize that the meeting happened earlier in the day so thank you for pointing that out.
DeleteI like your theme as well, it is very accurate and worded well. The way you would set-up your play and have the characters portrayed is great too, although I am curious as to why you placed Mim in her home during the conversation?
DeleteYou did a very good job at portraying your response to the play, your details were spot on. Your theme is interesting (and again, spot on), I enjoy the way it was expressed throughout your response! Do you think the play should have had more context?
DeleteThe plot of this play is about two co workers talking at work. One of them got offended by a comment the other one said about her looks and they had a fight about it. They end up talking about it and making everything better at the end and they talk about how they like working together. I imagine this play would be done at a work environment or two coworkers having a phone conference.
ReplyDeleteI think you might also be missing the aspect of character design of production. By defining how Mim and Rhona look, a director can speak volumes about a character’s thoughts, feelings and dispositions and help drive the mood of the play. Character design also helps to define the play in which the characters exist.
DeleteFor example, Mim is accused of calling Rhona heavy, while Rhona herself calls Mim attractive. If this were a satire, Mim would be ridiculously attractive, while Rhona might be obese. On the other hand, if the play were more subtle, Mim would just be good looking while Rhona would be slightly overweight.
Tone of voice is important, too. Mim is shown as apologetic up until the end and Rhona is a bit of a know it all. Would Mim have a condescendingly sweet voice? Would Rhona be a nasally, stuck up woman? I might be nitpicking, but I think defining the characters helps to set the mood and scene of the play.