The 39 Steps

On February 26th 2016, I went out with my friend to saw this event. It was the first time of my life to be in such production. I was not a fan of theaters. I thought they are boring. Now, my mind has changed because the play was amazing. So, on the next day,

I’ve adored theatre for as long as I can remember. From writing plays throughout elementary school, to being involved in Drama Club in middle school, to performing in community theatre in high school, and to visiting the theatre as often as I could from the very beginning, theatre has always been a part of my life. Every aspect of it engages me: the directors working to bring their vision of the show’s scenes, choreography, or music to life, the actors transforming into different characters through their expression of dialogue, song, or dance, the costumers and set-builders transporting the audience into the setting and time period with their artistry, the backstage tech and crew working quickly and precisely to keep the show flowing to curtain call, and the orchestra bringing the show to life through music. There is nothing like the experience of live theatre, both as a member of the audience and as a member of the cast and crew.

Theatre means more to me than just something to do when I get bored or something I need to get through for high

“Audiences today want a real experience in their live performance, because they can get great script based entertainment at home, through various new media sources. Traditional theatre, which appeals on a mental, and hopefully also emotional level, has not been enough to compete with other media, and audiences have been declining. Physical theatre, by contrast appeals to the audience on a physical and emotional level, providing a much more immediate experience than traditional theatre” ~ (Artmedia Publishing in Zen Zen Zo’s “The Tempest” Teacher’s Notes)

When Milkman talks with the shopkeeper Mr. Solomon, he grows up the anticipation of the people around him. The reasons why they are offended by Milkman is clearly stated in the following passage:

Acting on stage with the lights, props, and sets is all surreal. But with that being said acting is much more intricate than to just memorize lines and go on stage and recite them with simple blocking. To combine people and ideas, adding natural movements and gestures, to take the playwright's' words and turn them into your own is the beautiful art form of theatre and acting. To be able to become another person, to feel what they feel, to live their life, is very magical and astounding to me. While acting I lose myself, I am solely whoever I am portraying and I take all matters

You've been laughing at us all your life. Corinthians. Mamma. Me. Using us, ordering us, and judging us" (Morrison 215). Milkman deleterious actions became part of others suffering experiencing this awakens him to finding his own cultural identity and himself. His personal growth is extremely necessary to finding his social conscience, blocking others perception towards him would've not awakened his questioning. "But she was considered his private honey spot, nor a real or legitimate girl friend-not someone he might marry"(Morrison 91) Hagar abundance and security enable milkman to be apathetic and no longer concerning himself with others health and obscureness that will be inflicting upon them. Milkman at this point wasn't taking any women seriously and believes no one was worthy of his attention Hagar, his mom, and his two sisters were pure examples of him not caring about women. Why did Milkman presented himself with such determination of lacking affection towards them, was there a reason why? Milkman's identity is covert and inconspicuous, in order to reconcile he has to separate from the things he experiences every day later others perspective help him to set himself free. The first awakening towards finding himself is presented while in Michigan, him telling his father about the secret relationship Corinthians, his sister, has with a member of the 7 days demonstrates his other side and we witness the commencement of his tenderness. Milkman

Milkman does not find the gold in Danville, but is intrigued by the information about his family that he received from Circe, so he continues his journey to Shalimar, VA.   Shalimar is where his grandfather was born, where his great grandfather was a slave.  Milkman receives a reality check in this town when he is beaten up and stripped of fancy clothes.  In Shalimar his money did not earn him any respect with the town's people, money was of no importance to them.  Milkman is now dressed as an ordinary person, no different from anyone else in the town.  This is a very humbling experience for him forcing him, for the first time, to be nothing but an ordinary black man.  For the first time he feels connected to his black culture. "Back home he had never felt this way, as though he belonged to

Milkman’s journey for an identity takes him down a road in which he becomes as callous as his father.

I started getting interested in Theatre late my 7th grade year. I was in English class when Caitlynn O'Hair was talking about that the musical at the end of the year that they were doing The Lion King musical for the musical theatre program for Burnet Middle School. I wanted to watch it, but for whatever reason, I couldn't go. But, since the class she was in sounded interesting, I put it as one of my electives to take for the next year. My 8th grade year in that class was amazing, and I made lots of friends there. During that class, the teacher, Mrs. Fisher mentioned that if

I see that you’re into theater. That’s cool. I saw quite a few plays. (I’m not much of a performer, though. Whenever I’ve been in front of an audience, I hid behind a guitar.)

Before attending a theatrical performance, one would want to gather information about it first. They would want to know who wrote it, a brief description, and if it is good. While attending the performance, one becomes part of a temporary community to see if his or her research was accurate. Afterwards, they may want to analyze the performance they saw. It all comes together for writing a good review for the performance.

Earlier this summer on the 14th of August at the Criterion Theatre in Oxford Circus, I went the evening performance of The 39 Steps. The 39 Steps was originally a book by John Buchan set before the First World War, the book was later adapted into a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It was a serious book and film following a bachelor called Richard Hannay who meets a mysterious German woman at a play, the women begs him to take her home with him and later reveals she is a spy trying to discover the truth about an organisation trying to steal British defence plans and something called the 39 steps. Later the women is assassinated in Hannay’s home and he is the main suspect, he sets out to try and prove his innocence by finishing what the

I was able to feel more a part of the “company” and my participation create an atmosphere that got me into the world of the play. The spectacle was effective from an outsider’s perspective, but even more so when the audience member gets to be a part of what’s going on. However, because I was being pulled in so many different directions I felt like I personally missed a lot of the plot. While I was being escorted to “The Renaissance,” an important plot point was happening during “The Gilded Age.” I went through many small areas that didn’t tell me anything about the plot in general. In fact, it didn’t dawn on me until after I was done with the play that the performance spanned over the course of a long period of time. It’s an ambitious project, to be sure. However, if this production was to be done again they would have to be careful and ensure that most, if not all, parts of the play can give some insight as to what’s happening to the

There is no theatre without an audience. The audience is as much a part of the playmaking experience as the artists—so how do we incorporate them more actively into what we do? We must work with them – and I’ve learned, in so doing,