1. What did you think about the play as a whole? Did it surprise you or please you or frustrate you? Explain why you reacted to the play in this way.
I was very pleased with the play, because I found her writing and her characters relate able in some sense and also realistic, I especially enjoyed "Twirler" and all the quirks of the characters as well.
2. What is the premise of "Talking With"? In a sentence or two, explain what you think is the premise or main idea/theme of the play.
I think that the main idea is the variety of people and their own life experiences and stories.
3. The "audience" for each character changes as the play continues. How does the author help a viewer or reader understand who the character in question is "talking with..."? Overall, by the end of the play, who do you think the playwright Jane Martin is "Talking with...?" Support your opinion.
Jane martin helps us understand who the audience is by the dialogue used through out each monologue, when the character uses names, titles ect. also in the stage directions there are some hints also. By the end of the play I realized that Jane Martin is "talking with..." different aspiring and hopeful people telling their own stories and their own audiences.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Dear Dad,
Amy a young woman in her twenties wearing a simple black dress, is at her fathers funeral she stands beside the closed coffin in a otherwise empty funeral home.
AMY: Well, here we are. twenty two years later and we meet again.
Do you find me crazy? to actually come to your funeral?, because I know I do.
My mom laughed. yeah she fucking laughed about it! her full belly laugh too. I almost understood why you left her when I was barely one month old.
But then I remembered the years and years of my life i spent struggling with relationships and that whole "love" bull shit. When i was fifteen, my therapist blamed it on you and when i used to try and talk to mom about it she would say I can only blame it on myself. That there are kids starving in Africa worse off than me, who have no father either but also no water or bread, and yet they are the most grateful and kind people around. That's when we just argued and she sent me to talk to the therapist about my problems.
I know you are probably wondering what her problem is? well, I'll tell ya I'm sure you made her this way, no offense, I mean only cause your dead and I respect you, not cause i actually feel bad for you or anything,
But I bet after you left and broke her heart that she turned this sour and bitter.
I used to resent her so much for it, but it wasn't only until the other day that i hugged her in five years, and told her i love her.
Because at that time I finally understood, and I understood that although you left her so long ago, that she was still carrying this poison in her gut eating away at her stomach and heart! I know, I know Dramatic! she says I got that from you,
but, that's besides the point, back to my story, I realized that deep agonizing pain the other day when my fiance left me for another woman.
Yes, that's correct "daddy" I was engaged, there's twenty two years of life that you missed out on so don't sound shocked.
either way, after i lay in my bed a few hours, realizing that my hair was stuck up and my face dirty with make up i had smeared in my half sleep/ half crying state that lasted a work week, I showered and drove in pajamas to my mothers and just collapsed in her arms, she made me birds in a nest like when i was seven, and we talked and cried, talked and cried, watched Maury in the day time, yelling at those shitty men, and then watching Seinfeld by night, a favorite of ours.
"NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!" (she laughs)
remember that bit? That's my favorite episode.
But you dad, you turned her sour and I know it! she has an old album in a shoe box under boxes of board games and old rags and a hat on the top shelf of her closet, and in it are pictures of you! She was so beautiful and so happy! I had never seen her look that way.
She never did marry, or have a serious man in her life. Only a few here and there who would spend the night. Many times here old boss came over and I could tell that he wanted something my mother apparently wasn't willing to give any other man but you, a relationship.
And now I understand why she never forgot you and how it was so much harder, because I look just like you! same long legs and skinny body like birch tree trunks, i have the same vacant looking big eyes and wide mouth. But as we both know my big nose is all moms, the boldest heirloom passed down to he women in her family on her mothers side.
I should probably get to the point as to why I'm here, only because I've been talking your ear off.
But the reason I came is, because well, it was almost a punishment its almost a reminder or a lesson to myself, and to my kids who's father will be around! I will make sure of it, anyway,
the last few years I had made a point to get in touch, to look you up and to email you in London, but i never did, as many times as I opened up a new email in my yahoo account, I had know Idea how to start it out, I was so self conscious of my real first impression to you, that it was a big battle in my mind as what should I say? or how should I say it? will he understand if I use some texting lingo? I don't know, but I better not use it just in case, but if I use all these big words and things will he think I'm some anal dork? Is every one's grammar really good in England? I have no idea why it mattered so much to me,you did hurt me a lot who cares how i act? but now your here not really listening and of course I'm not watching my language or how to behave around you.
I learned that, people must really try, try to know there parents. I regret it so much dad! cause some day they might drop dead like you, and I'll never know anything about my roots or medical history or even where i get this thick and warm voice. Or why I'm the only one in my family who finds beevis and butthead funny! There's so much I want to ask, dad.
I tried to bring Mom you know, but she said "I want to remember him the way I always have, handsome and goofy and smiling"
I should have called her when I got here to tell her that its a closed casket,I mean being hit by a car is not the most becoming thing.
She wouldn't have to see you. Though I really know she more or less didn't come because of the possibility of your wife Brenda. Brenda looks welcoming and like a nice mother, she asked who I was, I hesitated and said I worked with you, but i could see her searching my face and finding you there, but she only hugged me and moved on to the next relative or friend.
I feel kind of dumb you know? sitting here talking to your body. Like you are actually listening, or understanding. I wonder, If you weren't my father, and i met you on the subway or something that I would like you. if we liked the same music or read the same things or were horrible at math in school. There's so much I wish I could have asked you. And of course the best time for me and you is when your dead and there's nothing for you to say. Well guess what Dad? I'm coming to visit you every weekend at you and your wife's plot in the suburbs, until I tell you everything. We do have twenty two years to make up for and I think the best person to tell it to is you.
AMY: Well, here we are. twenty two years later and we meet again.
Do you find me crazy? to actually come to your funeral?, because I know I do.
My mom laughed. yeah she fucking laughed about it! her full belly laugh too. I almost understood why you left her when I was barely one month old.
But then I remembered the years and years of my life i spent struggling with relationships and that whole "love" bull shit. When i was fifteen, my therapist blamed it on you and when i used to try and talk to mom about it she would say I can only blame it on myself. That there are kids starving in Africa worse off than me, who have no father either but also no water or bread, and yet they are the most grateful and kind people around. That's when we just argued and she sent me to talk to the therapist about my problems.
I know you are probably wondering what her problem is? well, I'll tell ya I'm sure you made her this way, no offense, I mean only cause your dead and I respect you, not cause i actually feel bad for you or anything,
But I bet after you left and broke her heart that she turned this sour and bitter.
I used to resent her so much for it, but it wasn't only until the other day that i hugged her in five years, and told her i love her.
Because at that time I finally understood, and I understood that although you left her so long ago, that she was still carrying this poison in her gut eating away at her stomach and heart! I know, I know Dramatic! she says I got that from you,
but, that's besides the point, back to my story, I realized that deep agonizing pain the other day when my fiance left me for another woman.
Yes, that's correct "daddy" I was engaged, there's twenty two years of life that you missed out on so don't sound shocked.
either way, after i lay in my bed a few hours, realizing that my hair was stuck up and my face dirty with make up i had smeared in my half sleep/ half crying state that lasted a work week, I showered and drove in pajamas to my mothers and just collapsed in her arms, she made me birds in a nest like when i was seven, and we talked and cried, talked and cried, watched Maury in the day time, yelling at those shitty men, and then watching Seinfeld by night, a favorite of ours.
"NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!" (she laughs)
remember that bit? That's my favorite episode.
But you dad, you turned her sour and I know it! she has an old album in a shoe box under boxes of board games and old rags and a hat on the top shelf of her closet, and in it are pictures of you! She was so beautiful and so happy! I had never seen her look that way.
She never did marry, or have a serious man in her life. Only a few here and there who would spend the night. Many times here old boss came over and I could tell that he wanted something my mother apparently wasn't willing to give any other man but you, a relationship.
And now I understand why she never forgot you and how it was so much harder, because I look just like you! same long legs and skinny body like birch tree trunks, i have the same vacant looking big eyes and wide mouth. But as we both know my big nose is all moms, the boldest heirloom passed down to he women in her family on her mothers side.
I should probably get to the point as to why I'm here, only because I've been talking your ear off.
But the reason I came is, because well, it was almost a punishment its almost a reminder or a lesson to myself, and to my kids who's father will be around! I will make sure of it, anyway,
the last few years I had made a point to get in touch, to look you up and to email you in London, but i never did, as many times as I opened up a new email in my yahoo account, I had know Idea how to start it out, I was so self conscious of my real first impression to you, that it was a big battle in my mind as what should I say? or how should I say it? will he understand if I use some texting lingo? I don't know, but I better not use it just in case, but if I use all these big words and things will he think I'm some anal dork? Is every one's grammar really good in England? I have no idea why it mattered so much to me,you did hurt me a lot who cares how i act? but now your here not really listening and of course I'm not watching my language or how to behave around you.
I learned that, people must really try, try to know there parents. I regret it so much dad! cause some day they might drop dead like you, and I'll never know anything about my roots or medical history or even where i get this thick and warm voice. Or why I'm the only one in my family who finds beevis and butthead funny! There's so much I want to ask, dad.
I tried to bring Mom you know, but she said "I want to remember him the way I always have, handsome and goofy and smiling"
I should have called her when I got here to tell her that its a closed casket,I mean being hit by a car is not the most becoming thing.
She wouldn't have to see you. Though I really know she more or less didn't come because of the possibility of your wife Brenda. Brenda looks welcoming and like a nice mother, she asked who I was, I hesitated and said I worked with you, but i could see her searching my face and finding you there, but she only hugged me and moved on to the next relative or friend.
I feel kind of dumb you know? sitting here talking to your body. Like you are actually listening, or understanding. I wonder, If you weren't my father, and i met you on the subway or something that I would like you. if we liked the same music or read the same things or were horrible at math in school. There's so much I wish I could have asked you. And of course the best time for me and you is when your dead and there's nothing for you to say. Well guess what Dad? I'm coming to visit you every weekend at you and your wife's plot in the suburbs, until I tell you everything. We do have twenty two years to make up for and I think the best person to tell it to is you.
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