The Shoehorn Sonata
The Shoe-Horn Sonata by John Misto
The opening scene, with Bridie demonstrating the deep, subservient bow, the kow-tow, demanded of the prisoners by their Japanese guards during tenko, takes the audience straight into the action. As the interviewer, Rick, poses questions, music and images from the war period flash on the screen behind Bridie, and the audience realises they are watching the filming of a television documentary. The time is now, and Bridie is being asked to recall the events of fifty years earlier. This scene establishes who Bridie is, and introduces the audience to the situation: the recall and in a sense the re-living of memories of the years of imprisonment.
Characterisation
TASK: Re-read the play. Go through and highlight specific characteristics of our two protagonists – ensuring that you can provide evidence from the play (The evidence could be lines or phrases of dialogue, their actions, current or past, or their body language as described in the text.) Character | Specific Characteristics | Evidence from the play | Bridie | | | Shelia | | | ACT & SCENE | Spine Summary (3-4 lines) | Quotations | Act 1, Scene 1 | | | Act 1, Scene 2 | | | Act 1, Scene 3 | Eg. Women find themselves in the water and the song ‘Young Jerusalem is sung by young Sheila …. | | Act 1, Scene 4 | | | Act 1, Scene 5 | | | Act 1, Scene 6 | | | Act 1, Scene 7 | | | Act 1, Scene 8 | | |
Shoe Horn Sonata Act ONE Analysis
Re read each scene and write a short summary outlining the ‘spine’ of the scene
(What keeps it together). Write in full two of the main quotes from the scene that supports the spine summary. Do this for AT LEAST 3-4 scenes PER act
Shoe Horn Sonata Act TWO Analysis ACT & SCENE | Spine Summary (3-4 lines) | Quotations | Act 2, Scene 1 | | | Act 2, Scene 2 | | | Act 2, Scene 3 | | | Act 2, Scene 4 | | | Act 2, Scene 5 | | | Act 2, Scene 6 | | | Act 2, Scene 7 | | |
Re
The opening scene, with Bridie demonstrating the deep, subservient bow, the kow-tow, demanded of the prisoners by their Japanese guards during tenko, takes the audience straight into the action. As the interviewer, Rick, poses questions, music and images from the war period flash on the screen behind Bridie, and the audience realises they are watching the filming of a television documentary. The time is now, and Bridie is being asked to recall the events of fifty years earlier. This scene establishes who Bridie is, and introduces the audience to the situation: the recall and in a sense the re-living of memories of the years of imprisonment.
Characterisation
TASK: Re-read the play. Go through and highlight specific characteristics of our two protagonists – ensuring that you can provide evidence from the play (The evidence could be lines or phrases of dialogue, their actions, current or past, or their body language as described in the text.) Character | Specific Characteristics | Evidence from the play | Bridie | | | Shelia | | | ACT & SCENE | Spine Summary (3-4 lines) | Quotations | Act 1, Scene 1 | | | Act 1, Scene 2 | | | Act 1, Scene 3 | Eg. Women find themselves in the water and the song ‘Young Jerusalem is sung by young Sheila …. | | Act 1, Scene 4 | | | Act 1, Scene 5 | | | Act 1, Scene 6 | | | Act 1, Scene 7 | | | Act 1, Scene 8 | | |
Shoe Horn Sonata Act ONE Analysis
Re read each scene and write a short summary outlining the ‘spine’ of the scene
(What keeps it together). Write in full two of the main quotes from the scene that supports the spine summary. Do this for AT LEAST 3-4 scenes PER act
Shoe Horn Sonata Act TWO Analysis ACT & SCENE | Spine Summary (3-4 lines) | Quotations | Act 2, Scene 1 | | | Act 2, Scene 2 | | | Act 2, Scene 3 | | | Act 2, Scene 4 | | | Act 2, Scene 5 | | | Act 2, Scene 6 | | | Act 2, Scene 7 | | |
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