IDS 101 College Colloquium Oh Canada!
 Fall 2011

 

Assignment 2:  Home-making

 

Write a 3-Act allegorical stage-play, involving two characters: a 30-something woman named Lee Burty, who represents America, and a 30-something man named John A. MacDonald, who stands in for Canada.  Each has a family.  They are next-door neighbors in Gaia Circle, a residential, multi-ethnic cul-de-sac.  Although they are civil, there is also some ÔtensionÕ between them revolving around the mutually critical perception of Ôlifestyle values and choicesÕ as well as how they maintain their homes.

The action of your play must unfold with a crisis, a climax, and a resolution.

 

In the course of the dialogue between these characters -- how they engage one another, the actions and events involving neighbors on their street to which they refer, the descriptions of one anotherÕs bodies and homes -- you as the author should be making a dramatic argument about the relative merits of the United States and Canada as they are manifested in public policies towards issues including health care, social welfare, religion, indigenous peoples, second language and culture, women, multiculturalism, and gender and sexuality . What is ultimately at stake is the optimal nature of a home, i.e., a ÔcommonwealthÕ or ÔrepublicÕ or ÔcommunityÕ.

 

Playwriting

 

Your Play is a good one to the extent that:

  • Characters are nationally consistent, distinctive, representative, and sympathetic.
  • Dialogue is consistent with specific qualities of characters, and advances plot.
  • Plot reveals characters and builds towards climax and resolution.
  • Action is stage-able, i.e., can be performed given the limitations of the stage.  Use stage directions to reveal characters and convey your authorial meaning.
  • Synopsis clarifies characters, plot, the literal and allegorical meanings of the play, and ultimately the argument that the playwright is making.  Be explicit.

Length: title page (1), synopsis (1 double-spaced page), character list (1), Plot (8-10pp)

 

Online: present your script online in the format of a published play.

 

Schedule

Week of 10/17 or

10/24

 

 

Meet with Slater, draft in hand

Wednesday, 10/19

 

Draft of Assignment 2

for peer review and discussion in class

 

 

 

Wednesday 10/26

 

Due

 

 

 

 

Friday, 10/28

 

Monday, 10/31

 

Presentations