This is a discussion blog for MUTH 127-The Elements of Theatre for Musical Theatre. Each student can author their own blog and students are encouraged to comment on one another's blog entries. Dawn will pose questions and topics to get the conversations started.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Masquerade Ball vs. Dance at the...Hall?
Hello all, after perusing both plays, the scene from, "Romeo and Juliet", that stuck out most obviously to me as being paralleled in,"West Side Story", was the Masquerade Ball. Portrayed in, "West Side Story", as the dance at the gym, the scene is used for the same purpose in both pieces, "the introduction of the lovers". Though serving the same purpose both scenes take on a very different feeling and mood. While reading the scene from,"Romeo and Juliet", I felt that the audience was pushed into a strong feeling of apprehension and fear. This most likely was due to the fact that the Montegue's presence was mostly hidden from the Capulets, causing the audience to rest on the edge of their seats waiting to see if the secret is discovered. While reading the scene from, "West Side Story", I felt that the audience was immersed in a feeling of excitement, as the element of secrecy was removed with the elimination of the masks. Also, with the dance at the gym being chaperoned, the audience was aware that things were not capable of getting to far out of hand.
I loved reading your interpretation! I did the same scene, and I found it really interesting that our views on the moods were reversed, but they both made sense in their presented opinions. Good on us!
NEVER!!! I AM CORRECT NOT YOU I SAY!!!...haha just kidding ;) I agree very interesting to see the different points of view. Also, fun to reflect on why we see things the way we do. Just think, if we were still the same people but switched hair colours, would our perspectives still be the same?!? MIND BLOWN!!!
I think this was a very interesting observation. I agree that the chaperones are an very important part of this scene in West Side Story because it relaxes the audience and allows them to enjoy the more humorous side to this part. Romeo and Juliet on the other hand is full of mystery and tension, like Brianne pointed out.
I totally agree that that the dancing and stuff excites the audience. And a very interesting point to the chaperones relaxing the audience... I say we do this song in musical theatre WITHOUT chaperones... MUAHAHAHA :P
I like this post! I like dancing! I like tension! I don't like chaperones. I feel like you have brought interesting insight. I didn't dig that deep when I researched these scenes, thank you for showing me the light!
I loved reading your interpretation! I did the same scene, and I found it really interesting that our views on the moods were reversed, but they both made sense in their presented opinions.
ReplyDeleteGood on us!
NEVER!!! I AM CORRECT NOT YOU I SAY!!!...haha just kidding ;) I agree very interesting to see the different points of view. Also, fun to reflect on why we see things the way we do. Just think, if we were still the same people but switched hair colours, would our perspectives still be the same?!? MIND BLOWN!!!
DeleteI think this was a very interesting observation. I agree that the chaperones are an very important part of this scene in West Side Story because it relaxes the audience and allows them to enjoy the more humorous side to this part. Romeo and Juliet on the other hand is full of mystery and tension, like Brianne pointed out.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that that the dancing and stuff excites the audience. And a very interesting point to the chaperones relaxing the audience... I say we do this song in musical theatre WITHOUT chaperones... MUAHAHAHA :P
ReplyDeleteI like this post! I like dancing! I like tension! I don't like chaperones. I feel like you have brought interesting insight. I didn't dig that deep when I researched these scenes, thank you for showing me the light!
ReplyDelete