The key dramatic language of drama is presented by the director creating powerful symbolism to then build on the dramatic meaning. Throughout Cosi, the lighting effects are used as a symbol. In Act 1, Scene 1, the lights highlight Lewis’ entrance into a new world, where he then associates with patients who then, help him in his learning and self-development. At first, Lewis possesses a ‘pitch black’ perspective of the world, along with the other characters of Lucy and Nick. This is a representation of their modern beliefs that mix around the politics and the war.
Ultimately, Cosi fan Tutte is about madness, however the play also demonstrates the significance of love and fidelity throughout. Focused on the idea of mental illness “madness” the play Cosi is performed completely within the walls of a burnt down theatre which is symbolic in to the rough unethical treatment the patients would receive on a daily basis. Mental illness was looked upon as a social abnormality, there for the treatment process in the 1970’s differed to the way in which we deal with mental illness in modern society as people within the 70’s who had addictions were classed as socially abnormal “mad” and therefor institutionalised, evident within Julies case within the asylum. Roy quotes “asylums are the most inefficient places on earth” which further translates Nowra’s idea how the image portrayed upon mental illness within society was an image that believed asylums purely existed to free the “sane” from the “mad”. Although Nowra intentions reflect the idea of love and fidelity, madness was definitely a
By Act 2, Nowra let the audience see the humanity in the patients using the play within the play by allowing us to see their back stories and why they are in the mental institution, testing the audiences prejudices about the mentally ill as well as the reality of mental institutions. The stereotype that all people who are patients of an asylum are ‘loonies’ and dangerously violent was dismissed to a certain extent for Doug was seen as an extreme danger to everyone and Cherry and Henry did show signs of violence. The end with Lewis pulls the audience back to reality after such a successful night by not giving the audience the happy ending that was to be expected. This sorrowful ending implies that ‘asylums are the most inefficient places on this earth.’ To conclude, Nowra’s purpose of having the play within a play in Cosi was to allow the characters of the play to give their thoughts on the themes of Cosi Fan Tutte thus giving the audience a deeper understanding of the issues such as love and fidelity, sanity and insanity and to really test the prejudices that the audience hold against the mentally ill. ‘They are normal people who have done extraordinary things, thought extraordinary
However as he works with the patients, he develops a new perspective and insight into certain matters and himself. When Nick and Lucy denounce him for doing a play about love, by declaring that ‘only mad people in this day and age would do a work about love and infidelity’, Lewis is able to realise that love and friendship is more important than politics. He learns about the importance of friendship, clearly evident, that he attends the moratorium, helping the patients prepare for their performance with an additional rehearsal. Lewis also finds strength later in the play, which he was devoid of to begin with . At the start, he is overwhelmed by the patients such as Cherry, Doug and Roy by their 'crazy' behaviour.
Practice Essay: Discuss what you think Louis Nowra wants to convey in this play. In Cosi, a drama play, I think that the playwright Louis Nowra wants to convey the true meaning of love and fidelity but also help the reader to understand the main issues of society’s perception of the mentally ill and attitudes toward the Vietnam War. Set in the early 1970s, Cosi is hilarious, yet poignant, look at life through the eyes of patients in an insane asylum who endeavour to mount a production of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte as part of an occupational therapy program. Nowra wants to convey the concept of love and fidelity in the play Cosi, as the ideas are linked to the real world. Lewis is clearly not sure about Lucy’s ‘modern’ approach to love and thinks love is “the last gasp of bourgeois romanticism” Lucy said.
Sedaris also uses hyperboles to enhance the humor and drama in his writings. One instance of hyperbole is in “Go Carolina,” when he states, “the word therapy suggested a profound failure on my part.” Obviously, he is exaggerating the fact that therapy was a “profound failure,” adding to his intended drama. Also, in “In the Waiting Room,” when he is describing his experience, it is an exaggeration to have the thought of suicide at the moment. But the use of hyperboles in this case works, because the exaggeration of certain things provides comedy for the reader. Sedaris also makes use of rhetorical questioning.
Cosi is a semi‐autobiographical play composed by Louis Nowra. It encompasses themes of love and fidelity during a time of tumultuous change in society’s integrity: the contextual influences of the time notably affect the manner in which the audience perceives Lewis’s development as a character. Nowra utilises a variety of techniques that aid in the development of Lewis’s character from insensitive to an acquainted individual. Directing Cosi Fan Tutte with mentally and emotionally handicapped individuals is the catalyst for Lewis’s own emotional and mental maturity [Relate to Qs] The detailed characterisation of Lewis through the use of stage directions and dialogue forms an essential facet in the text throughout his journey as a director.
It provides the audience with a vivid understanding of time and the image it creates. Also, the remarkable language indicating Macbeth’s insanity, and it’s lasting effect throughout the play. The passage also brought into a clearer explanation Macbeth’s tragic flaw, which was his weakness towards his ambition. Through these clever themes and images, much can be determined of the play, therefore making it the most gorgeous scene within
This change in Lewis is apparent when he describes the opera as being about “important things, like love and fidelity” and when he reacts genuinely hurt to when he discovers that his girlfriend Lucy has been having sex with Nick. Ultimately Lewis ends his relationship with Lucy because of their conflicting principles. In addition, Lewis also benefits from the production through his partnership with the mentally ill as he is able to understand what the “insane” people are really like. Before Lewis held very stereotypical views of the ill and feared that one of them might “forget to take their medication and go berserk.” Lewis’ stage directions were spoken with “hesitation” , showing a lack in confidence, but through the progression of “Cosi Fan Tutte” Lewis forms
When he uses close ups it really helps convey the emotions on people’s faces when they are sad, angry, happy, ECT. In Edward Scissor Ha It can let the audience know if what the characters are reacting to what someone says or does. In the film during the flashback scene of the factory it used close ups to show the faces on all the machines and also how happy the inventor was. Another example is when Jim locked Edward in the house. He used close ups to show how scared Edward was when the alarm was going off and also close ups on his hands when he’s trying to open the door but can’t.