Request Stop - help with your essay

Your title is: Imagine that you are the director of 'Request Stop'; think of two different interpretations, and give advice to the actress as to how to play the main role.

First, write about the idea that it is a comedy:

· Someone is livening up a 'bus queue
· She is 'exploding' the 'stiff upper lip' (the fact that strangers do not talk to each other)
· Perhaps has a collecting bowl, for herself or charity?

Actress
· Looks sane
· Full of energy, lively
· Invades personal space, but knows when to draw back
· Pauses in a calculated way to watch the effects of her actions and words - quote some examples
· Her dress is maybe colourful, like a street entertainer's
· Perhaps she looks a little like a clown, with exaggerated facial make-up
· Clean, neat hair; generally looks well kept
· Perhaps a video is being made for tv
· Is in control of herself and the situation

Secondly, write about the possibility that this is a sad/tragic play:

· She is mentally ill or a drug addict or alcoholic
· The message is that we try not to see people like this; we want to pretend that they are not there, because we do not know what to say to them and are embarrassed by their existence

Actress
· Looks insane or under the influence of drink or drugs
· Wears ill matching clothes, perhaps with holes in and unwashed
· Energy comes in bouts; she is unpredictable, and visibly disturbs the others when she invades their space ( they have to move out of the way)
· 'mad' or vacant look in the eyes
· perhaps stumbles and falls at times (maybe swigs from a bottle)
· looks unwashed
· is not in control of herself or the situation
· perhaps has belongings in carrier bags nearby

Helpsheet for pupils at WST by I Curr 2000