mayoradamwest
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- Jul 30, 2007
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- HSC
- 2007
Module B: Close Study of a Text
The Shoe-Horn Sonata, John Misto
Character
Shelia
• Australian resident but basically British.
• Never been married and remains single.
• From the Giang Bee Ship.
• Returns to camp 50 years later.
• Has poor hearing.
• Eventually gives the show horn back to Bridie.
• Cut off all contact with Bridie after they were freed.
• School girl.
• Younger of the two women.
• Came from a more sheltered background but ultimately makes the greatest sacrifice by giving up her virginity to the Japanese solider (lipstick Larry), in exchange from the medicine which would save Bridie.
• This act reveals her courage and selflessness, yet it is an act she has never been able to reveal to her friend.
• Sheila feels ashamed not only for her actions, but also for not admitting the truth to Bridie.
Bridie
• Is a nurse on the Vyher Brooke Ship.
• Australian from Chatswood.
• Irish Catholic.
• Eldest of the two women.
• Keeps Sheila alive in the water by banging her with the shoehorn.
• Gets sick in the concentration camp.
• Gets married but couldn’t have kids.
• She has flashbacks of memories of old Japs.
•Gets arrested years down the track.
• Bridie is saddened by Sheilas lack of contact with her after all these years, yet she is unaware that it has been her own unforgiving nature which prevents, both at the time and throughout much of the action of the play, a true reconciliation between the two women.
Things the two women have in common
• They were both in a Prisoner Of War camp.
• They both survived.
• They danced together.
• They were both traumatised.
• They shared caramel.
• Both lost friends.
• Were in a choir.
• Shared the shoehorn.
Dramatic Features
• Dramatic techniques used include, dialogue, photographic images, voice-overs, song and instrumental music.
• Music has a strong presence in the play adding change and emotional subtext to many of the moments in the scenes.
• Music was very powerful in setting the scene, suggesting that the audience was actually in that era and in some circumstances evoke the irony of the situations they both faced.
• Dramatic features are important because they bring emotion to the scene.
• Photographs include:
- Before and after shots of Singapore during this time.
- Prisoners Of War.
- Nurses arriving in Singapore from Belalau
• Images add a sort of credibility to the stories.
• Rick (voice over) is the main off-stage character.
• Ricks presence in the play highlights the idea of the manipulation of these women by unseen men.
• Misto adds humour to give the play variety.
• The larger issues for the audience and reader are identified by the episodic structure with slides, sounds, music, specific lighting effects and symbols.
• These are essential aspects of the text.
• The plays meaning is communicated by the dramatic and theatrical devices.
Music
• Music is an essential part of the play
• The particular music pieces and words in the songs further highlights the concept of the ‘sonata’.
• The position of certain musical pieces in the play link together not only the actions of the present and the memories of the past but also the reality of the past and the officially sanctioned versions of the past.
Projected Images
• During the on-stage performance images are projected onto the stage. This also includes relevant words. Both fictional and real images are compared side by side to increase the audiences understanding of the enormity of the issues.
Lighting Spots and Darkness
• In the shoe-horn sonata, Misto uses a variety of lighting techniques. Theatrical productions often entail extensive planning and designing. Misto has design particular uses of lighting which are essential for providing the appropriate atmosphere for the production.
• Mixed media is used to engage the audience as well as providing
humour.
• Silence and body language in scene two create a sense of tension towards the audience.
History/issues
• John Mistos ‘ The Shoe Horn Sonata’ was inspired by real life historical events.
• These events are based around the fall of Singapore in 1942.
• Misto wanted to show the bravery and heroism of these nurses.
• The play was made as a memorial
• The government had not yet set up a memorial , so Misto donated all proceeds from the play to making a memorial.
• The play focused mainly on the two main characters Bridie and Sheila.
• Fifty years after theses events the women’s stories are finally told.
• The mistreatment of the P.O.W ‘s were covered up.
• Although the two characters Bridie and Sheila are fictional , everything they did was an actual event .
• Misto interviewed many women, which he used as a background for his play.
Themes
• History and Historiography
•Truth and Honesty
• Heroism of the women in war.
• Redemption and Comradeship.
• Power and Control
• Triumph over adversity
• Friendship and Sacrifice
• Cruelty and Suffering
• Courage and Survival
• Mateship and Values
Symbolism
Shoe-horn-
• Most important Symbolic Object
• Significance develops throughout the play.
• Represent different things to both Sheila and Bridie.
• Symbol of sacrifices each character has made
• Used humorously (in the water by Bridie)
• Helped Bury the dead
•To Bridie- good luck omen .
•To Sheila- symbol of fear pain and deregulation.
• Eventually returned to Bridie (form of reconciliation)
Other
• John Misto has created a play based on actual events experienced by both men and women alike after the fall of the Singapore empire.
• The use of such memorable charcters coupled with such a memorable story leaves audiences with a deeply satisflying feeling.
• The dramatic experience of the two young WWII nurses and their unbreakable friendship provides readers with an insight into the suffering and cruelty endured by the prisoners of war during their tinme in the concentration camp.
The Shoe-Horn Sonata, John Misto
Character
Shelia
• Australian resident but basically British.
• Never been married and remains single.
• From the Giang Bee Ship.
• Returns to camp 50 years later.
• Has poor hearing.
• Eventually gives the show horn back to Bridie.
• Cut off all contact with Bridie after they were freed.
• School girl.
• Younger of the two women.
• Came from a more sheltered background but ultimately makes the greatest sacrifice by giving up her virginity to the Japanese solider (lipstick Larry), in exchange from the medicine which would save Bridie.
• This act reveals her courage and selflessness, yet it is an act she has never been able to reveal to her friend.
• Sheila feels ashamed not only for her actions, but also for not admitting the truth to Bridie.
Bridie
• Is a nurse on the Vyher Brooke Ship.
• Australian from Chatswood.
• Irish Catholic.
• Eldest of the two women.
• Keeps Sheila alive in the water by banging her with the shoehorn.
• Gets sick in the concentration camp.
• Gets married but couldn’t have kids.
• She has flashbacks of memories of old Japs.
•Gets arrested years down the track.
• Bridie is saddened by Sheilas lack of contact with her after all these years, yet she is unaware that it has been her own unforgiving nature which prevents, both at the time and throughout much of the action of the play, a true reconciliation between the two women.
Things the two women have in common
• They were both in a Prisoner Of War camp.
• They both survived.
• They danced together.
• They were both traumatised.
• They shared caramel.
• Both lost friends.
• Were in a choir.
• Shared the shoehorn.
Dramatic Features
• Dramatic techniques used include, dialogue, photographic images, voice-overs, song and instrumental music.
• Music has a strong presence in the play adding change and emotional subtext to many of the moments in the scenes.
• Music was very powerful in setting the scene, suggesting that the audience was actually in that era and in some circumstances evoke the irony of the situations they both faced.
• Dramatic features are important because they bring emotion to the scene.
• Photographs include:
- Before and after shots of Singapore during this time.
- Prisoners Of War.
- Nurses arriving in Singapore from Belalau
• Images add a sort of credibility to the stories.
• Rick (voice over) is the main off-stage character.
• Ricks presence in the play highlights the idea of the manipulation of these women by unseen men.
• Misto adds humour to give the play variety.
• The larger issues for the audience and reader are identified by the episodic structure with slides, sounds, music, specific lighting effects and symbols.
• These are essential aspects of the text.
• The plays meaning is communicated by the dramatic and theatrical devices.
Music
• Music is an essential part of the play
• The particular music pieces and words in the songs further highlights the concept of the ‘sonata’.
• The position of certain musical pieces in the play link together not only the actions of the present and the memories of the past but also the reality of the past and the officially sanctioned versions of the past.
Projected Images
• During the on-stage performance images are projected onto the stage. This also includes relevant words. Both fictional and real images are compared side by side to increase the audiences understanding of the enormity of the issues.
Lighting Spots and Darkness
• In the shoe-horn sonata, Misto uses a variety of lighting techniques. Theatrical productions often entail extensive planning and designing. Misto has design particular uses of lighting which are essential for providing the appropriate atmosphere for the production.
• Mixed media is used to engage the audience as well as providing
humour.
• Silence and body language in scene two create a sense of tension towards the audience.
History/issues
• John Mistos ‘ The Shoe Horn Sonata’ was inspired by real life historical events.
• These events are based around the fall of Singapore in 1942.
• Misto wanted to show the bravery and heroism of these nurses.
• The play was made as a memorial
• The government had not yet set up a memorial , so Misto donated all proceeds from the play to making a memorial.
• The play focused mainly on the two main characters Bridie and Sheila.
• Fifty years after theses events the women’s stories are finally told.
• The mistreatment of the P.O.W ‘s were covered up.
• Although the two characters Bridie and Sheila are fictional , everything they did was an actual event .
• Misto interviewed many women, which he used as a background for his play.
Themes
• History and Historiography
•Truth and Honesty
• Heroism of the women in war.
• Redemption and Comradeship.
• Power and Control
• Triumph over adversity
• Friendship and Sacrifice
• Cruelty and Suffering
• Courage and Survival
• Mateship and Values
Symbolism
Shoe-horn-
• Most important Symbolic Object
• Significance develops throughout the play.
• Represent different things to both Sheila and Bridie.
• Symbol of sacrifices each character has made
• Used humorously (in the water by Bridie)
• Helped Bury the dead
•To Bridie- good luck omen .
•To Sheila- symbol of fear pain and deregulation.
• Eventually returned to Bridie (form of reconciliation)
Other
• John Misto has created a play based on actual events experienced by both men and women alike after the fall of the Singapore empire.
• The use of such memorable charcters coupled with such a memorable story leaves audiences with a deeply satisflying feeling.
• The dramatic experience of the two young WWII nurses and their unbreakable friendship provides readers with an insight into the suffering and cruelty endured by the prisoners of war during their tinme in the concentration camp.
