Discuss the following items:
1) What is the story? Briefly describe the plot. 1/3 page
The story is about a 21-year-old college student who narrates how his days are. He gets home from school, having had a tiring day in class and spending the rest of the day playing play station. He shares an apartment with his roommate, but he enjoys his time alone more than with his roommate. The narrator’s days begin at 6 a.m. since he has a 7 a.m. class. When his classes end at 1 p.m, he works at a Toys R’U with kids until 8 p.m, where he retires to his apartment and plays video games. The narrator is an introvert who uses video games to escape from life and work-related stress. He prefers his own company and ends up feeling irritated when his roommate tries to make a conversation. His work involves working with kids, which makes him angry because the kids are always yelling and crying.
2) Discuss the themes and relevance of the story. What is it trying to convey? 1/3 pg
The main theme in the story is the desire to escape. The writer faces the monotony of living each day as the rest were. The writer has a schedule he tries to escape. He feels restricted by how tight his schedule is. Waking up by 7 a.m., having classes until 1 p.m. and going to work until 8 p.m. To cub this boredom and escape from reality, he uses video games to deal with the stress he experiences during his days. Having dealt with people all through the day and noisy children at work, the narrator has no intention to interact further with people when he gets home. He feels annoyed and gets irritated by his roommate, trying to interact with him when he gets home.
3) Pick a scene from the play and one character in that scene. Analyze the scene as the
actor that is responsible for portraying the role and address what’s below in the first person
POV, as opposed to academically analyzing it from a distance or analyzing it from an
audience point of view. Discuss the Given Circumstances that are important to your (as
the character) overall problem in this scene. What are you dealing with (Given
Circumstances), and how would this influence your exploration of this role? Important
note- do not write about YOUR personal given circumstances. You are to write about the
character in the story! ½ page
I get to the house again; He barely looks at me but continues to play his video games. He is sitting on his usual seat at the corner of the house. I try to make small talk and tell him how my day was, but the only response I get is clicking the gamepad keys. He has been silent ever since he got his new job. We were friends before deciding to move in together and share the cost as we studied in the same college. I try to join him and play the game, but he seems to want me to keep off just like yesterday and the other day. I can barely watch the news or even catch up on a movie as he never leaves the screen unattended.
I intend to have a good evening while catching up with my roommate. If he doesn’t want some company, then I must have the room to myself. I intend on making the stay uncomfortable for him to chase him from dominating the living room. He doesn’t know this, but I call my parents every time I want him of the living room. My parents insist on talking to him and he doesn’t like it. And this is the fastest way to have the room to myself.
4) Write out a possible GOTE sheet that you would explore in rehearsals as you
investigate this role’s life in the scene from #3 above. ¾ page
Goal: In this scene, my goal is to catch up on a movie and relax from the busy day. I do not mind a little company to share the unfolding of my day with my roommate and friend of four years. It’s been a while since we talked or interacted. I wouldn’t mind joining him in his video game, but he doesn’t seem to want company lately. I also want to call my parent at home and know how they are doing. It’s my mother’s birthday.
Obstacle: The only thing getting in my way is my roommate. He has probably been sitting in front of the screen for more than an hour and won’t be leaving soon. He seems irritated already at my mere small talks, and I’m unable to ask if I can join in his game or have the screen to watch a movie. He will soon go to sleep since he looks tired, but so I’m I. I’m also tired from the long day I had.
Other: There are only two of us in the room, making it even harder not to talk to my roommate. He is an introvert, which contrasts with my extroverted character. I want some guy time and get to share a lot of happenings in my life. I feel he intends to be alone, but it’s hard to be alone while leaving in the same house with only one extra room. He might be having a hard day at work, and I have no intention of adding to his stress. So I’ll keep to myself.
Tactics: To accomplish the plans I had set for tonight, I need my roommate out of that corner seat. I will have to start by making the call to my parents. He knows my parents will want to say hi to him through the phone. He doesn’t like this, and he will retaliate by either going to the room and sleep or take a walk until I’m done with the call. I can now finish making my call and catch up on my movie with him out of the leaving room before falling asleep.
Expectations: My everyday expectation is to get home as the first person to be in charge of the screen. The first person to start to use the gaming system first uses it until midnight. Coming to the house, I’m hoping for a calm evening where I watch some movies, play a game or two as I catch up with my roommate.