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I feel like this is the first play that was completely relatable. This play was the working class citizen and the different struggles that one might face in a work environment, or even just social situations. This play all around grasped something that made me enjoy it one hundred percent. Elaine’s inability to actually “try” like the character reference stated, stood out to me. She is trying, but she is only trying to “keep the peace.” She isn’t trying to run a successful and progressive workspace and business. It was interesting to see the pressure buildup, and eventually it’s explosion. With the tension in the building and the frank addressing that Jen does it slowly builds, till it mentions that Beth drinks the entire can of diet coke and then crushes the can. It references to Jen “hitting the nail on the head,” and finally letting the tension bubble over. Also the way that Jack is used as a pawn. We never really get to know him. Bethany, Jen, and Elaine all give their opinions of him, but when he finally enters the scene we aren’t given a true in depth look at his character. It can also be brought back to his vague description in the character reference, “nice enough.” His whole demeanor is also vague. Also the hard caparison of Beth and Jen’s characters. They are the same, but while one fakes it and “adjusts her expectations,” the other lets everything out and is seeing things for how they truly are. And while one avoids the conflict and isn’t sure how to direct the issue. The other’s blunt confessions are let out and she says what is really going on without hesitation but with a slow progression. The dialogue that comes into play is also very interesting. Jack and Jen have quick banter back and forth when she is finally addressing the issues. Also the way that people are constantly being interrupted was an interesting take on the tension that has built up over a longer period of time than just this scene, that we the audience are seeing. Then, the finale with Jen chanting to herself was a good finish. I could hear the desperation in her attempt to be pleasing, but true to herself.
ReplyDeleteClaria Buddle
“Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” by Kristina Halvorson I have to say that this play really does tie in to this title, and I feel like most of us can relate to this type of work environment. They are many tensions going on between these typical coworkers. From what I’m getting from these characters there pointing the finger to one another, as if they were trying to blame the other person for their mistakes, and as if they were not putting enough effort into the workplace which causes problems with the customers. In my opinion, I was agreeing more with Jen and Bethany’s side of the situation and that’s the main important thing which is team effort and having these meetings will help benefit the company. While I reading this play, Elaine being the supervisor seems to avoid the problem and I felt she could of confronted Jack because without confronting him Jen and Bethany became more upset. The dialogue in this play seems very natural to me and Halvorson is able to fit in these characters very well. Each character in this play were different from one another which I liked, Jen stayed consisted with her emotions by being upset and unpleased. On the other hand, with Bethany she was more an optimistic figure toward the beginning of the meeting but she totally flips it around when she has something against Jack. Bethany points out Jack’s lack of work ethnic and Jen steps into the game and fires back at the boss. What kind of bothered me towards this play is that Elaine did not put any action towards the end of the play when it came to Jen. For Elaine she could of done more than that, instead of just walking out. When Jen said “But I don’t respect you.” It brought me back a memory when it came to my job in the summer. I developed some tensions between my boss and you know we got into this horrible argument that I probably won’t forget. It sticks with me and puts a reminder towards me not to upset your boss because it leads to bad consequences at the end of the day. Nobody wants that. At the end of this play when Jen is telling herself that she is doing the best than she can, that sounds exactly like me when it came to my job and I feel that’s all we can do. By being openly honest and not afraid to offend anybody who is irritating you, you’re getting somewhere. Other than that, I felt this play was consistent and not afraid to show what the workplace is made of. This play really caught my attention and something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Espericueta
“Now We’re Getting Somewhere” is a very peculiar title for a play, I got pretty interested in what will be in it. I noticed right away that it had more characters than “Thrash Anthem” did and it makes me wonder how they will interact and how their relationship to each other will develop. Though the setting is very vague, it gives a sense of generalization to make it more relatable towards the audience. I do like the interaction between Jen and Bethany since I do get a sense of their friendship plus, it feels nice and casual for an everyday conversation. Although, I am not sure of what to make of their talk with Elaine over Jack since I am quite confused if they like or dislike him. It could be a way to induce a conversation within the play itself and it is a typical talk between friends/co-workers with their supervisor. It really points out the aspects of the working environment in an office setting.
ReplyDeleteIt’s quite general and overly done, but it does help the audience understand what’s happening within the plot and the characters. Jen is definitely fitting her description of being cynical since she is saying that “this always sucks” when she speaks to either Bethany or Elaine. Bethany is mildly in between cynical and not so negative, which makes her more realistic as well. Jack is being used as a way to relive their tension despite the vague description of who he is and what he represents. I am unsure of how I feel when there’s a character mentioned that holds no weight nor significance even when he enters the scene. I don’t really get much from the entrance of Jack or whenever he speaks to the ladies, but his dialogue is pretty generic in its own way that somewhat carried the conversation. The banter between him and Jen was a nice touch that gave it more feeling to what they’re saying.
It was an interesting play of its own right, I do like how you can relate to it. Unfortunately, I wish I got to know the characters more to really sympathize with their situation. Overall, it was a very lovely play to read and I enjoyed it.
-Alexa Rodriguez
First a cheating man, now an incompetent one? LOL! In comparison to what we recently read with, “Trash Anthems”, “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” was a bit different. With four different characters in this story things were a little more difficult to follow. At times I found myself doing double takes and going back to makes sure I knew exactly who had the floor in particular sequences. I think what only added to my confusion was the fact the play was in fact very heated. There was an undeniable tension bubbling up between the characters. Of note, the character Jen as she progressed seemed the more angry and frustrated with a hint of passion, all rolled up into one. Jack meanwhile who worked in retail seemed something of a scumbag. He’d finish their sentences with answers he WANTED to hear. However I can understand where he’s coming from. Working in retail all has to do with interpersonal communication skills. It’s the key to the job. It may have just been a ten minute play, but I felt as if the dialogue was very well put together. Starkey makes the statement that, “a play is not a rant” and I must say that is rule was displayed well within this title.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing worth mentioning is that the dialogue has very little in the way of italicized sentences or cues for the actors, leaving things more open to interpretation. I truly appreciate that aspect, as it doesn’t sequester one to what is seen on paper, and you can explore your options as an actor. From the perspective of a casual reader such as myself, I like that there isn’t anything of the sort, to divert your attention. Sometimes it’s indicative of just how well dialogue is written and acted, that we understand there’s emotion behind it, without there actually being anything narrated through italicized words.
In retrospect, I don’t think I’ve ever read about a more tense customer service situation than the one in this play. For sure it’s about as realistic as it gets. I can only assume that Kristina Halvorson had some personal experiences that may have influenced her writing this.
-Lucas Zamora
Who would have thought that you could learn so much about the work environment from reading a play? Kristina Halvorson’s play, “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere,” focused on the unavoidable problems that occur in the work area with coworkers. It was a very simple read and I found it very pleasing. As opposed to two characters, this play contained four characters and gave a new vibe to the play. Having four characters led to a lot of dialogue with detailed sentences. The conversational style also allowed for the reader to distinguish who was who. Compared to Trifles, I felt that the characters in this story were fairly simple to tell apart because of the description provided at the beginning. Jack was a very sassy, smug, content kind of person who I felt played nothing but the role of the power men have in society simply because they are male. I was very interested in Elaine’s character because she didn’t choose to side with “the girls” even when the tension kept growing. She remained very professional and very passive as to the injustice that was going on. Just having read two plays about women, where in Trifles the women stay quiet in alliance with their female friend, I thought women stuck together hence my reaction to Elaine and her choices, her “trying hard” attitude; I really enjoyed Halvorson’s portrayal of her. The two main characters despite being unhappy prove to be very strong, brave characters that do defend one another despite their different ways of viewing things hence their conversation at the beginning of the play. Their first conversation felt like a roller coaster going up and then down representing their different views and emotions but in the middle they coincided for the same cause. Another element Halvorson includes in her play is the little amount of cues and positions the actor gets. It was very simple and liberating and it left the reader with space to imagine the characters and be creative as we writers are supposed to be. Of course there were cues here and there because would it even be a play without them, but there was not an overwhelming amount of them and that was a really satisfying element in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMayra Lopez
Now We're Really Getting Somewhere by Kristina Halvorson is one of those plays that Starkey described as being more interested in realism than the ideals of how people should be - that is, how the playwright would wish to write people as. It is about this group of office workers, regular people dealing with everyday problems. These problems concern real and important things like teamwork (or the lack thereof), self-worth, respect, and being more than satisfied with the status quo. These are not the kind of issues that could be taken up in a successful way if the group of characters were not average people. If they were wealthy bankers or heirs to a trust fund fortune, the issues between these characters would not have the same kind of impact on the audience as it does because they are not extraordinarily wealthy or successful. One of the characters describes them as mediocre, but in the same breath also says that she wants to be more than mediocre, more than her unsatisfying position gives her. Because it is said by this character who works an average day job and could be most people, there can be a connection between the playwright and the audience, who themselves may also be white and pink collar workers struggling in a dead end work environment with feelings of mediocrity and frustration.
ReplyDeleteThe title of the play is also a connection to the poor work environment in the story. Although titled 'Now We're Really Getting Somewhere,' the truth is the opposite. The characters do not get anywhere. Elaine, the supervisor, makes empty placating promises about bringing up her coworkers problems with their colleague Jack; she is complacent and not actually interested in her coworkers' wellbeing, though she makes token efforts. Jack is incompetent, uncooperative, and implied to be a chauvinist; he is dismissive of his women colleagues and does not appear to know their names aside from Elaine. Bethany appears to be friendly and is even praised by Jen for being passionate about her job, but when Jen confronts the group about their work issues, she does not support her and hides in the background, although she had commiserated with Jen about their issues with Jack before the meeting. Jen initially appears as the problematic coworker that most work environments have, surly, unfriendly and critical; however, this is subverted when Jen reveals that she is aware of her problems and her mediocrity, but is always striving to be more than that. She is the only coworker to attempt to honestly work through their issues and when the play closes on her reassuring herself that she is 'doing [her] best' after all her coworkers have left without resolution to their issues, it is in contrast to the title.
Doris Tolar
Halvorson’s “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” seems to be lacking something, something like a reason for existence. I was waiting for the climax but all we got was a little whimper. When I finally got to the end of the play I had to ask myself, “Is that it?”
ReplyDeleteSo it’s a fun little snippet from the daily life in a corporation. Yet it’s not really fun: it’s an exploration of the hard feelings employees have of one another but it seems to be lacking any real meat. The crescendo of the story is Jen’s blowup toward Elaine. But it’s a ripple in an ocean; Jen doesn’t storm out or show any passion, rather she displays the mediocrity that she complains of.
I’m not sure what Jack is doing in the play, either. He’s the fifth wheel to the little group who have already built up a “safe place” and he provides a spark of friction that causes Jen’s outburst, so in that sense he’s Jen’s foil. The fact that he is a man amidst three women and displays a mild chauvinistic touch is important in order to draw out Jen’s ire.
The title of the play is ironic since nothing really happens at all; the characters go nowhere as a result of their meeting. This is reminiscent of the numerous meetings that occur in the corporate world as well as the bureaucracy that carefully must be picked through when in that milieu. Yet I imagine that the audience probably felt the same way toward the play itself in that Halvorson’s character study seemed to go nowhere and that any commentary on bureaucracy or the corporate environment is ultimately lost.
Placing the setting in a corporate environment seems that it might be a limiting factor. However, it can be reasonably assumed that many in the audience work in the corporate world and will therefore be able to that much more relate to it. But the office isn’t a place where one would ever expect to find revelations about life and in a ten-minute play, one hopes that there is a real point to the play, something that causes the audience to sit back and think about what just transpired. Here Is a snapshot of the doldrums of corporate life where the bravado acts are lukewarm. Perhaps that is Halvorson’s message but it was one that failed to draw much interest in me.
Elizabeth Barham
“Now We’re Getting Somewhere” can appeal to both the audience when performed and also reading it. While reading it, during the action parts for the characters, the playwright wrote the actions with thoughts the other characters might be thinking when the character is doing the action. Such as when Bethany dumps all her ‘crap’ on the table and makes a comment about question whether or not she was going to be staying at a three day summit. The other character, Jen could be easily thinking this. To me, the playwright is trying to appeal not only to the characters but also when someone has to read it, it can give the actor an idea of how the character actually is. The playwright it trying to help lead the actor into the personality of the character and help them connect to them and be able to bring the character to life.
ReplyDeleteAlso the substance of the play does bring out some social issues, such as speaking one’s own mind on certain things. Feminism is stated in the play but it isn’t just that, where women can’t express their own mind. It isn’t about that. It is more about how employees cannot express what they are really thinking in their own workplace without the risk of being fired. The social issues of mistreated employees is expressed in this story because they cannot say what they think and bring something to light without being judged by their employer and also by fellow coworkers. Some employers throughout the world do abuse their own power and try to state to everyone in their workplace that they are the boss and that whatever they say goes. Jen and Bethany struggle with this because they obviously want to express to Elaine about what they really think of Jack, but Elaine, being the team leader, states that bringing Jack into the meeting was the right thing to do. She wasn’t taking into consideration of what Jen and Bethany thought.
The other issue dealt with is leadership. Good leaders usually take into consideration on what their followers think and also gather up all the issues that is going on in the group and try to consider what to do to handle the situation. Elaine just smiles and pretends that everything is okay. Elaine isn’t a good leader because she doesn’t take Bethany’s and Jen’s ideas and concerns into consideration and just brushes them off.
- Andrea Serrano
Now Were Really Getting Somewhere by Kristina Halvorson is a play that the issues are very common in any work environment. Since most people have worked in places that they just need to work to make money that’s when it because more relatable. The dialogue is back and forth between all four of the characters that even with a high volume of characters it was still a bit easier to follow because of what the subject being talked about. The issues can bring relatability to different types of working people from the higher up manager people to the in between customer support and the one that is all around the sales. The title has a very strong connection to the actual play, it is not vague like some of the other titles. This impacts the play as soon as Jen starts to get the courage to stand up for what she is really trying to strive for in these meetings. The emotion and passion that she shows is something that the audience will be able to relate to because everybody is always trying to be more and better at something that they do. Its always easy to just do the minimum to get by but you can only enjoy and do that for a certain amount of time until it starts to play with your mind that there has to be more and you can be more or want to be more. The action of this play is minimal to only when either of the characters enter and act upon coming into the room. There would have been room to accept the characters to work with their hands or pick up something to show the frustration and the emotions especially in through the climax. Without that action it will take talented actors to really become the characters and purse being in that state of mind to deliver movement and take action to how the characters are supposed to be portrayed and how the audience is supposed to see these characters unravel and interact because they have been employees together for a long time.
ReplyDelete-Victor Vasquez
I enjoyed this place. I felt real conflict between the characters. When I was first reading character descriptions I had a slight uneasiness about the multiple characters, but found that the dialogue really flowed. The setup of a meeting is simple enough but after discussing how characters can go back and forth between being the antagonist and protagonist had me paying more attention to what the characters brought into the play. I wanted to make Jen the bad guy right away, based on how she is described as cynically unhappy. However, once you get into the meat of the play you realize that her unhappiness is warranted because of the situation going on between her co-workers. It's not just her being petty, she genuinely wants things to work better. That’s what I liked most about this play. I liked that the main character isn’t perfect, she has flaws, she can be mean but she has a goal and she’s not there to sugar coat. I think at one time or another we all wish we could have been like Jen and unapologetically told the truth about someone that we worked with or for. I think I enjoyed this play more because it was relatable and it was easier to follow and understand. You could feel that tension between the characters build. Each character gave you a sense of their personality and Jack’s dialogue showed that his character was just as the ladies not “girls” had described him. This was a great play. The dialogue was smooth and understandable, the characters were flawed, the conflict while not solved was explored and the protagonist was some one like us. I thought the ending with Jen admitting that she was not a fantastic person either but rather mediocre really nailed it for me. Because it's almost as if she herself was breaking through her own internal struggle. We all have that internal battle to do more, but we’re too lazy to do it. I found what she said to be more real than anything I have yet to read. I just really liked this play. I didn’t think I was going to but it had great build up and I liked the characters.
ReplyDelete-Diana Zepeda
“Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” by Kristina Halvorson is an interesting play that makes a clever use of its title. The play itself is centered on a typical workplace environment where two characters are waiting for superiors to show up to. Off the bat, this situation is one where most people can relate to, as many feel workplace frustrations and unhappiness in general when discussing their work. The play itself is slightly different in style than the previous play assigned in that there isn’t a lot of action actually taking place or props that come into play (other than the typical coffee and folders). This is a sign that the actors performing these roles for this play must make their characters much more unique by utilizing their voice and channeling emotion (without giving the impression of being overdramatic, of course). I think if performed well though, this play can resonate with a very large amount of people, as many people harbor these feelings with their own workplace situations. The clever usage of the title I brought up earlier is that as the play draws to an end, the title implies that the issues that are being “discussed” will be either resolved or on the way to BE resolved. Despite this however, the play ends with no one saying “let’s work on it” or willing to change, rather most of them leave without saying anything after Jen’s admittance of not having respect for Elaine. This at first gave me the idea that nothing actually happened, but further thinking has made me arrive to another conclusion. This situation appears to have been present for some time, given the dialogue. We are told that this happens regularly, yet nothing happens or changes, resulting in a stagnant, depressive workplace. After Jen’s admittance however, we can see that the situation NOW has changed; for better or worse. The situation may not work in Jen’s favor, but at least it has changed and now the team members are, at least a little, more aware of each other’s true feelings towards the other, which is at least the first step in changing the previously mention static environment.
ReplyDelete-Pedro Conchas
I found this reading entertaining. It was seems to be a typical day at the office. The way I perceived Bethany, she has, or seems to have a positive attitude toward things, until she said she did not like Jack. Jen however is frustrated by Jack’s character, and also blame the job’s atmosphere as not too competent, or engaged. They both have issues with Jack. Elaine tries to level the situation, and she seems not wanting to be too involved. However, she does what she has to do and addresses it to the girls. I believe the “Girls thing” could have been addressed. But, in reality how much of importance is it? In Elaine’s shoes she has to be delicate. Perhaps Jack is doing his job, and apparently he is great and is good at it. So, Elaine does not need to bring this up to him, at least not there in front of everyone. She probably came to realize the Bethany and Jen, got a first hand impression of what Jack does, and he does well, and got a better angle of things. As if they did not know. Elaine could have worded better to Jen, that them three are a team for Jack. And it is their job to provide customer support, period. One thing that was clear since the beginning of the conversation with Jack, that he would give them heads up in regards to future calls to keep the Customer Support team on the loop. I believe that was a great request and response, clear and to the point, “Yes, got it” which I believe was the most important thing that would make them more efficient. As things got out of hand, Jen could have controlled the situation, by having a prepared plan, or list. She could have elaborated more and not being angry.
ReplyDelete-Francisco J. Aboytes
When reading “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” I knew the title was going to be about overcoming something. I would have never thought this play was going to be about an office drama. When reading the characters Halvorson did a slight description about each character, which I was not aware I was able to do. She described the characters as unhappy or nice enough, which did help me understand the mood these characters were in when reading the play. This plays situation is believable because there is always someone in the work place that slacks off. Halvorson made a common situation into a lesson for the audience.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed feminism in this play as well, by having Elaine as a supervisor. Jen and Bethany as the hard works or at least Bethany is from how Jen describes her. Halvorson made Jack being a male, a slacker. This may be a message for the audience that girls make a difference and are hardworking compared to the relaxed male. Bethany encouraged Jen to adjust her expectations, which she took to heart. This is where the title comes in, since Jen stands up for herself and takes the opportunity to confront Jack. The end of the play makes the reader think about Jen decision and makes us wonder if she made the right choice or not. Having the play end with “I’m doing the best that I can” makes the audience wonder if she is going to keep her job or not. Sometimes it’s good to have plays end in moments that are not clear because you want your audience to be able to share their thoughts with their peers.
I cannot find anything I dislike about this play because it was easy to understand. The play had flow and ended with us having to think about what was going to happen next. Well on page 312 (Bethany and Jen consider this. She’s probably right.) could have been left out. I felt that it was obvious through the dialog that Bethany and Jen were submissive with their supervisor’s request. Jen and Bethany had more of a connection with Elaine than Jack because there answers were fake when responding about their day to Jack.
Bianca Salinas
While reading the setting and the characters I felt like I was going to get confused while reading but actually while reading the play I attributed the characters to their personalities. So after a while I started to create faces and actual characters to the personalities. I really enjoyed this play because I felt like the conversations that the characters had were real conversations that would go on in a daily work place. The characters made the situation that was at hand more real. The conversations between Jen and Jack seemed like they were not fabricated to the point where you go all crazy on someone you have a problem with and throw papers at their face and quit. It was like an actual life situation where you have to talk to the person you have a problem with and try to fix the problem. I felt like Elaine was very passive and subordinate to Jack because he was a male. There was a sense of feminism that was displayed through the character of Jen and a little in Bethany. Bethany seemed like the mediator, so was Elaine, but she acted more as someone that was willing to level the ground on both sides. Although she did agree with Jen she tried to help Jack understand. Elaine would speak her mind and say what needed to be said with the girls, but when it came to the actual problem she just let it fly over her head and choose not to “hurt” Jack’s feelings because they do work collaboratively. She never really backed the girls up to what the problems were and even when Jen and Bethany spoke their minds she would try to sugar coat it towards Jack while never dealing with the problem. The whole meeting did not help the situation out but I think in a way this got to Jen. It got Jen to see the optimistic purpose she had at her job which in turn did something to her as a character. It helped her to see how unhappy she was and how she could fix her character and personality through her job.
ReplyDelete-Cassandra Martinez
I had mixed feelings when it comes to this play. On one hand, this play is completely relatable. There are instances in everyday life where we smile and say something polite because that’s what we are trained to do. When we ask someone how they are doing, half of the time we don’t even really listen for the answer because we expect them to just say fine and move on with the conversation. I think that the playwright does a really good job of showing this especially through the interactions between Jen and Elaine. This play really says something about what the social norms of today’s society is and how we rarely ever say what we feel and nothing really gets improved or solved. One the other hand, I feel that this play could have been better executed in a way that makes it a more interesting read. What makes this play so relatable for me actually made in a bit bland for me to read as well. It makes a comment about social politeness and it’s detriment to getting things done, but I feel that it could have been written in a more entertaining way. Perhaps seeing performed would bring it to life a little more for me and probably would solve this problem but in an initial read through of the play it just doesn’t do much for me. I didn’t want to keep reading or to know what happened at the end. However, I will say that the Playwright did an excellent job evoking feelings from me. Because this play is so relatable, I was able to feel Jen’s frustration but also the awkwardness that Elaine must have felt. I think reading through this Jen was in a way supposed to represent the voice of reason (or at least honesty), but in all reality I probably would have reacted more like Elaine than Jen and I think that may be what the playwright wanted us to consider. When it really comes down to it, would we have a problem saying exactly is on our mind to the person’s face? In my case, and I think in the case of most people, the answer is no.
ReplyDelete-Erin Valdez
When reading the title, it creates a sort of suspension as to when the viewer/audience would say, “Now we’re really getting somewhere”. In the beginning Halvorson puts a question in the Time making you wonder. You question what all “crap” is for, then you are made to wait along with the characters. I think the title starts to play a role in the story when Jen and Beth are finally telling Jack their true feelings towards him, because it continues to proceed into literally getting everything on the table. Beth placing all the “crap” on the table could foreshadow all the crap that is going to take place.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the characters Bethany and Jen, because I feel that they could relate to ordinary people. The characters are both described as unhappy, but they different types of unhappy. Beth is a character that can be relatable to, because she is someone who is accepting. Whereas Jen is someone that (although is probably the least liked by Elaine and Jack) is the type of person that is asked for, but when she finally speaks the truth she is tried to be hushed. Jen also in the end shows that is like everyone else when she begins to reassure herself that she is doing her best. I don’t see Jen as a bad character or someone who is mean, she wanted to make it better for herself at work, and by doing this she was going to have to be truthful, but she did take it too far by telling Elaine that she did not respect her. It seemed it was said due to her emotions getting the best of her. I think we need more people like Jen.
There is a part in the play that I am confused about. It is one of Jen’s line that has parenthesis around it, that says, “She’s going for it.” (pg 314). Unless there is a way for an actor to portray “going for it”, or if it was only intended for readers. It goes along with the beginning when there is a question in the Time.
Sandra Villarreal
The playwright in “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” uses a handful of characters at his advantage. Kristina Halvorson creates deep tension amongst the characters, and the audience is drawn directly into their conflict. The setting was quiet economic as simple as an office. Additionally, the playwright offers the audience clues as to what is occurring, nothing outside the realm of reality. Eventually, Halvorson introduces four distinct people and the way the dialogue was brought about became key for the development of the plot. Halvorson succeeded in making an excellent ten minute play. It is as if the reader can imagine the play live because the language is as if it was real. Unlike other pieces of drama, “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” reflects can relate right away with the situation that Jack experiences in the play. Whenever someone is unsatisfied in a retail business you know trouble is approaching! Perhaps this was the reason why Starkey included this piece of writing in his textbook, to exemplify a play using a very well possible problem at a workplace environment. In this play, the character Jen aggravates while Bethany acts more as ears to her. Moreover, when Elaine, the supervisor, decides to stand by in the midst of the quarrel adds to the complication of the drama. The mixture of these four people add a peculiar characteristic to the play as a whole as the problem is discussed. As far as characterization, the audience can take Jen more as a critical coworker than a sincere victim. Her own train of thoughts lead her to justify her actions towards the end. I think that Halvorson decides to place Jack on the spot by challenging his very own work ethic. His attitude towards the conflict is not dramatized like Jen, but the reader can grasp the frustration that is building. Bethany, also Furthermore, the playwright plays on the title’s meaning since the character’s were not really getting anywhere, other than in their arguments. Maybe, the only possible character getting somewhere was Jen, when she voiced all her inner turmoil. This could very well be key to a growing theme in the short play since so many times workers remain silent at the expense of their true sentiments. In the name of peace, the office seemed as a normal workplace, until Jen begins to express her feelings.
ReplyDelete-Julio C. Manzano
I really liked the style of the latest play we had to read for class. It had an aggressive quality usually seen in the type of work that inspires to show the mediocrity in people and the uselessness of menial life. This play is so relatable because I think I also fear being stuck in that kind of situation where I have to work with people I clearly dislike. The true tension comes from the inability of a character to confront and face the problem the other characters see in Jack. Although I felt the play had a lot of dialogue, obviously not a bad thing, the action taking place was more centered on the characters trying to resolve their issues. I can’t get over the fact that the characters are so layered yet don’t show much of who they are outside of that setting. We get to experience the tension they feel yet not who they are outside of that situation. It goes to show that not a lot of action needs to take place in order of a play to have momentum or significance. Although I was not super impressed with the writing, I respect the author’s choice in demonstrating a clearly charged moment for the characters.
ReplyDeleteFrom my understanding, Jen played the protagonist while Elaine antagonized, and Bethany and Jack serving as secondary characters. The way the characters are listed is as a spectrum ranging of negativity beginning with Jen to positive from Jack. The negativity is based off their desire to make an impact. At the top spectrum, you have Jen whose aspiration to make a difference will be her downfall as Jack himself says, “I sell telecommunications equipment…there’s only so much to get excited about there (Starkey 314).” As you get lower in the spectrum, the characters become less of searching for a romantic idealism of personal progress and become more complacent. It can be argue their complacency make them two dimensional characters. It is through her search for something more we learn how Jen thinks. The way she placed importance on Bethany’s job, her commentary on Jack’s lack of passion, and her frustration with Elaine to maintain the status quote all display she is a passionate worker. While her key quality can be superficial, what distinguishes her from the other characters are the complications encountered by the other characters. It should be noted we see just how passionate she is as at the end of the play when she breaks down repeating to herself “I’m doing the best that I can (Starkey 316).” The ending contrast with the title “Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere” by Kristina Halvorson. It echoes what Jen had previously told Elaine of “nothing ever changes because you’re so worried about pissing somebody off, like somehow that would move us backward (Starkey 315). It foreshadows Jen has finally realized she is capable of so much more. I personally do not like Jack or Bethany as I am still attempting to comprehend their role exactly other than serving as antagonizing complications. They were extremely two dimensional, even in their responses as when Jack responded having a “fabulous” weekend when asked about it (Starkey 313).” Here is also why I wanted more of them, Halvorson did a great portrayal of the story that I wanted to treat two dimensional characters as three dimensional. Elaine herself is borderline two dimensional and three dimensional, but as she was irritated by Jen, it made me her character all the more intriguing.
ReplyDelete-Alejandro Sanchez