How Are the Elements of Realism Used to Present Believable

How are the elements of realism used to present believable characters to the audience? If you know your characters thoughts, the proper vocal and bodily expressions will naturally descend said by the creator of realist theatre Constantine Stanislavski, is used heavily in the assistance to the portrayal and understanding of the characters in Ray Lawlers summer prison term of the 17th Doll. Actors and actresses can achieve great heights with the depiction of the characters done Lawlers use of dramatic elements and a constant realist orderting and symbolic props. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is a mold set in Australia during the 1950s which was a crucial period in the development of the Australian identity. It was a time of post-war reconstruction and immigration, of materialism, a wool boom, of suburban comfort and conservatism- the first decade since early in the century in which the ordinary Australian had not been hounded by war, depression and drought. It was also a time per iod in which the cultivated cabbage cane industry was booming and many workers made their commission up to the sugar cane fields in Queensland to harvest the sugar cane and earn a living.This was the occupation of Barney and Roo as they are coming back from their seventeenth course of instruction working in the fields as the play begins. Like all realist and naturalist plays, the characters portrayed in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll are in a constant state of flux, reflecting human actions at heart the cultural milieu of 1950s Australia, attempting to present perspectives on truth in such a way that the Australian culture can digest that truth as they desperately struggle to hold on to the adopted traditions that regularly take place within the lay-off season.Lawler effectively uses symbolism to distinctly highlight the characters ongoing futile attempts to hold on to their various illusions, through the accidental smashing of the vase containing the seventeenth doll, and as th e play progresses their flaws unfold. olive and her perception of the lay-off season becomes her flaw as she considers this a time in which she can thoroughly enjoy herself in the company of men without the care of commitment and the pressures of a family. She made a mistake is replied by chromatic after dip had said, Didnt seem to stop her from getting married, as Olive exhibitions her unwillingness to be within wedlock. Compared to all the marriages I know, what i got is is five months of heaven every year as Olive further reinforces her persistent views of marriage. Also the men have their flaws through their pride and masculinity suffering a severe beating. Roo, the silly cow, strains his back is told by Barney to Olive of Roos repulsive year in the fields then continues on to say Instead of pointin out he had a bad back, he puts himself to work by this Dowd gonna show him up, see further accentuating his grip on his pride and masculinity. However Roo and Barney engage i nto a heated argument which eventuates into the smashing of the vase which contained the seventeenth doll. The big man rips it from his hold and throws it away into the centre of the room, smashing the vase and scattering the dolls.At this high point of tension the audience find oneselfs shocked as the vase and the dolls had symbolised the great joy that the lay-off season is supposed to bring. at that place is a sudden silence. Olive sinks to her knees and picks up the seventeenth doll, hold it close the absence of dialogue is extremely effective as the audience can feel the raw emotions of Olive as the smashed vase symbolises her hopes of the lay-off season being shattered into pieces. Through slow and accentuated movements the audiences can easily understand the significance of the doll to Olive therefore deeply sympathise with her character.Furthermore the shattering of the vase is again symbolic for Roo as just before the vase was smashed it was revea guide that his back wa snt sore and that it was jealousy that led him to lie about his back. He never had a bad back was exclaimed by Barney moments before the smashing of the vase. This again was highly symbolic of the smashing as the realisation of his fleeting masculinity and the inevitability of his ageing mind and body are finally beginning to sink in, and his true self is revealed to the audience.Also, considering the play was set in the 1950s of Australia, the people of Australia had their own unique way of the pronunciation of words and had adopted a very colloquial styled language. Lawler had taken this firmly into level as he consolidated this type of language into the play. the regularsd stand aside to let em through, just as if they was a a coupla kings was said by Olive as she described Barney and Roo. Again, Olive says these are a coupla sugarcane lop offters.This exemplifies an ordinary, raw and realistic representation of Australian culture and life in the 1950s which is in particular evident through the word coupla. In pairs we worked to together to workshop a scene between Olive and Pearl which involved us changing our stones throw of voice to suite the 1950s Australian language. Well I dunno what its gunna be like livin here was a line that I said as I had played Pearl and using the words dunno, gunna and livin really assisted me in believing in my role and my character.When we performed or dramatic reading in front of the class the genuineness of a 1950s Australian was shown through the alterations in our tone of voice as it became laid back in the not climactic beat of the scene and our accents deepened and again our tone of voice altered in the high points of tension, Here, sit down and shut up if you cant talk sense. In class we worked together to create a scene through our dramatic reading that lead me play Roo in the scene where Barney smashes the vase containing the seventeenth doll.The lines that were read were as follows Roo No, I think thats up to you he charges across at Barney, pushing Olive out of the way. He savagely whips Barneys arm behind his back, and forces him to his knees, facing the women Its your lie you tellem Barney his face contorted with painAah cut it out. Roo increasing the pressure tellem Barney gasping he never had a bad back. At the high point in tension where I (Roo) charged over at Barney and grabbed his arm and whipped it behind his back I used fast explosive movements to convey to the audience the frustration and anger felt by Roo.I forced Barney to his knees in order to show the levels between the characters so that Roo was the more dominant figure, and when Barney was to reveal the secret to the women, he wouldve had to comprehend extreme guilt whilst feeling lower and weakened towards everyone else. His face contorted with pain, the person playing Barney reacted to the arm whipping feeling very subdued with dynamic facial expressions to compliment the pain he essential have felt.As I incre ased the pressure and forcefully exclaimed tellem, all of my movements were extremely tense as I created this entice moment for the audience and the characters. The person playing Barney gasped and revealed the enticing situation and said he never had a bad back. The characters and audience were left stunned at this revelation and, the tone, movements and facial expressions used within those beats and units had created strong dramatic meaning as the audience was gripped onto hat would happen next. The concept of dramatic realism operates within Summer of the Seventeenth Doll through aspects such as the use of slang, language, set, costume approximates real life, natural language rhythms, relevance to society of that era, etc. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is set in the 1950s, Olive and her black dresses and when she changes it for that night symbolising change and at the end when she changes back to black and symbolising nothing has changed