Juxtaposes Edward And Mickey's Education example essay topic

Dear Sir / Madam, I am writing to apply for the job of director in the new production of "Blood Brothers" in the Old Vic Theatre. I feel that I would be perfect for this position because I have already directed several Willy Russell plays, including Stags and Hens and Educating Rita. I have also directed other plays to do with the issue of class. I hope you choose me to direct this play, as I understand the story quite clearly. "Blood Brothers" is quite a simple play about two brothers separated at birth from a poor family.

Edward is forced to go to middle-class family, whereas Mickey stays in the poor working-class family. When they meet, a few years later, they become best of friends, not knowing about their relation. Edward then grows up to be a smart and successful young man who goes to university whereas Mickey doesn't grow up very successful and spends time in prison. The two brothers live apart a few years later. Edward becomes a councillor, becoming a success like expected, but Mickey becomes and labour worker and becomes quite unstable. Russell does this to emphasize the difference between two similar children of different class.

Mickey goes insane and sets out to kill Edward because he thinks that Edward has taken the only thing in his life that is important, his wife Linda. Mickey ends up shooting Edward and the police shoot Mickey. Mickey and Edward are extremely different people. Edward uses Standard English and speaks well mannered and polite. On the other hand, Mickey uses a Liverpudlian "scouse r" dialect and doesn't use Standard English.

We can see this when the two meet. Mickey says "Cos me mam says". And Edward says", Well, my mummy doesn't allow me to play down here actually". They say simple things in a different way, for example, Edward would say", May I please have an apple mother?" whereas Mickey would say " Can I 'ave a apple mam?" Growing up, Edward has had everything he wanted and Mickey has had nothing. Again, Russell is emphasizing the differences between their classes.

Being born into a "better class", Edward has been encouraged by his mother (Mrs Lyons) to go to boarding school and then university. Also, Edward might also be encouraged because he is an only child so Mrs Lyons can concentrate only on him and has a lot of money. However, Mrs Johnstone (Mickey's mother) cannot support Mickey's education at all because she has several children to look after and not a lot of money. Both Mickey and Edward have very different standards for living. As you know, Edward has been to boarding school and university, has a very respectable job and would probably like to have a family. On the other hand, Mickey, who has no interest for education or work has already spent time in prison and is addicted to pills.

From this, I think that the audience would fell deeply sorry for Mickey and possibly, slightly envy Edward. I think that "Blood Brothers" slightly related to Russell's life as a child. Russell's was the lower middle class background that we find in much of his work. I think he was very familiar when Recession came about because there were a lot of people against Margaret Thatcher (Thatcher ism) about seeking a job and he must have been one of them. He probably, slightly resembles his life to that of Mickey's.

Throughout the play, Russell is trying to tell the audience several things. Russell's didactic purpose is to tell the audience that class is an important issue in the play, and that the difference in class can dramatically affect you life. When Edward and Mickey were born, they should have been growing up in the same household, and they probably would be exactly the same. Instead, they grow up to be like chalk and cheese. Another issue that Russell highlights is education. We can clearly see that Mickey doesn't enjoy school when he is rude to the teacher replying "fish fingers!" to a question about what African tribesmen eat.

I think that Russell deliberately juxtaposes Edward and Mickey's education to emphasise the differences between boarding school and comprehension school. If I were to direct this play, I think sound and light would have to be used well to make the play more dramatic, for example, a spotlight on the most important person on stage or the person talking. With the sound, there would be more near a climax and it would get louder until the climax's ends or the end of a scene. I would like the audience to see and hear everything that happens. I would also like the play to be set on a standard Proscenium arch stage as it would be quite simple to direct and the audience can see all of the action.

I think this would be best because if you use a "round" or "thrust" type of stage, when Mickey takes out the gun, the audience's reactions wouldn't be all at the same time. I think this because if he draws it from his coat, only half the audience would see it at first. Even though "Blood Brothers" is a play with music, I would put a minimal amount of singing in it so the audience don't drift off during the play. I believe this because I think the audience will get hooked on the story and will look forward to the dramatic scenes. I hope this application will confirm your choice for the director in "Blood Brothers". Yours Sincerely,.