live theatre cat and the canary Flashcards
1
Q
what is your introduction?
A
- written by John Willard
- watched at Chichester Minerva Theatre on 9th October 2024
- play is a horror-comedy
- 6 relatives gather to hear the reading of Cyrus Norman’s will
- themes of fear, madness, childhood trauma
2
Q
what will be the costume section of your introduction?
A
- analysing costume of the character Annabel, designed by Angela Davies
- Annabel is played by Lucy Mccormick
- Annabel’s character progression (becomes more and more paranoid) is shown through her costume progression
3
Q
describe Annabel at the very beginning of the play: (point 1)
A
- PLOT:fashionably late arrival
- put-together, classy, with a leopard print dress with an extravagant, flowy coat and stilettos
- confident, arrogant character, flamboyant. generic upper class woman for the time (different time period due to dated costumes and set)
- PLOT: main benefactor in Cyrus Norman’s will, she’s unsure about this sudden burden of responsibility
4
Q
describe Annabel in point 2:
A
- PLOT: wavering confidence and insecurity disguised again
- elegant, floor-length burgundy dress with intricate detailing
- long, white gloves
- dress has snake skin pattern - connotations of predators and superiority, showing confidence once again
- none of clothes have broken down: wealth. barrier between her and the audience, as is it a façade to the insecurity beneath, due to later mentioned childhood trauma? or is it genuine?
- self-confidence shows lack of fear and shows sanity
5
Q
describe Annabel in point 3:
A
- PLOT: drops barrier of self-confidence, and shows childlike, fearful self: there all along?
- middle of play: switches from evening gown to silk, leopard print, floor-length dressing gown (elegance, but more intimate, more to her character than meets the eye)
6
Q
describe Annabel in point 4:
A
- changes into white, matching set of pyjamas, alluding to herself as a child and her childhood trauma
- colour white = purity, innocence
- PLOT: her sister traumatically died as a child, so she now gets overwhelmed by stressful, dangerous situations (i.e. the mentally ill maniac on the loose)
- her behaviour is similar to that of a child’s, showing vulnerability and emotional fragility
- fully let her guard down, showing true colours
7
Q
describe Annabel’s hair in point 4:
A
- her hair in these later scenes is frazzled and unkempt
- contrasts to her neat and tidy hair in an elegant style at the beginning
- her madness is slowly being revealed - prominent theme
8
Q
describe Annabel in point 5:
A
- near the end, wears a bright yellow (similar to canary) floor length gown
- nod towards title of the play, the idea of a cat attacking a canary in a cage, but not being able to reach it. the canary still dies out of fright
- Annabel is the canary, trapped inside the cage (eerie mansion), being attacked by the cat (maniac) - brings closure and understanding to the audience about her fear
9
Q
what is an alternative interpretation to Annabel’s costume in point 5?
A
bright yellow of dress = cowardice, beneath her self-assured, flamboyant persona and costume disguises
- loss of respect from the audience
- or they may try and understand her character, as it’s been muddled and convoluted with her childhood trauma
10
Q
describe the re-occurring symbol of the doll (throughout the play):
A
- revealed at the end that it’s blonde, wearing a yellow dress, like Annabel
- links the two characters, making the doll Annabel’s accessory (part of her costume)
- the doll symbolises Annabel’s childhood trauma that has come back to haunt her (due to the horror aspect of the creepy doll) and force her to let her guard down as a result of the night’s events, or as a sign of her decline to madness
11
Q
what will you say in your conclusion?
A
- Annabel’s character gradually declines in sanity and assurance, shown effectively by Davies throughout the play
- extravagant gowns at the beginning contrast with her pyjamas at the end, showing a more vulnerable, fearful side to her
