Things I Know To Be True Flashcards
Introduction:
I saw the digital production of ‘Things I Know To Be True’ by Andrew Bovell, which was recorded in 2016.
Production is a collaboration between Frantic Assembly physical theatre company and state theatre Australia.
I saw this piece in 2024, on digital theatre plus.
Introduction pt.2:
The play explores themes and issues relating to the modern day.
In the autumn section of the play Pip and Fran are arguing about incidents that took place in Pips childhood.
Theres subtle symbolism revealed in Pip returning home, she’s seeking comfort as she confides in Fran, Bob, and Rosie that she’s leaving her husband and moving to Vancouver.
Interestingly, Fran too thought about leaving her family for another man, but ultimately decided against it due to her responsibilities as a mother.
Fran doesn’t want Pip to be selfish and make a design she may regret. However Fran may also resent Pip for her ‘selfish’ design as she wasn’t brave enough to make the same decision.
This builds tension between them and creates a strained power dynamic. In response I sympathise with Pip as she attempts to confide and seek comfort and guidance in her family, only to be shamed by her mother.
Analysis pt.1:
In this scene, Pip kneels on the floor stage right, with her body language closed, revealing how tired and futile she become as she’s reached her low point. But it may also symbolise her shutting Fran out.
Fran enters stage left and looks down on her, standing above her. The use of levels is significant as Pip has converted back into her younger self, trying to seek comfort from her mother.
However, the use of proxemics between them is effective at highlighting the tension of their strained relationship.
Their relationship is complicated. When Fran first speaks she instructs Rosie to “get a blanket.” Stubbs, who plays Fran uses a soft, tender tone created by lowering her pitch and volume, to a gentle instruction.
This reflects her attempt to be a comforting mother without directly speaking to Pip.
The naturalistic style of acting, contributes to the total effectiveness, drawing an emotional response from the audience.
Analysis pt.2:
Fran recognises herself in Pip, understanding her well.
However, Pip doesn’t want to acknowledge hoe alike her and Fran are.
Pips nerversnous is how through her constantly shuffling, fidgeting and clasping her hands, tension is carried throughout her body, as she awaits for Fran’s temperament to shift.
Fran and pIp begin to argue about Fran pulling Pip’s hair out when she was younger, after Rosie fell off a ladder at age two.
This confirms to the audience that their relationship has always been strained, but neither want to/ know how to amend it, this builds even more tension between them.
Analysis pt.3:
When Bob comes out to see what’s going on, France temperament changes.
Fran tells Bob “Pip is visiting “Stubbs says this is in a condescending tone, created by emphasising “Pip“ by raising her pitch and saying it shortly and bluntly there is also emphasis on “visiting “as she accentuates the words and keeps her pitch high.
This effectively captures Fran belittling Pip.
Stubbs holds strong eye contact with Pip and uses her gestures by having her arms tensely crossed in front of her alongside her upright posture which effectively shows her disagreement with Pip.
Stubbs also furrows her eyebrows, this once again successfully highlights Frans belittlement of Pip, as this is enhanced by their use of levels. Furthermore, by them successfully creating naturalistic characters it ultimately help us as the audience sympathise with the characters
Analysis pt.4
Later in the scene, we begin to see a strange power dynamic between the two.
As Pip says “what will you do mum?pull my hair, slap my face“ Casey who plays Pip rises to Stubbs level highlighting her determination as she is not afraid of her mum nor the confrontation that comes with defying her.
Pips invulnerability is amplified by her upright posture and wide gate. She also has more open body language now, unlike Fran, reinforcing she is not afraid of confrontation.
When she says “what will you do mum? “she’ll have a sarcastic undertone created by using a low pitch as she questions Frans actions as if trying to provoke her. Casey then leaves a pause before saying “pull my hair” using a slightly more aggressive town by lowering her pitch and tightening her volume.
Analysis pt.4
This successfully reveals Pip still holds resentment towards Fran and it’s been building up.
As the audience I feel uncomfortable watching this scene as it highlights some of their raw wounds and problems in their relationship.
It also reinforces how neither are ready to reconcile, as both are too stubborn to confront their issues.
Contributing to the overall aim of revealing the complexities of a family dynamic
Analysis pt.5.1
In the next scene, Pip tells Fran she’s leaving her husband for a job in Vancouver and another man.
In this scene we see the tension between them explode into confrontation. Pip tries to explain her reasons one simply being: “I don’t love him” Casey uses closed body language by crossing her arms, tensing her jaw and furrowing her eyebrows.
This reflects how isolated Pip feels, as her own family doesn’t support her decision.
We can hear Pip’s frustration as she says “I don’t love him” having a loud volume but putting a pause between ‘don’t’ and ‘love’, emphasising her desperation for them to understand and support her.
Analysis pt.5.2
Fran on the other hand jumps to the conclusion there’s another man: “you look at me and tell me that there is no other man.” Stubbs closes in proxemics between her and Pip, taking purposeful steps towards her with a wide gait (which she keeps) and pointing her index finger out at Pip. This reinforced Fran belittlement of Pip, treating her adult problems with a condescending demeanour.
When Stubbs says “that there is no other man” she slows her pace down and holds strong eye contact with Pip, successfully showing Fran doesn’t support pip and that this will add to the strain of their relationship.
Fran then calls Pip “you stupid girl” at this point, Fran and Pips proxemics are close and they both shakes their heads for different reasons
Analysis pt5.3:
Fran’s in disagreement with Pip as we later learn Frans too al most had an affair but didn’t commit due to her family and responsibilities as a mother. Fran’s resentment for Pip stems arguably from her jealousy of Pip.
Pip shakes her head in disagreement to her mums statement about her. Once again confirms Fran belittling her.
Analysis pt.6:
When Stubbs says this line she lowers her volume and slows her pace, contrasting her previous anger, reflecting her disappointment in Pip, as she and Pip aren’t as similar as she thought, as Pip chooses to do what felt impossible to her.
To emphasis this further, Stubbs turns away from Pip covering her hands with he face, once again showing Fran’s disappointment.
As the audience, we feel sympathy for Pip, but we also feel uncomfortable as we feel like we’re intruding due to their naturalistic characters; Rosie reflecting how we as the audience feel as she stands awkwardly not knowing what to do in attempt to defuse the situation.
Conclusion:
Overall, I was really impressed by Stubbs and Caseys use of levels and proxemics to highlight their strained relationship.
They’re very alike but also different, Pip testing Fran as she didn’t make all the same decisions as her, being selfish in a attempt to be selfless.
