Stags and Hens - personal performance review :: Drama

Stags and Hens - personal performance review Drama coursework!!! The practical piece that I performed on 16th December ‘04 was a play written by Willy Russel called ‘Stags and Hens’. It was written in 1978 and is set on a hen/stag night in Liverpool for what was at that time, the present - reading the play, however, and comparing it with the portrayal of present day Liverpool I noticed no obvious changes. Another play that I have studied is ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ by Dennis Potter. This play was written in and is set in the heart of Devon in WW2 year 1943 with a cast of 5 boys and 2 girl characters; all of which are children around the age of 7. Composed for a cast of 5 female and 5 male characters, ‘Stags and Hens’ highlights a variety of ways in which men and women differ from each other. The two scenes consist of several location switches, initially between the male and female WC rooms at a nightclub - followed by further ventures into the nightclub itself. When reading a male section, I noticed how there was little hesitation from the majority of characters when it came to leaving their vomiting friend in the WC, whereas the ladies refuse to leave their friend behind while she does her make-up. This points out how men and women can react differently to a situation; here, whilst the women are showing sensitivity and care for each other’s feelings, the men appear thoughtless and self-indulgent. Links similar to this one are made throughout the play, and although not always noticed at first, usually become clear with hindsight. Initially, the male and female characters are kept separate from each other, but as the night progresses they mix up more; this gives the impression of awareness and organisation at the beginning, gradually smudging into a drunken confused muddle towards the end. It is a common feature of modern society for men and women to form separate alliances, and is often encouraged by gender division in everyday things. Things that aren’t even considered like going to the toilet; it is seldom that anyone will see a unisex toilet in public. Also, it is seen as normal for men to play football and drink beer, and women to wear make-up and drink ‘girly’ drinks. This is accentuated in ‘Stags and Hens’ on several occasions. Both genders make referrals to each other putting these stereotypes into place: girls – ‘Y’ can bet they’ll be pourin it down them like it’s goin’ out ‘a fashion.’ (Talking about the men) guys – ‘A woman has responsibility to her feller.