'Threepenny Opera' moments Flashcards
‘Jail Scene’: what’s happening
Captain Mac is chained up in jail, Polly and lucy have come to see him, mac is trying to weasel his way out by flattering them both
‘Jail Scene’: Physical skills
Physical: scurried from SL to SR, gait was small, posture hunched (small circle of attention)
‘Jail Scene’: Facial expressions
Facial expressions: eyebrows furrowed, wrinkled forehead, mouth ajar, strong eye contact
‘Jail Scene’: Vocal skills
Vocal: tone was desperate, low pitched, plosive alliteration of ‘Please Polly’ emphasises desperation
‘Jail Scene’: Aims and successfulness
Successful at not just displaying comedy but also demonstrating how manipulative Kenner’s character is
‘Interrogation Scene’: what’s happening
Mr Peachum is interrogating Jenny about the whereabouts of Captain Mac who has been released from prison
‘Interrogation Scene’: Aim
audience are intended to feel sympathy through comedy for Jenny and dislike for Mr Peachum
‘Interrogation Scene’: Mr Peachum vocal and physical skills
- Large circle of attention created through his big rigid posture
- Shouted “where is he” in an east london accent, pointing menacingly with left hand, gazing out of his left eye
- effective at making us dislike Mr Peachum and feel sympathy for Jenny
‘Interrogation Scene’: Jenny’s vocal and physical skills
- replied “oh, fuck off” in a blazee fashion
- shook her head, rolled her eyes
- spat the words out slowly in a high-pitched, screeched tone
‘Interrogation Scene’: justification
was very successful at creating black comedy because of the juxtaposition between the two actors and also because their vocal and physical skills were so extreme
‘Pre-execution Scene’: what’s happening
- we see Captain Mac’s demise as he insults his four trusted companions
- despite having just been release, CM is in jail again and has has just agreed with the prison guard to be released for £30,000
‘Pre-execution Scene’: aims
to provide energy through CM’s demise
‘Pre-execution Scene’: Captain Mac’s vocal and physical skills
- makes fun of Shadow by over exaggerating and imitating what he says
- spat out “no one understands a bloody word you’re saying” with an escalated volume and a purposeful put on the lisp- emphasised cruel and mocking nature
- sneering glare and he squinted his eyes, whilst also wobbling from side to side with a more concave posture
‘Pre-execution Scene’: Shadow’s vocal and physical skills
- gets out of wheelchair and walks over to Mac
- tension and suspense due to the silence, limping and dragging of his left foot
- he shouts “fuck off” in a calm but forceful tone
