The main way The Children's Hour strays from the form of the traditional well-made play is the way that the play comes to an end. Rather than the play coming to a nice, happy, everyone-wins conclusion, we get a suicide, resulting in the loss of a friend for Karen, and in addition to that the loss of Karen's lover, and on top of all of that, the little brat who started all this mess is still being protected by her grandmother! This is absolutely not the type of ending one would see in a well-made play. I believe this choice was made in order to show that chaos of this sort really cannot have a happy ending or easy solution. These's people had their entire lives and futures ruined, and that's just something that is irreparable.
I do think that the play could be performed today. The main course of the story does not revolve around Karen and Martha being struggling lovers but really centers on the discord caused by a terribly spoiled child. The only time we actually see a bit of truth in the lie is before Martha kills herself. She admits to Karen that she actually does love her in the way accused; that she has always been different but could never quite put her finger on what it was. All the rest of the play is focused most on the ruination of their lives because of a lie, not their same-sex relationship.
I love that you used the word "irreparable" to describe what was done to Karen and Martha. As I was reading this play I found it difficult to imagine a happy ending since it was the reputation of the women that was at stake. "A lifetime to make, a moment to destroy" rang in my head and a tragic conclusion seemed all but inevitable when the villain could be regarded as gossip itself.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the play could still be done today. I also believe that the focus is on the gossip spread by one child and not the relationship between Martha and Karen. The play raises questions of how much power a child truly has, not if same-sex relationships are appropriate. Even though in today's world, those questions could be asked. As long as the direction is focused solely to the first question, the second question might simmer away.
ReplyDeletei agree that the play should be played today. it can have a great effect on people and the way they look at the results of the lackhuman equality.
ReplyDeleteThis play could totally be played. The acts of a spoiled child still goes on if not more often. I'm sure many people can relate to this phenomenon, nonetheless, are going through it themselves.
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