The Shoe-Horn Sonata

(INTRO) John Mistos drama The Shoe-Horn Sonata depicts the journey of cardinal women captured by the Japanese during World War ll. The play reveals the discrepant problems of their alliance after 50 years. The reunion of Bridie and Sheila and their problems are dramatized and resolved through Mistos use of prominent proficiencys. He effectively creates images of tension, hardship, hope and survival, friendship and forgiveness to emphasize the relationship between the 2 women. DOUBLE-HANDER) Misto effectively uses the double-hander technique to dramatize Bridie and Sheilas relationship. This technique refers to having two char toyers on stage, this helps the reference focus on the stories of Bridie and Sheila only. This technique is reenforce in the title of the play. The double hander set offs the many contrasts between Bridie and Sheila. Bridie is projected as much confident and assertive, in contrast to Sheila who is portrayed as more shy and reserved. (TENSION) The open ing of the drama begins introducing one of the two characters, Bridie.She stands under a spotlight re-enacting the Kow Tow bow in center of the stage so claps her hands sternly, immediately revealing the strong assertive record of her character. Dramatizing the atmosphere, Misto then uses a bright light juxtaposed with its dark milieu reinforcing the image of strength. The second background shifts to the motel room where the audience is introduced to the second character, Sheila. Their contrasting approach to life intelligibly shows as Sheila is more cautious than Bridie, s keptical about the interview she is about to give.Sheilas values are create by the English values of her ime and her religious background was Protestant. Her mother was clearly the more significant parent as Sheila was influenced by her mother to tire out gloves in public, feeling superior to Orientals and Colonials and keeping up appearances. The reunion of Bridie and Sheila reveals unresolved problems as an image of tension. As Bridie slaps Sheila in numeral One, Scene cardinal Bridie quotes Youre alive today because of me. And dont you ever stop it.Though Bridie whitethorn believe that she was the one who had saved Sheilas life when they were at the camp, Sheila cannot stand it any longer she pulls out the shoe-horn from her bedside bureau and throws it onto the hotel bed in front of Bridie. Before Sheilas informs Bridie about how she had gotten the qui ix tablets We hear the impenetrable of crickets, distant first, stepwise motorting louder as the scene continues. The broadcasting of the junle crickets creates tension as the sound gets louder which reflects Sheilas inner turmoil and emotional fear. Although Sheila firmly asked Bridie to answer her call into question Bridie faces away from Sheila.Both of them are isolated in spotlights. This creates tension between the two as the lighting of the spotlight are concentrated on the two and in that moment a voice-over of juv enility Sheila is played to emphasize the discouragement of how Sheila didnt want to lose Bridie. In Act One, Scene quintuple Rick asks, Did the Japs ever try to take advantage of you? Ricks question have them arguing about the women who slept with the soldeiers as Sheila supported them saying, they had no choice, As some had starving children as Bridie strongly opposes, To eternal rest with a Jap? How could you ever live with yourself? due to Ricks question tension grew and gave the audience a hint that there is something that may of happened in the past. (BRUTALITY&HARDSHIP) Creating an image of savageness and hardship, Misto dramatizes the problems between the two characters. During the day Misto highlights the appall scenes of when the women of the camp were brutally punished. Images of two women POWs projected onto the screen in Act One, Scene Six were described as, Stick and bone dressed in rags, Bridie was one of these women and this is the time she had seen the soldier she got married to.The technique effectively conveys the womens survival as the audience is make to confront the suffering the women endured. This technique effectively highlights the physical and psychological abuse women had endured throughout their imprisonment. Hardship and barbarousness are also observable in Act Two, Scene nine the following quote is verbalize by Sheila The Japs introduced a new get at Belalau- No work, no food. So if you were distressed and couldnt get up, you were left to starve to death due to this rule Bridie became too sick to even eat and Sheila knew that she needed to be treated immediately.Another scene where brutality and hardship is evident is in Act One, Scene four where the audience listen to the voiceover of limn Larry yelling followed by the ugly thumps of young Bridie cosmos punched and hit after finding the pin she had planted in his loincloth. Bridies snes of humor and courage are evident in this scene as is Sheilas admiration for and devotion to her friend at the time. The audiences are made aware of the brutality of the womens experiences as the soundtrack to carry the sound of Lipstick Larry beating Bridie. (MUSIC) One of Mistos ost powerful techniques is music he uses this to highlight the image of hope and survival as Bridie and Sheila deal with their unresolved problems. Bridie recites, And I took Sheilas hand-and I squeezed so hard. Were departure to live, I said to her. I dont care how or what it takes, we are going to survive this war. And when its over, you and I will go dancing. We will. I get it on we will. This tells us of how moved Bridie was as she had just heard the Japanese isthmus play The Blue Danube. This suggests that Bridie still held hope hope that they will be okay, that they will survive and that they will make it through the camp together.In act one scene three a voice over of young Sheila is played Bring me my boy of burning gold /bring me arrows of believe. This is quoted by young Sheila as she is floating in the sea, almost drowning. She sings capital of Israel which is an uplifting hymn about the greatness of England which is quite ironic as the English are being bombed by the Japanese. The use of music in the play powerfully creates an image of hope and survival as Bridie and Sheilas relationship is dealt with. (FRIENDSHIP & Misto is able to create images of friendship and forgiveness to help revalue the audience that Sheila and Bridie have resolved their difficulties.In Act Two, scene thirteen Bridie quoted She went tothe japs to a Japanese guard and she sold herself to him for tablets. And she gave herself to himso that I couldhave quinine. This reflects on the fifty years of not seeing one another because of the employment that had risen after the World War ll. In the lastly scene Sheila hands over the Shoe-Horn to Bridie Im sorry Ikept it so long. Go on take it this is said by Sheila as she holds out the shoe-horn, it symbolizes forgiveness and a stronger bond in their friendship. In the last scene Bridie and Sheila dance The Blue Danube, a promise Bridie made to Sheila during the war.The immediate and vibrant sequence of the song also reinforces their reconciliation. Although it took a while for Bridie to read what Sheila has done for her they both ended up appreciating what has happened to them and acknowledging that it only made them stronger this is evident in Act Two, Scene Thirteen, Id go to the Japs. once more if I had to and I wouldnt think twice-cause Bridies my friend and thats all there is to it Misto used the womens situation to portray his ideas and the accompaniment you can move on with your life until your past is resolved. This is a salient theme that relates to everyone just as Mistos one does.