Vision

Artistic Vision:

Excerpt from “The Pillowman”

Kate Ainsworth as Tupolski

Character:

I am the head-investigator in this play. Since I am a woman playing the part of a man, our group decided to let me perform the scene as a tough woman investigator instead of the tough man I was supposed to be. We felt it would be better to emphasize the character’s qualities as a woman than for me to have to pretend to be a man, however fun that might have been.

I am dressed in black dress pants, a white collar shirt, black shoes, and I am wearing suspenders. Everything I am wearing is neatly tucked and straight. My hair is pulled back in a tight knot. I have no makeup on, and I look like I mean business.

I remain sitting throughout the entire scene. This whole time I maintain correct posture; I keep my back straight and my head forward. I am supposed to give the appearance of someone who is intimidating and strict.

In the beginning I stick to just the “formalities” of the investigation. Everything I say is to the point, except when I am making fun of Katurian’s name. I am supposed to speak rather quickly and almost monotone with a sigh here and there and a hint of a mocking tone. During this time I have my left hand on the table, and I am holding a pen which I take notes with. I am right-handed, but the director and I decided that actually writing with my right hand would cut my body off to the audience. During this time my partner gets worked up by Katurian’s responses to my questions. I sit back and watch as the two of them quarrel. I am paying close attention to Katurian’s every movement to see if she shows any sign of a give-away into the investigation.

After Ariel leaves the stage, I am one on one with Katurian. This is when the scene progresses into quick deliberate discussion. I am hoping that Katurian accidently gives me some important information. During this whole time I grow continually more angry, and Katurian follows suit. After her long angry monologue I blow up with fury, and then quickly calm down to form a resolution for the end of the scene.

Intent:

The intent of the entire piece is to show the emotional rush of an investigation room. The first few times that I read through this scene I was very confused as to the significance of the ending. Well the audience is left hanging, but I want to talk about what happens later on. The reason that Katurian is in the investigation room in the first place is because someone has been acting out the scenes from her play in real life. This means that children have been murdered, and the police are trying to figure out who is doing the murdering. As it turns out, Katurian’s mentally handicapped brother is the one murdering the children in the ways that Katurian described in her stories.

In conclusion this scene of the play is supposed to emphasis the high elements of the play. It is supposed to be disturbing. It is supposed to be upsetting. The audience should be sitting on the edge of their seats wanting it to end, but wanting to know why all of this is happening. I hope this works.