词条 | Night Sky (play) |
释义 |
PlotThe play is set in modern times, and theatrically explores what Dr. Stephen Hawking called the two mysteries remaining to us: the brain and the cosmos. Anna, a brilliant and articulate astronomer, has her sights set on a promising academic career. However, her life is suddenly turned upside-down when she is struck by a car and develops aphasia. Without the ability to effectively communicate, as a "hodge-podge of unconnected words alternately confusing, funny, original and wise – and sometimes all four" becomes her normal pattern of speech, Anna's life becomes increasingly more difficult, in dealing with her lover, a teen-aged daughter, and attempting to continue her professional career.[1] However, her condition isn't completely irreversible, and it is the process of Anna's harrowing recovery that is the heart of the story. Along the way, the audience also encounters another aphasia patient, Anna's therapist, and other individuals who misunderstand her condition, all as Anna tries to recover and to deliver her research paper at a prestigious conference in Paris.[2] Characters
BackgroundYankowitz was inspired and commissioned to write the play that would become Night Sky after her friend and mentor, legendary director Joseph Chaikin, suffered a stroke during heart surgery and developed aphasia. Chaikin eventually recovered, but the experience affected him and his friends forever, and he desired to educate people about this very devastating condition. Yankowitz recalled how "When he would go out in public—similar to what I showed in the play—people would assume he was an idiot, he didn't understand anything. For somebody of Joe's outstanding intelligence and previous eloquence, it was just a horrible situation." Yankowitz uses these type of situations in her play. However, Chaikin wanted to distance himself somewhat from the play, so he gave Yankowitz three conditions: the play's protagonist was to be a woman, not a man, and he wanted the aphasia to develop due to an automobile accident instead of a stroke or surgery. The third condition, which surprised Yankowitz, was that the protagonist should be an astronomer. When asked why, Chaikin replied, "'Stars, stars. So many stars.' And he made a gesture, pointing above. I said, 'Yes, but what about them?' He couldn't find the words to express it." [3] References1. ^1 Samuel French, Inc. The House of Plays & Musical Plays for Over 175 Years 2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2009/06/04/2009-06-04_susan_yankowitzs_night_sky_explores.html |title=Susan Yankowitz's 'Night Sky' explores the cosmos and the human brain |publisher=NY Daily News |date= |accessdate=2012-07-14}} 3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.talkinbroadway.com/rialto/past/2009/061009.html |title=Talkin' Broadway – What's New on the Rialto? – Susan Yankowitz – 6/10/09 |publisher=Talkinbroadway.com |date=2009-06-20 |accessdate=2012-07-14}} External links
1 : 1991 plays |
随便看 |
|
开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。