So if we are questioning society's influence on the individual, how do you think social pressures are created/instigated?
Is what society tells us do to do right? Are we thinking for ourselves? In who's interest is is that we act this way?
Act Two, Scene One
- The group performs Act 1, scene 5 of Così Fan Tutte. The atmosphere is chaotic, with Henry loudly singing when he is supposed to mime while Ruth deals with a leaking hole in the roof. Julie and Cherry arrive, late because they stopped by Occupational Therapy to pick up a magnet to be used in the play.
- Although Lewis states a magnet is unnecessary, Cherry explains that the performance will be more convincing if they have a magnet for Despina, a character in Così Fan Tutte who pretends to be a Mesmerist.
- Since the girls couldn’t find a Dr Meser magnet, they settled for a piece of equipment used for shock treatment. Cherry orders Roy to get on the floor and pretends to operate the machinery, ‘sending’ bolts of electricity through Roy. Roy begins to convulse ‘as if real shocks are being sent through him’ [pg 59]. It looks so real that Julie and Henry ‘are concerned for him and empathise.’ However, Roy suddenly stops and jokes around.
- The group discusses the meaning of love. Julie states that love is ‘foolish ’[pg 61]. Lewis sides with Cherry, saying that ‘boy’s winning of the girls’ hearts should be hard won.’ Meanwhile, Roy asserts that ‘love is what you feel when you don’t have enough emotion left to hate’. Zac arrives, presenting the set model and a poster of Mozart in a strait-jacket. Everyone begins to fickle over their credentials on the poster, since names were spelt incorrectly and some smaller than others. Lewis notices Roy sitting by himself. Roy explains that he is down because the vision of Mozart’s play is ‘destroyed’ [pg 63] since Lewis is letting others do whatever they want. Lewis promises that he will fit some Mozart music into the play and returns to the group.
- Lewis announces that they need
an extra rehearsal before the performance night. Julie asks ‘isn’t that
the first day of your moratorium?’ [pg 64]
however Lewis states that ‘this comes first.’ Lewis and Julie rehearse
their part on stage when the lights go out. In the dark Julie reveals
that she prefers the dark since in wards, ‘there’s always a light on in
the corridor’ [pg 66] while Ruth
argues that she is ‘not keen on it’ since her ex-boyfriend used to tie
her up in a wardrobe and threatened to kill her that if she ever tried
to escape.
- Lewis shares that he would ‘feel betrayed, I guess’ [pg 67]
when Julie asks what Lewis would do if Nick and Lucy were together.
Cherry smashes the set model while she tries to find Lewis in the dark.
Lewis feels a touch and believes it is Cherry. However, Julie laughs,
touching his face.
- Meanwhile Zac walks into Ruth and feels her up but she slaps him away. While Cherry continues to search for Lewis, he and Julie ‘kiss passionately’ [pg 68]. With their eyes closed, they do not realise that the lights turned on so that everybody sees their kiss, including Cherry. Cherry slams a sandwich into Lewis hand, forcing him to eat. Roy complains that ‘chaos reigns’ when he leaves, Zac is depressed over his broken model while Cherry warns Julie to never kiss him again or ‘I’ll break your fuckin’ arm.’
Who is really in the stray jacket?
