Tom

To me, I really like how this play is very informal. At the beginning, Tom comes out and directly addresses the audience. He says, "I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it." In a regular Shakespeare play, no actor would come out and talk like they are carrying on a conversation with the audience. There might be soliloquies or speeches that sum up an act or something in the play like Iago in Othello, but never would there be a character like Tom. I feel like this would add an extra dramatic effect to the work as a whole. Here you have a character that addresses you, but also interacts with the other characters on stage. Tom is sort of like the mediator between the audience and the stage characters. He helps us to be more in touch with Amanda and Laura to feel more emotions (and at times to feel more emotions with Tom).

Imagination

When reading the play, there are a lot of side notes and stage directions. The author specifically writes what he wants the actors to do and what he wants the stage to look like. Being said, the stage is not exceptionally decorated. There are a few props and the writer repeatedly makes note of the fire escape and landing, but other than these things, there is not a lot of exquisiteness. I think the author did this so that the audience would focus more on the meaning of the play rather than the stage. Although in some plays a stage is essential, in this one, the author moves beyond it. In certain scenes, like in scene 2, some spotlights illuminate certain objects. In scene 2, the picture of the father is lit up to so a significant value and to make Tom's point stronger. I think that seeing this play acted out would be really enjoyable.

Realistic? yes.

As far as I have gotten in the play (Scene 5), everything about it has been realistic. From Tom having to work at a warehouse to support his family to Amanda's almost crazy actions, the play is able to be related to and therefore, in my eyes, realistic. Even the conversations between the characters seem real. Amanda has trouble with her son and in Scene 1 feels deceived that her daughter lied to her about not going to college. In real life, parents at one point have trouble with their children. Since the emotions can be related to, at times, readers can be sympathetic or angry or whatever towards the characters. I cannot wait for the gentleman caller to come to dinner because I am very anxious to see how Laura acts. I think that in the two scenes to come, the actions of the characters will continue to mirror reality.