Ask the Dramaturg
One of the dramaturg's functions is to assist in the rehearsal process by providing research about the style and language of the text, the setting of the play and specific terms, people or places that are mentioned in the play. This section of our site provides an online forum for members of the cast and crew to pose these questions to the dramaturg. These questions and the dramaturg's answers are posted below.
9/3
Q. What is a chimera?
A. As our director, Juanita Rockwell, explained in rehearsal, chimera is a term for a specific type of mythological monster or a more general term for a figment of the imaginaton. Here's how the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word:
1. A fabled fire-breathing monster of Greek mythology, with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail (or according to others with the heads of a lion, a goat, and a serpent), killed by Bellerophon.
2. In Painting, Arch., etc. A grotesque monster, formed of the parts of various animals.
3. fig. with reference to the terrible character, the unreality, or the incongruous composition of the fabled monster:
a. A horrible and fear-inspiring phantasm, a bogy.
b. An unreal creature of the imagination, a mere wild fancy; an unfounded conception. (The ordinary modern use.) See also BOMBINATE.
c. An incongruous union or medley.Definition 3b seems most useful to me as a way of understanding the scene that bears this title. But the others are very interesting.
8/30
Q. How can we learn about rolling cigars for our smoking scene?
A. Our props designer, Jenifer Alonzo, found some online instructions for rolling a cigar. That should get us started.
8/28
Q. In scene three, Jamie ends his discussion of his decision to marry Simone with the quote, "For to desire and to be desired is better than to burn." What is the source of this quote?
A. Caridad Svich is the source of this quote. The playwright told me that she invented the line because she wanted something that sounded ancient, even biblical, to suggest the ways that Jamie has been shaped as a moral being. While he describes his choice to marry as an instictive impulse, he is still has certain moral anchors that impact his decisions in life.
8/26/02
Q. In scene five, Simone mentions pouring herself a glass of mint julep ice tea. What is this drink?
A. There are several variations of mint julep ice tea. The non-alcoholic versions are generally some version of mint tea over ice.
But Simone seems to be fond of whiskey and so I suspect her version will be a little closer to the classic mint julep drink with some tea thrown in for good measure. Here's a recipe for mint julep iced tea that should keep Simone satisfied for the entire afternoon:
8 mint leaves
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1 cup bourbon
3 cups cold sweetened tea
Cubed or crushed iceCombine first 3 ingredients in a 2-quart pitcher, pressing with spoon to crush mint. Stir in bourbon and tea. Add ice. Yield: 2 quarts.