Read the following scene from Trifles.MRS. HALE (stiffly). There’s a great deal of work to be done on a farm. COUNTY ATTORNEY. To be sure. And yet . . . (With a little bow to her.) . . . I know there are some Dickson county farmhouses which do not have such roller towels. (He gives it a pull to expose its full length again.) MRS. HALE. Those towels get dirty awful quick. Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Ah, loyal to your sex, I see. But you and Mrs. Wright were neighbors. I suppose you were friends, too. What is one possible disadvantage of hearing the characters’ voices as opposed to silently reading the scene?
Read the following scene from Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY. You mean that they didn’t get on very well? MRS. HALE. No, I don’t mean anything. But I don’t think a place’d be any cheerfuller for John Wright’s being in it. COUNTY ATTORNEY. I’d like to talk more of that a little later. I want to get the lay of things upstairs now. (He goes to the left, where three steps lead to a stair door.) SHERIFF. I suppose anything Mrs. Peters does’ll be all right. She was to take in some clothes for her, you know, and a few little things. We left in such a hurry yesterday. COUNTY ATTORNEY. Yes, but I would like to see what you take, Mrs. Peters, and keep an eye out for anything that might be of use to us. What is one possible advantage of hearing the characters’ voices as opposed to silently reading the scene?
Read the excerpt from Trifles.SHERIFF. Nothing here but kitchen things. (The County Attorney, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand away, sticky.) COUNTY ATTORNEY. Here’s a nice mess. (The women draw nearer.) How would an audio recording of this excerpt help establish the setting of the play?
Read the following scene from Trifles.SHERIFF. Nothing here but kitchen things. (The County Attorney, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand away, sticky.) COUNTY ATTORNEY. Here’s a nice mess. (The women draw nearer.) MRS. PETERS (to the other woman). Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. (To the Lawyer). She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break. SHERIFF. Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves. What would be one advantage of reading this scene as opposed to watching or listening to it?
What is true about both the stage and film version of a drama?
Read the following scene from Trifles.SHERIFF (chuckling). Married to the law. (Moves toward the other room.) I just want you to come in here a minute, George. We ought to take a look at these windows. COUNTY ATTORNEY (scoffingly). Oh, windows! SHERIFF. We’ll be right out, Mr. Hale. (Hale goes outside. The Sheriff follows the County Attorney into the other room. Then Mrs. Hale rises, hands tight together, looking intensely at Mrs. Peters, whose eyes take a slow turn, finally meeting Mrs. Hale’s. A moment Mrs. Hale holds her, then her own eyes point the way to where the box is concealed. Suddenly Mrs. Peters throws back quilt pieces and tries to put the box in the bag she is wearing. It is too big. She opens box, starts to take the bird out, cannot touch it, goes to pieces, stands there helpless. Sound of a knob turning in the other room. Mrs. Hale snatches the box and puts it in the pocket of her big coat. Enter County Attorney and Sheriff.) COUNTY ATTORNEY (facetiously). Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies! MRS. HALE (her hand against her pocket). We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson. What changes might a director or screenwriter make to the original version of this scene in order to best emphasize the mood?
Read the following scene from Trifles.MRS. PETERS. But I’m awful glad you came with me, Mrs. Hale. It would be lonesome of me sitting here alone. MRS. HALE. It would, wouldn’t it? (Dropping her sewing). But I tell you what I do wish, Mrs. Peters. I wish I had come over sometimes she was here. I— (Looking around the room.)—wish I had. MRS. PETERS. But of course you were awful busy, Mrs. Hale—your house and your children. MRS. HALE. I could’ve come. I stayed away because it weren’t cheerful—and that’s why I ought to have come. I—I’ve never liked this place. Maybe because it’s down in a hollow, and you don’t see the road. I dunno what it is, but it’s a lonesome place and always was. I wish I had come over to see Minnie Foster sometimes. I can see now—(Shakes her head.) How would a film version most likely emphasize the women’s emotions during this scene?
How are stage and film versions of a drama similar?
Read the following scene from Trifles.COUNTY ATTORNEY. Yes, but I would like to see what you take, Mrs. Peters, and keep an eye out for anything that might be of use to us. MRS. PETERS. Yes, Mr. Henderson. (The women listen to the men’s steps on the stairs, then look about the kitchen.) MRS. HALE. I’d hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing. (She arranges the pans under sink which the Lawyer had shoved out of place.) MRS. PETERS. Of course it’s no more than their duty. MRS. HALE. Duty’s all right, but I guess that deputy sheriff that came out to make the fire might have got a little of this on. (Gives the roller towel a pull.) Wish I’d thought of that sooner. Seems mean to talk about her for not having things slicked up when she had to come away in such a hurry. A possible advantage of hearing this scene, as opposed to reading it silently, is that
Read the following scene from Trifles.MRS. HALE (resentfully). I don’t know as there’s anything so strange, our takin’ up our time with little things while we’re waiting for them to get the evidence. (She sits down at the big table, smoothing out a block with decision.) I don’t see as it’s anything to laugh about.A possible disadvantage to hearing this scene, as opposed to reading it silently, is that Mrs. Hale may not
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