FREE ESSAY ON SIX DEGREES OF SEPERATION

SIX DEGREES OF SEPERATION

Surprisingly Humorous!!!
The Theatre department at Stony Brook University recently reenacted John Guare's play Six
Degrees of Separation. These talented young actors and actresses did a truly fabulous job
of
presenting each of the individual characters and their personalities. Although there were
a few minor mistakes along the way the play turned out to be quite funny, which was
entirely unexpected and appreciated by the audience.
Given the lack of budget that a state Universities theatre department has the lighting
and prop design done for this play was wonderful. The furniture in the upscale apartment
of Ouisa and Flan was both contemporary and elegant. So to the costume design was
eloquent, simple, and highly representative of the time period. There were over 100
lighting cues in this production, which created a wonderfully enhanced mood. For example
when Ouisa and Flan find out that Paul is gay and later when he is taken to jail before
their arrival the lights dim to show their emotion. Again when Paul is sitting in Central
Park with his two new friends Rick and Elizabeth the foliage cue is displayed on a white
cloth-like wall behind them to represent the outdoors, these instances are just a few of
which, that contributed to a well designed production. 
Certain mistakes are made by the actors during the course of the play that are minor but
meaningful, such as Paul's and Ousia's inability to speak clearly, which is what these
upper-class characters are noted for. The business on the stage needs to be carried out
in an upper-class manor, and when Paul adds ice to his wineglass with the chilled wine
already in it, this represents ignorance.
Within the play the actors/actresses address the audience directly to give them
information about upcoming events or to explain past scenes. This personalizes the play a
great deal and makes the atmosphere in the theatre very warm and friendly. With a play
like Six Degrees this personalization is almost required because of the issues that are
being addressed such as gender, love, and relationships.
A character by the name of Larkin who is played by an up and coming theatre giant, Glen
Beck represents what is the stereotypical White Anglo Saxon Protestant. He argues with
his prissy Barbie doll of a wife every chance he gets and is disinterested in all of the
things his children might be doing wrong. His dialogues over the course of the play
represent a subtle comedy that can only be expressed by laughter.
The music in this production played a rather large role in the delivery of emotion to the
audience. When Paul gives his speech dealing with imagination is the place we are all
trying to get to the music in the background is conducive to the theme of triumph. Again
when the kids in the play make an entrance, late 80's rock is played to annunciate the
attitudes of these anti-disestablished youth's. All in all the music production that
followed the scenes in the play were on time and properly conveyed the moods of the
characters.
John Guare's, Six Degrees of Separation touches on many points that need to be addressed
in today's society, such as deceit, gender and racial issues, parental love, and most of
all human interaction. It takes a strong willed person like Ouisa to see past the mask of
deceit and get to the root, Paul's need for love and acceptance. He wasn't trying to hurt
anyone or make them do anything that they weren't willing to offer instead he was merely
trying to fit in with a group in society. The theatre department at Stony Brook
University did a truly fabulous job of producing, directing, designing, and of course
acting this play to it's peak of potential. *****