Shoe Horn Sonata Speech

Good morning, Year12 of Wyndham College. My name is Bazil and I am here to briefly discuss the play "The Shoe-Horn Sonata" by John Misto in relation to the use of dramatic techniques used.

The Shoe-horn Sonata is concerned with the incarceration of two women held captive in a Japanese prisoner of war (POW) camp. Misto uses the play to demonstrate the devastation of war and the human spirit and will to survive, both prevalent themes throughout the play. Such themes are exemplified to the audience through the use of dramatic techniques such as music, projected photographs, voice-over, sound effects, symbolism and humour.

Music has a strong presence within the play, providing variety and emotional subtext to many of the play's scenes. It places the scenes within historical contexts and on some occasions suggests the irony of the situations in which the two women face. Examples include the use of the songs 'Rule Britannia' and 'Jerusalem', both of which depict the greatness and supremacy of England. However they are ironically used in reference with the fall of the British Empire and the capturing of the citizens whom England was to be protecting, hence refuting their pompous and arrogant attitudes. The song 'Happy Times' is also used ironically by being juxtaposed with the sound of machine gun fire and 'the cries of women'. These sounds are confronting and express the theme of the atrocities and brutality of war to the audience.

Contrastingly, the song 'Bolero' in scene five symbolises the high spirits, determination and triumph of the women. This is emphasised by the quote "We forgot the Japs-we forgot our hunger-our boils-everything...Together we made this glorious sound that rose above the camp-above the jungle-above the war-rose and rose and took us with it. Fifty voices set us free." This use of music conveys the meaning of the themes of heroism, comradeship, the will to overcome oppression and survival.

The use of voice-over and sound effects are particularly important in establishing the mood and the meaning of the play. There exists a range of sounds that establish the reality of the past such as the singing of the crickets and the lapping of the waves. Amplified sounds further highlight the themes of memories and reconstructions of past realities.

By superimposing the voices of Bridie and Sheila when they were in the camp over the contemporary action and dialogue, the past and the present are blended together. The long-term consequences of the war are also felt much more deeply. This reaches a crescendo when the sound effects of the jungle crickets are broadcast during Sheila's account of how she was abused in the soldier's barracks. This insect noise comes to represent the deepening inner turmoil and emotional horror as she submits to her sexual ordeal, and also represents her heroic sacrifice for Bridie.

The voice-over of Lipstick Larry's scream from the stab of the rusty pin conveys the theme of determination which the women encompassed to 'get back' at their oppressors. However, this incidence is followed by savage yells and ugly thumps of young Bridie being beaten. These sounds are quite confrontational to us, as the audience, as they represent the perpetration of violence upon individuals. This effect conveys the themes of hardship, suffering and the atrocities of war inflicted upon individuals. They also reinforce the powerlessness and vulnerability of the characters.

Projected photographs are also used throughout the play in order to aid in setting the time, place and atmosphere, and evoking certain emotions from the audience. For example, scene nine opens with a large image of women prisoners bowing to the Japanese. This dominates the scene and conveys the theme of power within the play. This concept is further emphasised through the photographs