Warm-Up Bringing The 1930s To Life In Brighton Beach Memoirs

Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsWarm-Up?LessonQuestionLesson GoalsRead a scene from Brighton Beach Memoirs.Explain howcharacters’Identify theelements ofanda.ashow how theythink and feel.W2KAnalyze how adrama can help youunderstandtime period.Words to KnowFill in this table as you work through the lesson. You may also use the glossary tohelp you.to cause someone or something to be widely known andestablishperspectivea way of thinking about anddialoguelines ofstagedirections Edgenuity, Inc.somethingin a playin the text of a play that tell how someoneshould move or act or how something should look1

InstructionPart 1Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsSlide2Neil Simon (b. 1927) Was born on July 4, 1927, in New York Worked as a television Won numerous awards for his playsproductions running Is the only playwright to have had fourat the same time Based the trilogy Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), Biloxi Blues (1985), andBroadway Bound (1986) on his own lifeUnderstanding DramaA drama is a type ofof an audience.performed byBothNovelMeant tobe readCharactersSettingOrganized byPlotTheme Edgenuity, Inc.DramaMeant to beread or2Organizedby acts andscenesin front

InstructionPart 1Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsSlide4DialogueDialogue is lines ofconversation in a play. Each line of dialogue islabeled with the name of thewho says the line.ELLA How are you feeling abouttomorrow’s game?“How are you feeling about tomorrow’sgame?” asked Ella.SARA I’m a little nervous, actually. Mythree-point shot needs some work.“I’m a little nervous, actually,” Sarareplied. “My three-point shot needssome work.”ELLA Oh, you’ll be great – I justknow it!“Oh, you’ll be great,” said Ella. “I justknow it!Stage Directions Edgenuity, Inc.Stage directions describe how characters in a play shouldor react orhow something should look. Stage directions are written inin parentheses.and appear3

InstructionPart 1Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsSlide4Stage DirectionsJAKE (looks at his watch) What time is Jake looked at his watch. “What time isthe train supposed to be here?the train supposed to be here?”6JESSE (pulls out train schedule andreads it) It should have been here10 minutes ago.Jesse pulled out a train schedule andbegan reading it. “It should have beenhere 10 minutes ago,” he replied.JAKE (looks toward track, frowning)Ugh. We’re going to be late!“Ugh,” said Jake, frowning as helooked toward the track. “We’re goingto be late!”Character’s PerspectiveA character’ssomething.tells how the character thinks or feels about(words)(actions)Character’s perspective Edgenuity, Inc.4

InstructionPart 1Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsSlide8Talking Directly to the AudienceAto thein a play can reveal his or her perspective by talking directly.Underline the stage direction that tells Eugene who to talk to.EUGENE (Turns to the audience again)She gets all this special treatment because the doctors say she has kind of a flutter in herheart . . . I got hit with a baseball right in the back of the skull, I saw two of everything fora week and I still had to carry a block of ice home every afternoon . . . Girls are treated likequeens. Maybe that’s what I should have been born – an Italian girl.–Brighton Beach Memoirs,Neil Simon Edgenuity, Inc.5

InstructionPart 2Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsSlide2Reflecting History in Brighton Beach MemoirsBrighton Beach Memoirs takes place in.Events in the play reflect: the. World War II. a fascination with baseball and the New York Yankees.4Bringing History to LifeWhen actors perform a play, they use tools to helptime period. Costumes Sets Edgenuity, Inc.6a historical

InstructionPart 2Bringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsSlide6Connecting Humor to Historical ContextIn Brighton Beach Memoirs, thein which it is set.of the play reflects the time periodUnderline the part of text in the passage that reflects the time period in whichthe play is set.EUGENE (Turns to the audience again)She gets all this special treatment because the doctors say she has kind of a flutter in herheart . . . I got hit with a baseball right in the back of the skull, I saw two of everything for aweek and I still had to carry a block of ice home every afternoon.–Brighton Beach Memoirs,Neil Simon Edgenuity, Inc.7

Summary?LessonQuestionBringing the 1930s to Life in BrightonBeach MemoirsHow do elements of drama help you understand a character’sperspective?AnswerUse this space to write any questions or thoughts about this lesson. Edgenuity, Inc.8

Beach Memoirs Neil Simon (b. 1927) Was born on July 4, 1927, in New York Worked as a television Won numerous awards for his plays Is the only playwright to have had four productions running at the same time Based the trilogy Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), Biloxi Blues (1985), and Broadway Bound (1986) on his own life