This Is shown in Act 1 Scene Two when Doug, who hates women, says: ” Women like to pretend they don’t play around but they’re Just more secretive about It. ” Cherry and Ruth are very negative about sex, stating that most women work hard to keep men out of their pants. Julie thinks that love is “being foolish and stupid”. Also the play that Lewis Is directing, Coos Fan tutee is all about love and fidelity. Lewis Is also questioning the love and fidelity of his girlfriend as she Is critical of love and of his work with the mental patients.
Another theme Is Cost Is to do with mental Illness and the fine line between sanity and madness. The characters are not what you expect from a patient In a mental Institution. Roy Is extremely articulate and Doug Is very witty. Although all the patients have problems they are able to learn their lines and act very well. They are more likeable than Lucy and Nick who Inhabit the outside world and have a very negative view on mental patients. Lewis is hesitant to take on the role of director at first because he thinks of all the patients as mad but learns that they are ordinary people with different needs.
It also shows the state of the mental institutions of the time in Australia. This is symbolized by the burnt out theatre at the mental institution. Techniques One of the techniques used in this play to show the themes is the dialogue which gives us an insight into the characters personalities and their feelings. Another technique is the use of comedy. Narrow uses comedy to show each characters amanuenses and uses clashes between the characters to highlight the different themes. The use of a play within a play is another technique. This technique lets the issues and themes of one play to be commented about in the other play.
Rosy unrealistic expectations that a group of mentally ill patients can perform and sing a Mozart opera is absurd and show the many difficulties between his vision and reality. Their journey to make this opera is life changing for Lewis. Lewis begins to see the patients as real people, not Just crazies, which makes the audience take the same Lorene. The setting of this play is also Important. It Is set in 1970 when Australian society were dealing with the Vietnam War, the treatment of the mentally Ill and the sexual revolution. Even though the play Is set In a mental Institution It Is the outside Nor that seems to be going mad.
Coos ay Laramie One of the main themes of Coos is the question of love and fidelity. This is shown in don’t play around but they’re Just more secretive about it. ” Cherry and Ruth are very pants. Julie thinks that love is “being foolish and stupid”. Also the play that Lewis is directing, Coos Fan tutee is all about love and fidelity. Lewis is also questioning the love and fidelity of his girlfriend as she is critical of love and of his work with the mental patients. Another theme is Coos is to do with mental illness and the fine line in a mental institution. Roy is extremely articulate and Doug is very witty.