Shipwrecked! - Actors Theatre of Louisville
Shipwrecked! - Actors Theatre of Louisville Shipwrecked! - Actors Theatre of Louisville
Play GUIDE! FEBRUARY 3 - 28
- Page 2 and 3: About Shipwrecked! An Entertainment
- Page 4 and 5: The Real Louis de Rougemont In 1898
- Page 6 and 7: The Victorian Era Victorian England
- Page 8 and 9: Do You Have What it Takes... to Sur
- Page 10 and 11: Bridgework Building Connections Bet
- Page 12 and 13: Pre/Post Show Questions Pre-Show 1.
- Page 14 and 15: Work Cited/Allusions Allusions a li
- Page 16: Check it Out! Did you know Actors T
Play GUIDE!<br />
FEBRUARY 3 - 28
About <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! An Entertainment<br />
Play Guide<br />
This play guide is a standards-based resource designed to enhance your<br />
theatre experience. Its goal is tw<strong>of</strong>old: to nurture the teaching and learning <strong>of</strong><br />
theatre arts and to encourage essential questions that lead to enduring<br />
understandings <strong>of</strong> the play’s meaning and relevance. Inside you will find:<br />
• Historical/contextual information.<br />
• Vocabulary and worksheets that lay the groundwork <strong>of</strong> the story<br />
and build anticipation for the performance.<br />
• Oral discussion and writing prompts that encourage your<br />
students to reflect upon their impressions and to analyze and relate<br />
key ideas to their personal experiences and world around them.<br />
These can easily be adapted to fit most writing objectives.<br />
• Bridgework, which connects theatre elements with ideas for drama<br />
activities in the classroom.<br />
• Integrated curriculum for your lessons.<br />
We encourage you to adapt and extend the material in any way to best fit the<br />
needs <strong>of</strong> your community <strong>of</strong> learners. Please feel free to make copies <strong>of</strong> this<br />
guide, or you may download it from our website: www.actorstheatre.org.<br />
We hope this material, combined with our pre-show workshops, will give you<br />
the tools to make your time at <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> a valuable learning experience.<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> Education<br />
Steven Rahe, Education Director<br />
Jacob Stoebel, Education Coordinator<br />
Lee Look, New Voices Coordinator<br />
Julie Mercurio, Education Intern<br />
Jeffrey Mosser, Education Intern<br />
Stowe Nelson, Education Intern<br />
Study Guide compiled by<br />
Rachel Lerner-Ley, Julie Mercurio, Jeffrey<br />
Mosser, Stowe Nelson, Steven Rahe and<br />
Jacob Stoebel.<br />
The Hearst<br />
Foundation, Inc.<br />
Table <strong>of</strong> Contents<br />
Page 3: Synopsis/Character List<br />
Page 4: The Real Rougemont (and Margulies)<br />
Page 5: Call <strong>of</strong> the Sea<br />
Page 6: Victorian Era<br />
Page 7: <strong>Theatre</strong> in Louis' Day<br />
Page 8: Map/Quiz: "Do You Have What it Takes to Survive a Shipwreck?"<br />
Page 9 & 10: Bridgework/Cross-Circular Activities<br />
Page 11: Other Reading/Glossary<br />
Page 12: Themes & Discussion<br />
Page 13: Writing for Portfolio<br />
Page 14: Allusions/Work Cited<br />
Page 15: Upcoming Events<br />
Kentucky Core Content:<br />
<strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! An Entertainment matinee and study guide address specific<br />
• AH-1.3.1: Students will analyze or evaluate the use <strong>of</strong> technical<br />
elements, literary elements and performance elements in a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
dramatic works.<br />
• AH-2.3.1: Students will analyze or evaluate how factors such as time,<br />
place and ideas are reflected in drama.<br />
• AH-3.3.1: Students will explain how drama/theatre fulfills a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
purposes.<br />
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our play guides, please<br />
feel free to contact Jacob Stoebel at (502) 584-1265.
Synopsis/Character List<br />
An old man hobbles onstage and declares, “I’m about to tell you a story. A fantastic and amazing story!<br />
A story all the more remarkable because every word <strong>of</strong> it is true.” So begins <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! An<br />
Entertainment. From there, we are drawn into Louis’ world. We see him as a sheltered young boy, engrossed in<br />
Robinson Crusoe and Arabian Nights. That young boy grows into a restless young man who takes his first step<br />
towards independence. He leaves his home at the age <strong>of</strong> sixteen, bound for Australia on a pearling expedition.<br />
The journey is arduous but the outlook is bright. Until a great storm arises and the ship is capsized. All the men, save<br />
Louis, are drowned. Days later, Louis (along with the ship’s dog Bruno) washes up on dry land. He is safe but alone.<br />
From there, his story grows more fantastic. He does gymnastics on the beach to pass the time. He rides on the backs <strong>of</strong><br />
sea turtles. He meets and marries an Aboriginal woman, visits her tribe and is made their king. He longs for home and<br />
eventually is rescued. Thirty years after leaving London, he returns home.<br />
Upon his return, Louis sells his amazing story to Wide World Magazine and becomes an overnight celebrity. His hero<br />
status is threatened when people begin to question his claims. Are Louis’ adventures real or just a figment <strong>of</strong> his<br />
imagination? Did he really do all those amazing things? Will Louis be vindicated or will his reputation be<br />
sullied forever?<br />
Cast <strong>of</strong> Characters<br />
Despite the many characters found in <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!, the play can be performed with as few as three actors. Our<br />
production uses three actors (who portray Louis, Player # 1 and Player #2), four Puppeteers, and three Foley Artists<br />
(who create live sound effects).<br />
Louis de Rougemont the main storyteller we follow from boyhood through old age, as he reenacts a life filled<br />
with amazing adventures.<br />
Player #1 portrays or gives voice to Louis’ Mother, Capt. Jensen, Yamba (an Aborigine princess, later his wife),<br />
Fitzgerald (a magazine editor), a Society Lady, Albert’s Mother, Queen Victoria (a queen), an Octopus Expert, a<br />
Map Maker, a Reporter, a Librarian.<br />
Player #2 portrays or gives voice to a Barkeep, Bruno (a dog), Gunda (Yamba’s father, a tribal chief), Bobo<br />
(Yamba’s brother), an Australian Prospector, a Society Lady, Albert (a boy), a Turtle Expert, a Wombat Expert, Dr.<br />
Leopold (an alienist), a Pickpocket, a Newsboy, a Reporter, a Lawyer.<br />
Various Pedestrians, Shipmates, Pearl-Fishers, Children, Peddlers, Prospectors, Tribesmen, and Women, Club<br />
Members and Hecklers.<br />
3
The Real Louis de Rougemont<br />
In 1898, Louis de Rougemont<br />
burst into the British news with<br />
an amazing story <strong>of</strong> 30 years<br />
<strong>of</strong> adventure in the Australian<br />
Outback. However, de<br />
Rougemont’s tales proved<br />
too incredible for some,<br />
and newspapers began to<br />
investigate his background.<br />
What they discovered<br />
shocked the public: Louis de<br />
Rougemont was not the man<br />
he claimed to be!<br />
Louis de Rougemont was<br />
really Henri Louis Grien, a poor Swiss immigrant to Australia.<br />
Originally the butler to the Lieutenant-Governor <strong>of</strong> Western<br />
Australia (at whose dinner parties Grien overheard detailed<br />
accounts <strong>of</strong> Outback expeditions), Henri Louis settled down<br />
in Sydney. There, he started a family and attempted various<br />
money-making schemes such as marketing a faulty deep-diving<br />
suit. He also continued to collect adventure stories.<br />
The Real Donald Margulies<br />
Born in 1954, Donald Margulies is a playwright from Brooklyn. His love <strong>of</strong> theatre was<br />
fostered early on by his father who, despite <strong>of</strong> his low income, found a way to take his<br />
children to see plays and musicals on Broadway.<br />
Margulies initially studied visual arts at the Pratt Institute but transferred to the State University<br />
<strong>of</strong> New York to pursue playwriting. By 1992 his career began to soar as he won an OBIE<br />
Award for Best New American Play for Sight Unseen. His other works include The Loman<br />
Family Picnic; Pitching to the Star; Zimmer; Luma Park; What's Wrong With This Picture?;<br />
The Model Apartment; Broken Sleep; and Dinner With Friends, which premiered at <strong>Actors</strong><br />
<strong>Theatre</strong> and won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize. Margulies learned early in his writing career that<br />
writing isn't confined to the typical nine-to-five work week. It can happen any time and in any<br />
place. Sometimes that creative spark might not strike for days. He says, "It's part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
mysteriousness <strong>of</strong> writing and I find that I can't force it"<br />
Margulies on <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!<br />
After one too many failed enterprises, Grien quit Australia<br />
for London and spent his days at the British Museum reading<br />
books on the Australian Outback and the South Pacific. Months<br />
later, he appeared at The Wide World Magazine with a<br />
new name—Louis de Rougemont—and the amazing tales that<br />
would rocket him to stardom.<br />
“Truth is stranger than fiction,<br />
But de Rougemont is stranger than both”<br />
--The Wide World Magazine<br />
Grien’s fame was his downfall—his abandoned family and<br />
duped customers recognized his picture in the newspaper and<br />
came forward with accounts <strong>of</strong> the real Louis. Though publicly<br />
discredited, Grien continued to appear in theatres as Louis de<br />
Rougemont, <strong>of</strong>fering demonstrations <strong>of</strong> his turtle-riding skills as<br />
pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> his authenticity. Interest in de Rougemont soon waned,<br />
and Grien disappeared from the public eye. In 1921, he died<br />
a beggar, going by yet another name: Louis Redmond.<br />
He currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut, where he teaches playwriting at the Yale School <strong>of</strong> Drama.<br />
"The magic <strong>of</strong> theatre is its power to astonish, but astonishment can occur only if the audience is willing to suspend its disbelief. My<br />
aim with <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!… was to capture the attention <strong>of</strong> the hidden child in everyone in my audience. I wanted to write a play that<br />
would make no attempt to replicate onstage what television and movies do, but would instead celebrate the uniqueness <strong>of</strong> theatre.<br />
My impulse was to… tell stories that reflect our world or create new ones that can enlighten, amuse, transport, make you forget, or<br />
force you to remember."<br />
4
Call <strong>of</strong> the Sea<br />
The mysteries <strong>of</strong> the ocean have captured our imaginations for centuries. Stories <strong>of</strong> tragic shipwrecks, mysterious creatures, looting<br />
pirates, and marooned sailors and even royalty have been told as far back as Homer’s The Odyssey. No matter the century, we<br />
can’t seem to resist fantastic tales <strong>of</strong> adventures on the high seas.<br />
The Odyssey by Homer (circa. 800 BC)<br />
Homer’s epic poem tells the story <strong>of</strong> Odysseus, a Greek hero who struggles against the sea, the fates and even the Gods as he<br />
spends 20 years trying to make his way home after the Trojan War.<br />
Twelfth Night & The Tempest by William Shakespeare (1601, 1610)<br />
Even Shakespeare was fascinated by shipwrecks. In Twelfth Night, a shipwreck leads to confusion, mistaken identities and romance.<br />
The Tempest strikes a more fantastic tone, with a group <strong>of</strong> castaways subjected to the will <strong>of</strong> the sorcerer Prospero.<br />
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719)<br />
Crusoe is <strong>of</strong>ten thought <strong>of</strong> as the definitive tale <strong>of</strong> shipwreck. This story has everything, from wild escapes to struggling for survival<br />
to ravenous cannibals.<br />
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss (1812)<br />
Wyss tells the story <strong>of</strong> a whole family who shipwrecks in the East Indies as they are nearing Australia. The story was later adapted<br />
into one <strong>of</strong> the most famous TV shows <strong>of</strong> the 1960s—Lost in Space.<br />
Gilligan’s Island (1964)<br />
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale.” This go<strong>of</strong>y sixties television sitcom chronicles seven stranded castaways <strong>of</strong> the SS<br />
Minnow, who for three seasons attempt rescue from an uncharted isle.<br />
Titanic (Movie 1997)<br />
A timeless tearjerker, and record-setter for most Academy Awards, Titanic sets an ill-fated romance between rich girl and street-smart<br />
boy on board the disastrous iceberg-colliding journey across the Atlantic.<br />
EXTRA!!<br />
EXTRA!!<br />
In the Victorian Age, true shipwreck stories were<br />
serialized in magazines like The Wide World<br />
Magazine, adding to the mystery, suspense and<br />
drama <strong>of</strong> life at sea.<br />
Alexander Selkirk was marooned on Isla Juan Fernandez (a small island in the Pacific Ocean <strong>of</strong>f the coast <strong>of</strong> Chile) from 1704<br />
until 1709. When Selkirk’s ship docked at Juan Fernandez, he and the crew found two castaways already living happily and<br />
healthily on the island. Selkirk was no fan <strong>of</strong> his ship’s captain and, seeing that the castaways survived well on the island, Selkirk<br />
stayed, expecting the island would soon be visited by another ship. He was wrong. For almost five years, Selkirk lived a simple<br />
life—eating goat flesh, living in a hut made <strong>of</strong> driftwood and awaiting rescue.<br />
Henry Pitman, seafaring surgeon, was sold into slavery as a traitor to the English crown. He escaped with seven other men<br />
and set sail for the Dutch island <strong>of</strong> Curacao only to end up stranded on an island called Salt Tortuga. Upon arrival, the group<br />
encountered a band <strong>of</strong> pirates who burned Pitman’s ship, leaving him stranded on the island. Like real-life Robinson Crusoes they<br />
dried turtle meat for the upcoming winter and mended their clothes with fishbone needles. The island was eventually visited by a<br />
second group <strong>of</strong> pirates. During an attempted mutiny, Pitman and his men joined forces with the pirate captain and successfully<br />
subdued the insurrection. As thanks for helping to regain control <strong>of</strong> the ship, the captain granted Pitman and his men passage to<br />
New England on his ship.<br />
5
The Victorian Era<br />
Victorian England was more than just a time and place – the events <strong>of</strong> this<br />
era revolutionized manufacturing, culture and international politics, paving<br />
the way for the world we know today. The decades between 1837 and<br />
1901, the years <strong>of</strong> Queen Victoria’s reign, held significant changes for<br />
England. Such changes included steam technology for ships and railroads,<br />
philosophical and scientific advancement including Darwin and an everincreasing<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> the world.<br />
The largest change was the development <strong>of</strong> the Industrial Revolution,<br />
marked by the spread <strong>of</strong> factories. Factories lowered product costs by<br />
putting all production in one location. By the middle <strong>of</strong> the 1800s a<br />
majority <strong>of</strong> industries had adopted the factory model, and England was<br />
considered the “Workshop <strong>of</strong> the World”.<br />
The population <strong>of</strong> Victorian England also shifted from an agricultural to<br />
an industrial world. From 1801 to 1901 the population dwelling in urban<br />
areas increased from 20% to 75%. Due to this increase <strong>of</strong> urban sprawl<br />
the life <strong>of</strong> the soon-to-be modern farmer was getting much more difficult.<br />
With such rapid expansion it isn’t difficult to imagine Louis de Rougemont<br />
traveling to foreign lands, meeting exotic people and returning to a vastly<br />
different London 30 years later.<br />
Queen Victoria late in her reign<br />
The hand <strong>of</strong> England extended beyond the solitary island to exotic lands<br />
such as Canada, South Africa, India and Australia. In Victorian England it<br />
was common to know someone who may have traveled hundreds <strong>of</strong> miles<br />
on newly charted seas. Through such voyages the name <strong>of</strong> Queen Victoria<br />
has been bequeathed to various conquests and discoveries. In Canada her<br />
name was given to an entire island and harbor; mountain ranges in Burma;<br />
rivers in Australia and Africa and many others.<br />
The colonization <strong>of</strong> Australia had two<br />
purposes. Among the first to settle<br />
Australia were convicts from London’s<br />
over-populated prisons. The labor <strong>of</strong><br />
prisoners contributed to Australia’s gold<br />
and silver deposits. A great majority <strong>of</strong><br />
released prisoners remained in Australia<br />
to further explore and conquer the rest <strong>of</strong><br />
this untamed land in the name <strong>of</strong> Queen<br />
Victoria.<br />
Much <strong>of</strong> what we know today has sprung<br />
from the Victorian Era. For better or<br />
worse the influence <strong>of</strong> England is still felt<br />
throughout the world. From technology<br />
to politics to economics the Victorian Era<br />
comprises a remarkable portion <strong>of</strong> our<br />
own history.<br />
Aborigines, Australian natives, prior to England's colonization<br />
6
<strong>Theatre</strong> in Louis' Day<br />
At the turn <strong>of</strong> the twentieth century, the British theatre scene was divided into two distinct halves: “<strong>Theatre</strong>” and "Music<br />
Hall". <strong>Theatre</strong> was attended by the upper classes and featured dramas and classics produced in large ornately<br />
decorated theaters. Music Hall was produced in smaller auditoriums on simple raised platforms. The audience<br />
consisted <strong>of</strong> the lower classes, and the plays were comedies or vaudeville acts: songs, skits, displays <strong>of</strong> various talents<br />
such as acrobatics, and even travel stories. It is in music halls that Louis and his touring company would have staged<br />
his incredible tales.<br />
Here’s a look at some <strong>of</strong> the early-twentieth century stage techniques that Louis and<br />
Co. would have used when putting on their entertainment:<br />
A poster for Le Chat Noir<br />
Testing…testing…1,2,3…hello?<br />
There were no microphones in Louis’ day. Nor were there speakers or<br />
endless databases <strong>of</strong> computerized sounds to insert into a show. Instead,<br />
theatre-makers had to create sound effects on the spot, using various<br />
contraptions and found materials. For instance, to make thunder, sound<br />
techs hit a large metal sheet known as a thunder sheet with a mallet, or<br />
rolled cannonballs down a large chute known as a thunder run. There<br />
were also rain boxes and wind machines. By the time Louis was hitting<br />
the stage, he would have also been using a “high-tech” alternative: the<br />
gramophone. Now, pre-recorded sounds could be played on stage—you<br />
could have the neigh <strong>of</strong> a real horse rather than a human imitation coming<br />
from the wings.<br />
Black Cats and Shadows<br />
Shadow puppet shows were performed both on the streets and in<br />
cabarets. Screens were hoisted onto the stage or positioned in front <strong>of</strong><br />
the portable booths <strong>of</strong> street performers. Candles, oil lamp, or limelight<br />
would backlight the screens, and puppets made <strong>of</strong> tin and card performed<br />
between the light and the screen. Street shadow shows were called<br />
Galanty Shows. During the day, street puppeteers put on popular Punch &<br />
Judy shows—comedies performed by a single puppeteer that featured the<br />
adventures <strong>of</strong> the mischievous, hook-nosed Punch and the arguments he<br />
had with his wife, Judy. At night, the puppeteers transformed the booths<br />
and performed the Galanty Shows. Stage shadow shows were inspired by<br />
productions from the infamous Bohemian French cabaret Le Chat Noir.<br />
A gramophone<br />
And then there was…electricity!<br />
In the end <strong>of</strong> the nineteenth century, gas lamps and a gaseous mixture<br />
known as limelight were used to light the actors and scenery up “on the<br />
boards.” These highly flammable gasses, combined with the wooden<br />
architecture <strong>of</strong> the theatres, led to many disastrous fires. Luckily for Louis<br />
and his audiences, the turn <strong>of</strong> the century marked the widespread use<br />
<strong>of</strong> electric lights in the theatre (the first electric lights appeared in British<br />
theatres in the 1880s).<br />
Punch and Judy Show<br />
7
Do You Have What it Takes...<br />
to Survive a Shipwreck?<br />
So you’re about to venture out into the world! Take this quiz to find out if you will live to tell the<br />
tale <strong>of</strong> your very own shipwreck!<br />
Louis' Travels<br />
1) 1852: Louis is born in Paris,<br />
France<br />
2) 1869: Louis sets sail for the<br />
Great Barrier reef from London,<br />
England<br />
3) 1871: After being shipwrecked alone on<br />
an island for two years, Louis meets<br />
Aborigines<br />
4) 1898: Louis arrives in Australia after<br />
being shipwrecked for over 29 years<br />
5) 1898: Louis is back in<br />
London telling his adventure<br />
When you embark on your adventure...<br />
Where are you going?<br />
a) The Great Barrier Reef<br />
b) Antarctica<br />
c) Ohio River<br />
What are you looking for?<br />
a) Pearls<br />
b) Uncharted land<br />
c) Pirates<br />
In what will you travel?<br />
a) The Wonder World ship<br />
b) Sailboat<br />
c) Kayak<br />
If you answered…<br />
Mostly a<br />
Are you Louis de Rougemont?? Like Louis,<br />
you seem to have an excellent sense <strong>of</strong><br />
curiosity and adventure that will surely<br />
take you far. But will he survive the<br />
shipwreck? You’ll have to find out!<br />
What are you packing?<br />
a) The Plays <strong>of</strong> William Shakespeare<br />
b) Maps<br />
c) iPod<br />
Who are you bringing?<br />
a) Your dog<br />
b) Your science teacher<br />
c) Your BFF<br />
How long have you ever gone without<br />
food or water?<br />
a) 10 hours<br />
b) 10 days<br />
c) What time is lunch?<br />
Mostly b<br />
Wow, your skills have no match! You<br />
certainly have what it takes to survive a<br />
shipwreck. Your clever thinking and<br />
intuition are just what a person needs<br />
when marooned. Congratulations!<br />
You’re an expert in…<br />
a) Sea turtles<br />
b) Making fire<br />
c) Yoga<br />
Mostly c<br />
Hmm…you may not have exactly what it<br />
takes, but you sure will have a good time!<br />
8
Bridgework<br />
Building Connections Between Stage and Classroom<br />
The following exercises combine creative drama, theatre concepts, and core content to connect the theatre experience with<br />
drama activities in your classroom. By exploring drama as a mode <strong>of</strong> learning, students strengthen skills for creative problem<br />
solving, imagination, and critical thinking. Core Content Connection – The activities are designed using the Elements <strong>of</strong> Drama:<br />
Literary, Technical, and Performance (Core Content 4.1).<br />
At Your Desk<br />
Wide World Article<br />
The Wide World magazine was<br />
published from the late 1800s until the<br />
1960s in Britain, and told stories <strong>of</strong><br />
travel, adventure and intrigue. Louis’<br />
tale <strong>of</strong> shipwreck was one <strong>of</strong> many that<br />
made the magazine famous. Cover<br />
titles for the magazine included “How<br />
I was Buried Alive” and “Aquanauts <strong>of</strong><br />
Inner Space.” Write a one-page article<br />
for The Wide World magazine that<br />
involves adventure and excitement. The<br />
magazine’s motto is “Truth is Stranger<br />
than Fiction,” but like Louis, your “true”<br />
story may be more interesting if some<br />
fiction is mixed in. Illustrate your article<br />
and “publish” it by distributing the story<br />
or compilation <strong>of</strong> class stories to other<br />
classes/teachers.<br />
Direct <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!<br />
As the director, you can set the play<br />
in any time, any place. In what era<br />
other than the late 1800s would you<br />
like to set the play <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!?<br />
Assume the role <strong>of</strong> director and use the<br />
elements <strong>of</strong> technical theatre (lights,<br />
sound, set, props, costumes and<br />
makeup) to enhance your new setting.<br />
How would each <strong>of</strong> your ideas in these<br />
elements support your choice <strong>of</strong> new<br />
time period? Think about how the story<br />
might change—slightly or drastically—<br />
based on your new setting. How<br />
are the important themes <strong>of</strong> the play<br />
conveyed through the new setting?<br />
Write a director’s note to your audience<br />
explaining why you made each choice<br />
in the areas <strong>of</strong> technical theatre, and<br />
how they relate to the new setting.<br />
Teachers may choose to have students<br />
focus in on one technical element.<br />
Be a Playwright<br />
Donald Margulies wrote every scene in<br />
<strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! from the prospective <strong>of</strong><br />
Louis de Rougemont, the main character,<br />
so we only learn Louis’ thoughts and<br />
descriptions <strong>of</strong> the world <strong>of</strong> the play.<br />
Assume the role <strong>of</strong> playwright and rewrite<br />
one scene from the play from<br />
another character’s point <strong>of</strong> view. How<br />
would an English reporter narrate a<br />
scene about Louis’ return home? What<br />
about Yamba’s point <strong>of</strong> view when she<br />
first meets Louis and cannot speak his<br />
language? How does Bruno the dog<br />
experience the shipwreck? Think about<br />
the history and personality <strong>of</strong> these<br />
characters as you tell the story through<br />
their eyes. Include at least ten lines <strong>of</strong><br />
dialogue in your scene.<br />
Shipwreck Yourself<br />
Louis did not have the power to control<br />
the circumstances <strong>of</strong> his shipwreck. For<br />
example, he did not get to choose when<br />
or where he would be cast away for<br />
30 years. Pretend that you are going<br />
to be shipwrecked, and make a list <strong>of</strong><br />
what you think are the most important<br />
conditions. To get started: What year<br />
would you be shipwrecked—and how<br />
would that affect your experience?<br />
Where in the world (or out <strong>of</strong> this<br />
world) would you be shipwrecked?<br />
What three items would you bring?<br />
Who would you want with you? What<br />
other circumstances would you choose<br />
to control?<br />
On Your Feet<br />
Be a Foley Artist<br />
What does a shipwreck sound like?<br />
Pick a scene from the play (or write your<br />
own scene with dialogue) and create<br />
noises and sound effects that will make<br />
up your “soundtrack.” Make the noises<br />
using your body (snap, clap, etc.) and<br />
items found only in your classroom. As<br />
a Foley artist, you decide how to best<br />
re-create a sound (like a windstorm and<br />
crashing boat) using your imagination<br />
and your found materials, just like<br />
the designers <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! d o .<br />
Rehearse your scene and then perform<br />
for your class while they close their<br />
eyes and imagine they are listening to<br />
the radio.<br />
Shadow Play<br />
Much <strong>of</strong> the story <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! is<br />
told with shadows. Images such as a<br />
giant octopus or Louis’ sinking ship are<br />
created onstage by light and shadow—<br />
making those images very simple, yet<br />
very imaginative. Try making different<br />
shadow puppets or images on the wall<br />
by putting your hands or body in front <strong>of</strong><br />
a light source. Can you make different<br />
animals? What about other objects<br />
and figures? Create a story using these<br />
shadows and rehearse a scene by<br />
yourself or with a partner. Think about<br />
the many variations: shadows <strong>of</strong> body<br />
parts only or classroom objects only,<br />
a silent play, a play with only sound<br />
effects, etc. Once you are ready, turn<br />
all the other lights out and share your<br />
shadow play with the class!<br />
“Yes, and…” Adventure Story<br />
With your class or a group <strong>of</strong> students,<br />
sit in a circle so that everyone can see<br />
each other. You will tell a group story<br />
<strong>of</strong> adventure, where each person in<br />
the circle only tells one line at a time.<br />
The first person in the circle begings<br />
with the line “Once upon a time…”<br />
and starts the story. For example,<br />
“Once upon a time there was a orange<br />
dragon.” After the first line, the person<br />
next to them continues the story starting<br />
with the sentence “Yes, and…” For<br />
example, “Yes, and that dragon loved<br />
ice cream cones.” The story continues<br />
around the circle once (or twice if there<br />
is a small group) and everyone starts<br />
their sentence <strong>of</strong> the story with “Yes,<br />
and…” You must always build upon<br />
the sentence <strong>of</strong> the story that came<br />
before yours so the story makes sense.<br />
Challenge yourself and your classmates<br />
to be adventurous and work together to<br />
tell the greatest story ever told!<br />
Tableaux Show<br />
In groups <strong>of</strong> 4-8, recreate the story <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! (or create your own if<br />
you haven’t seen the play yet) through<br />
tableaux (still images). Brainstorm the<br />
five most important scenes <strong>of</strong> the play<br />
or story, and create a tableau with your<br />
body to depict each one. There should<br />
be no sound except the voice <strong>of</strong> the<br />
narrator, who describes the tableaux<br />
as they are frozen. Rehearse moving<br />
from one tableau to the next in order,<br />
always working together, using your<br />
bodies to create a freeze frame <strong>of</strong> each<br />
scene. When your group is ready,<br />
present to the class your performance<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! through these frozen<br />
pictures.<br />
9
Bridgework<br />
Building Connections Between Stage and Classroom<br />
Cross Connections<br />
Abacus<br />
Robinson Crusoe<br />
Language Arts/Literature<br />
The plot <strong>of</strong> a play is the series <strong>of</strong><br />
incidents, or the order <strong>of</strong> events that<br />
occur. A plot starts with exposition<br />
(background information), then<br />
continues with rising action<br />
(excitement and tension) leading<br />
up to the climax (turning point),<br />
and finishes with the falling action<br />
(resolution <strong>of</strong> the problem). Explore<br />
different plots by writing stories<br />
using the guide below, filling in<br />
each <strong>of</strong> the seven lines. Include<br />
a setting and characters in every<br />
story.<br />
1) Once upon a time…<br />
2) And every day…<br />
3) Until one day…<br />
4) Because <strong>of</strong> that…<br />
5) Because <strong>of</strong> that…<br />
6) Until finally…<br />
7) And ever since then…<br />
Fraiser Island Shipwreck <strong>of</strong>f the coast <strong>of</strong> Australia<br />
10<br />
Compass with globe<br />
Geography<br />
Using a world map, brainstorm other<br />
possible routes Louis could have<br />
traveled from Britain to Australia.<br />
Try researching canals or passages<br />
have changed from 1869 to 2009,<br />
or technology that would have made<br />
the journey easier or more difficult<br />
for him. What are some other ways<br />
to travel long distances?<br />
Tools for Navigation<br />
Science<br />
Louis was shipwrecked because<br />
large waves tossed his boat<br />
back and forth while he was at<br />
sea. What kind <strong>of</strong> weather event<br />
could have caused this? Research<br />
different kinds <strong>of</strong> weather disasters,<br />
especially around Australia and<br />
choose one that could have affected<br />
Louis’ journey. How is it created?<br />
Where does it usually occur? What<br />
are some famous disasters <strong>of</strong> this<br />
kind?<br />
Math<br />
If Louis were to travel to Australia<br />
today, how long would it take?<br />
Research the distance <strong>of</strong> several<br />
routes and the speed <strong>of</strong> different<br />
modes <strong>of</strong> transportation (car, cruise<br />
ship, airplane, etc.) to use in your<br />
equation.<br />
(Hint: speed = distance/time)<br />
Stones with engravings in foriegn language<br />
Foreign Languages<br />
When Louis first meets Yamba<br />
and her family, they have trouble<br />
communicating because they speak<br />
different languages. Explore the<br />
many languages <strong>of</strong> Australia. How<br />
many different dialects or variations<br />
can you find? What are some <strong>of</strong> the<br />
differences and similarities between<br />
them? Were there as many in 1890<br />
as there are today?
Other Reading/Glossary<br />
Terms and Vocabulary<br />
Aborigines: native inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Australia.<br />
Arabian Nights: a collection <strong>of</strong> Arabic folk tales also<br />
known as A Thousand and One Nights. Stories include the<br />
adventures <strong>of</strong> Ali Baba, Aladdin and Sinbad.<br />
Cannibal: a person who eats humans.<br />
Cassiopeia: a northern constellation named for Cassiopeia,<br />
a vain Ethiopian queen in Greek mythology. The constellation<br />
has two <strong>of</strong> the brightest stars in the sky.<br />
Cataclysm: a violent upheaval or disaster; a large flood.<br />
Catamaran: a boat with two parallel hulls.<br />
Charlatan: a person who claims to possess knowledge or<br />
skills that he does not really have; a quack.<br />
Colonization: when one country establishes and rules over<br />
settlements in another country.<br />
Delusions <strong>of</strong> Grandeur: believing that one is greater,<br />
more powerful and/or more influential than one actually is.<br />
Delusions are associated with mental illness.<br />
Cassiopeia constellation<br />
Effigy: a painted or sculpted representation <strong>of</strong> a person.<br />
Great Barrier Reef: the largest reef in the world, <strong>of</strong>f the coast <strong>of</strong><br />
Australia in the Coral Sea. It is over 1400 miles long and has an area<br />
<strong>of</strong> approximately 216,542 square miles. A reef is a large strip <strong>of</strong> coral,<br />
sand or rock that rises to or above the surface <strong>of</strong> the ocean.<br />
Hoi polloi: the common people, the masses.<br />
Catamaran<br />
Madame Tussauds: a British museum founded in the early nineteenth<br />
century that features startlingly life-like wax statues <strong>of</strong> celebrities.<br />
Royal Geographic Society: British society for advancement <strong>of</strong><br />
geography founded in 1830. Originally a gentleman’s dinner club, the<br />
society was given a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1859 and soon<br />
became responsible for bringing geography into schools and making it<br />
an academic subject. The Society also sponsored colonial exploration<br />
as well as famous expeditions by explorers such as Livingstone<br />
(Africa), Shackleton (Antarctica), and Hillary (Mt. Everest).<br />
Serial: a novel or story published in installments (usually chapters).<br />
Vindicate: to clear <strong>of</strong> accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with<br />
supporting arguments or pro<strong>of</strong>.<br />
The Great Barrier Reef<br />
The Wide World Magazine: a monthly British magazine published<br />
from 1898-1965 that featured true-life adventure stories including the<br />
serialized adventures <strong>of</strong> Louis de Rougemont. The magazine’s motto was: “Truth is stranger than fiction.”<br />
Wombat: an Australian marsupial resembling a small bear.<br />
11
Pre/Post Show Questions<br />
Pre-Show<br />
1. Have you ever wanted to drop everything and just go somewhere? Where? How long? With<br />
whom?<br />
2. Would you ever want to visit a foreign place where you didn’t speak the language? Why? If you<br />
already have, how did it feel?<br />
3. Everyone is an expert at something. What are you an expert at and why? How long did it take<br />
you to consider yourself an expert? Do you know anyone who’s an expert at something else?<br />
Post-Show<br />
1. Do you believe that Louis actually did go on his adventure? Why or why not? Can you think <strong>of</strong> a<br />
time when someone didn’t believe you? How did it make you feel?<br />
2. Did the elements <strong>of</strong> the show make his story believable? How?<br />
3. Could you ever leave your family for 30 years like Louis did? If so, how would you stay in contact?<br />
Themes<br />
Storytelling<br />
Adventure<br />
Truth<br />
Identity<br />
Isolation<br />
Self-Reliance<br />
Reality vs. Illusion<br />
Fantasy<br />
If you liked <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!, Check out:<br />
Literature<br />
Imposters by Sarah Burton<br />
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe<br />
The Odyssey by Homer<br />
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing<br />
Life <strong>of</strong> Pi by Yann Martel<br />
The Adventures <strong>of</strong> Louis de Rougemont by Louis de Rougement<br />
In Search <strong>of</strong> Robinson Crusoe by Tim Sevrin<br />
The Tempest by William Shakespeare<br />
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare<br />
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss<br />
Film/TV<br />
Cast Away (2000) dir. Robert Zemeckis<br />
Gilligan's Island (1964)<br />
Land <strong>of</strong> the Lost (TV series1974 & 1991, Film 2009)<br />
Lost in Space (1998) dir. Stephen Hopkins<br />
Robinson Crusoe (1997) dir. Rod Hardy & George Miller<br />
12
Writing for Portfolio<br />
Personal Writing<br />
Consider the emotional experience <strong>of</strong> Louis de Rougemont when he finds himself<br />
shipwrecked, alone on an island at only 17 years <strong>of</strong> age. In just a moment, his life turns<br />
completely upside down. Think back to a time when you were lost. Write a journal entry<br />
exploring what you felt at that time. Describe what it was like emotionally to know you<br />
couldn’t find your way, as well as memories from each <strong>of</strong> your five senses. What smells<br />
were in the air? What images do you remember seeing? What noises surrounded you? Be<br />
sure to finish you entry explaining how you found your way out <strong>of</strong> the experience, and most<br />
importantly, what you learned from it.<br />
literary Writing<br />
After Louis made it back to London and began to tell his tale to the public, reporters and<br />
nay-sayers poked holes in his story, claiming that he made it up. Write a scene or a short<br />
story about Louis’ life one year after his story was debunked. Who does he interact with?<br />
What is said or takes place in these encounters with several characters? Be sure to include<br />
how Louis’ life has changed since exactly one year ago—the day he returned home and<br />
captivated audiences with his fantastic and amazing story.<br />
transactive Writing<br />
Write a review <strong>of</strong> <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong>’s <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>!. Describe what it was like to watch the<br />
play, but be sure write about more than just the story told by the play. Think about how the<br />
play tells its story. Make the experience <strong>of</strong> watching the play come alive for your reader by<br />
writing about several <strong>of</strong> the play’s many elements, including costumes, lights, and props as<br />
well as how the actors performed in their roles and how the director moved them around the<br />
stage. Were there some parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>Shipwrecked</strong>! you enjoyed more than other parts? If so,<br />
why?<br />
Need more help?<br />
Check out our Young Critics Workshops! Have an <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> teaching artist visit<br />
your classroom to give your students the inside scoop on how to write a theatrical critique.<br />
Students who have written a critique on an <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> production may<br />
submit their work to be posted on our website!! To submit online, please send all<br />
critiques as email attachments to jstoebel@actorstheate.org with the subject heading “Young<br />
Critics Contest.” Please be sure to include your name, school, teacher, grade, and contact<br />
information.<br />
13
Work Cited/Allusions<br />
Allusions<br />
a literary device quickly stimulating different ideas and associations using only few words; the act <strong>of</strong><br />
alluding; making indirect reference; derived from the Latin word allsus meaning to play.<br />
From the Script<br />
“I was born in the year 1632… in the<br />
city <strong>of</strong> York...”<br />
Where It's From<br />
Opening <strong>of</strong> Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.<br />
“After we had rode about a league and<br />
a half a raging wave, mountain-like<br />
came rolling astern and took us with<br />
such a fury… and furious as an enemy”<br />
Shipwreck scene from Robinson Crusoe, chapter 3.<br />
“Oh Romeo…”<br />
“…Let me not,/ Since I have my<br />
dukedom got/And pardon’d the<br />
deceiver, dwell/ In this bare island by<br />
your spell;”<br />
Romeo and Juliet, “balcony scene” (Act II, scene ii),<br />
spoken by the young lover Juliet.<br />
The Tempest, Epilogue, spoken by the great magician<br />
Prospero.<br />
“My city is a grumbling monster now,<br />
grinding its gears and spouting its<br />
smoke, all day and all night, without<br />
cease.”<br />
Louis refers to the Industrial Revolution—the momentous<br />
era in British history when manufacturing moved away<br />
from farms in the countryside and into large machinebased<br />
factories in the city.<br />
Work Cited<br />
"Donald Margulies (1954 - )." Imagi-nation.com 2008. 10 Nov. 2008 .<br />
Mackenzie, John M. The Victorian Vision. New York: Abrams, 2001.<br />
Margulies, Donald. "Los Angels Times: Dramatist Donald Margulies Sees the Stage in a Fresh Light." 2007.<br />
Los Angeles Times. 14 Dec. 2008 .<br />
Maslen, Ge<strong>of</strong>frey. The Most Amazing Story a Man Ever Lived to Tell. Australia: Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1977.<br />
“Memorial University DAI: The World on Mercator’s Projection.” Collections.mun.ca. 2008. 11 Nov. 2008 < http://<br />
collections.mun.ca/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/maps&CISOPTR=0&CISOBOX=1&REC=1>.<br />
"PBS Hollywood Presents: Collected Stories – On Writing – Donald Margulies." Pbs.org. 2002. 10 Nov. 2008<br />
.<br />
Swisher, Clarice. Victorian England. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2000.<br />
14
Upcoming Events<br />
Two hundred years after his birth, the values and beliefs<br />
<strong>of</strong> Abraham Lincoln continue to have great impact on<br />
our nation. For a one night engagement, <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong><br />
has brought together middle and high school students<br />
from three Kentucky communities – <strong>Louisville</strong>, Bowling<br />
Green and Prestonsburg – to perform three original<br />
student-written plays inspired by the life and philosophy<br />
<strong>of</strong> this amazing man on his bicentennial birthday. Happy<br />
Birthday, Mr. President!<br />
February 12 at 7:00 p.m.<br />
Thursday, 316 W Main Street<br />
FREE<br />
tickets required, call the Box Office 502.584.1205<br />
sponsored by<br />
American poet and ecological visionary, Wendell Berry<br />
taught at New York University before returning home to<br />
his family’s Kentucky farm in Henry County. This musical<br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> Berry’s writing will entice your students to<br />
discover this significant writer from their home state.<br />
Student Matinees<br />
April 7, 8, 9, 16 at 10:30 a.m<br />
316 W Main Street<br />
A CELEBRATION OF WENDELL BERRY<br />
adapted for the stage by Marc Masterson and Adrien-Alice Hansel<br />
from the writing <strong>of</strong> Wendell Berry<br />
Tickets required, call the Box Office 502.585.1210<br />
or email Steve Smith at SSmith@<strong>Actors</strong><strong>Theatre</strong>.org<br />
Core Content 4.1: RD-1.0.1, RD-5.0.3, AH-1.3.1<br />
NEW<br />
VOICES<br />
PLAY FESTIVAL<br />
sponsored by<br />
THE NORTON FOUNDATION, INC.<br />
Every school year <strong>Actors</strong> Education introduces hundreds <strong>of</strong><br />
students throughout Kentuckiana to the basics <strong>of</strong> playwriting.<br />
The results <strong>of</strong> these multiple classroom residency workshops<br />
are... ten minute plays! These plays enter our annual<br />
competition and the best <strong>of</strong> the best are selected, developed<br />
and produced on stage. The Acting Apprentice Company<br />
will bring these plays to life in the Bingham <strong>Theatre</strong> for two<br />
performances only: April 19 and 20.<br />
World Premieres!<br />
April 19 at 5:00 p.m.<br />
April 20 at 7:00 p.m.<br />
Sunday & Monday, Bingham <strong>Theatre</strong><br />
10 Ten-Minute Plays<br />
(All Original Student Work)<br />
FREE<br />
and open to the public! call the Box Office 502.584.1205<br />
15
Check it Out!<br />
Did you know <strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Louisville</strong> also serves as an art gallery? During your visit, be sure to<br />
check out the:<br />
AFRICAN<br />
AMERICAN<br />
ART EXHIBITION<br />
a juried art show<br />
...which features 42 pieces by local and regional artists. From<br />
paintings to sculpture, collages to photography—this exhibition<br />
has it all! Every February for 15 years, <strong>Actors</strong> has been the<br />
proud home to this African American Art showcase. Come see<br />
what the buzz is about!<br />
Prosperity Essentials, Ariston Jacks, Mixed Media, 22” x 18”<br />
You’re Invited!<br />
February 6 at 6:00 pm<br />
Don’t miss the Opening Reception with free food<br />
and live music.<br />
Saturday, February 7 at 11:00 am<br />
“Business <strong>of</strong> Art”<br />
A seminar open to the public (especially students!) led by<br />
Kevin Cole, Dr. Robert Douglas, and Eugene Thomas. These<br />
artists will lead discussions on the world <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional art<br />
and how YOU can become a part <strong>of</strong> it. Join us!<br />
<strong>Actors</strong> <strong>Theatre</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Louisville</strong> g 316 West Main Street g <strong>Louisville</strong>, Kentucky 40202–4218 g USA<br />
Box Office 502–584–1205 g Group Sales 502–585–1210 g Business Office 502–584–1265<br />
<strong>Actors</strong><strong>Theatre</strong>.org