2008: Act 1.1, and 2.7: the scene with Evan, Chris and Jason
The learning objective is to develop our understanding of Chris and Jason eight years after the fight when they have served their jail terms.
Re-read these scenes out loud and make sure you are very familiar with them.
The split into two groups, one per scene.
Starter Activity
- What impressions of the characters do you form as you read through each scene? How effective is Evan in his role of Parole Officer?
- We have already looked at some of this in the commentary. With hindsight and now a significantly greater knowledge of the play what would add?
Work in pairs to review and upgrade the previous comments and make your additions.
You perhaps responded to:-
- Jason’s appearance which has changed markedly since 2000, and not for the better. Look at the picture above. In 2008 he has a skinhead haircut, tattoos representing the Aryan Brotherhood (see above) and has recently been involved in a fight. He has taken on the ‘prison culture’ to a significant degree. Evan’s job is to pierce through this macho front and get to the little boy beneath the surface.
- Evan defines his attitude: ‘belligerent, defiant, reluctant to observe protocol’. Make sure you understand what these terms mean and locate some examples of them.
- He attempts (but fails) to conceal the truth of the circumstances of the fight: to evade any responsibility for it. But Evan gets to the truth of the matter: ‘those tats…. Every time I look at them I wanna punch you out’.
- But cannot reveal a more sensitive, educated side: some who is as he appears…
