Conduct of Life

I think that one of the strongest dramaturgical choices in this play would be the constant (fade to black)s after every scene.  When we were first introduced to Nena and saw what Orlando was doing to her, the scene ended on a (fade to black) and I took a breath and went “Whoa.  That was really intense.” I don’t know if it would’ve had the same effect had the lights not faded as she screamed because we, as an audience, don’t know what happens next.  It’s up to our imagination. Does he continue? Does he beat her? Does he finish and then go about his business?  

However, Fornes chooses to end every single scene on a fade out.  Each scene is in a completely new place.  Clearly, the fade allows for a scene change, but there’s more to it.  When a blackout occurs, you know you’re in a new place; a completely new place.  You go from one scene to another, changing moods, situations, people, and everything. One moment Leticia and Olimpa are going over their grocery list and then BAM, black out and Orlando is raping a twelve year old again.  They seem like two different worlds, almost, and the black out takes you from one to another.

            I think the title is called The Conduct of Life because of the quote that stood out to me. There’s an episode of Family Guy when Peter is self-aware when he says something along the lines of how he always notices when the title of a movie is said in the script, and then later on mentions the phrase “Family Guy.” Well whenever I saw this quote, it was that moment.  Nena says, “I want to conduct each day of my life in the best possible way” (1495). It’s the over all message I took away from the play. Even when your life sucks, if you can find some sort of life and purpose then you’re set.  You can be happy.