Put on the Mask
Alternate Scripts - Superheroes PUT ON THE MASK An Alternate Script for The Play's The Thing By Brian Engard For more information about The Play's The Thing and Magpie Games, visit us at www.magpiegames.com/theplay Alternate Scripts - Superheroes Biff! Bam! Pow! We all know what superheroes are. They can do things no normal person can, stand against forces the rest of us can't hope to combat, represent the ideals of our society -- even if they're ideals we've forgotten ourselves -- and they act as a beacon and an example for the rest of us. Superheroes also get into great, exciting fights and wear colorful Spandex uniforms. For all the dizzying number of superheroes (and villains!) out there, they're each subtly different from one another, each driven by his or her own motivations and background. Oh sure, eye lasers and the ability to fly are flashy and exciting and cool, but it's the human drama, the relationships and mortal struggles of these sometimes godlike beings that grounds them, makes them relatable, and makes us keep watching them. Sometimes superhero drama comes from the hero's need to see justice -- or vengeance -- done. Sometimes it's a need to protect that which the hero holds dear. Sometimes it's the struggle that comes with suddenly being thrust into a mantle of great power, and the enormous responsibility that comes with it. The only difference between a superhero and a supervillain is how the individual character reacts to these motives, how far she or he is willing to go to see justice -- or vengeance -- done, what lengths the character is willing to go to to protect something, or how the hero -- or villain -- handles that mantle of power and responsibility.
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