Morehead State University’s The Little Company Presents Study Guide 1 Authors Research Erin Sinead — Dramaturgy Makayla Holder—Dramaturgy Format Design William Murphy – Graphic Designer Curriculum Research Erin Sinead & Makayla Holder – Curriculum and Lesson Plan The Little Company Staff Octavia Biggs —The Little Company Director Corinne Campagna —The Little Company Tour Coordinator The Little Company Morehead State University 106 Baird Music Hall Morehead, KY 40351 606-783-2545 www.moreheadstate.edu/thelittlecompany www.facebook.com/The-Little-Company 2 Table Of Contents Title of Page Page Number Synopsis/ About the Author Page 4 Director Notes Page 5 Designer Notes Page 6 Regions of the Antarctic Page 10 Antarctic v. Arctic Page 11 The Norwegian Expedition Page 12 SS Terra Nova Page 13 The Men of Terra Nova Page 14 Word Cited Page 21 Lesson Plans/ Core Standards Page 26 Vocabulary Page 73 3 Terra Nova Terra Nova by Ted Tally, is a true story drawn from the journals and letters found on the frozen body of Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his famous fatal expedition to the south pole. The play captures the dramatic, chilling, intense, and the awesome bravery of men who accepted the bitter knowledge that suffering and death would be the only reward for heroism. About the Author Ted Tally is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright. Awards and honors in- clude Yale University Kazan Award, Theron Rockwell Field Prize, Drama-Logue Award, CBS Foundation Playwriting Fellowship, New York State Creative Artists Public Service Grant, John Gassner Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, National Endowment for the Arts Grant, Obie Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Christopher Award, and an Academy Award for the best screenplay based on material previously produced in his 1991 portrayal of Silence of the Lambs. Mr. Tally has also been a member of the following: Writer’s Guild of America, Dramatist Guild, Playwrights Horizons, and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. Ted Tally worked for Yale as a playwriting seminar instructor from 1977-1979. Tally was the master artist-in- residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in 1983. Famous works by Ted Tally include Hooters, Coming Attractions, Silver Linings, and Little Footsteps. He has also written many screenplays such as White Palace, The Silence of the Lambs, Before and After, The Juror, All the Pretty Horses, Mission to Mars, and Red Dragon. In addition to his plays and screenplays Tally has also worked on some television scripts such as Hooters, Terra Nova, The Comedy Zone, and The Father Clements Story. 4 Directors Notes “Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale. It seems a pity, but I cannot write more. For God’s sake look after our people.” ~Captain Robert Falcon Scott In the winter of 1911-12, five Englishmen and five Norwegians raced each other to the bottom of the Earth. Only the Norwegians returned. Terra Nova by Ted Tally is the story of Captain Scott's fateful expedition to the South Pole. Mr. Tally uses this memory play to share with an audience the perils of not only the severe cold and blizzards of the Antarctic, but also the complications of the altitude, starvation and the multiple difficulties hyperthermia presents to the human body. Tally also brings Roald Amundsen, the leader of the Norwegian team, to play the role of Captain Scott’s conscience, articulating Scott’s internal doubts, making Amundsen the brutal realist to Scott’s heroic idealists. These 5 men’s heroism exhibits an awesome bravery, a strong British pride, a sense of destiny and command, and the bitter knowledge that suffering and death will be the only reward. As each member of the team dies, the play climbs the dramatic apogee, capturing Scott’s chilling intensity in a psychologically flawed, withdrawn man unable to connect to the world however obsessively ambitious. In a place where no human is native, and a time when the world was shifting from the 19th century to the 20th century, the world observed Scott and his men bravely retain their humanity. For it was not the success of the journey that gives meaning to their lives and deaths but the scientific exploration. Among what search teams discovered among the bodies, one year later, was 35lbs of fossil rich rocks and multiple research and discovery journals filled with documentation and analytical information making Scott and his men some of the most famous of all polar explorers. Directing this play and working with the design team has brought me to tears of pride on multiple occasions. I have been struck by the immense respect each person brought to the table and a deep desire to create a cohesive and collaborative story. I found myself continually reading quotes about the expedition and lines from the script, encouraging me to develop a respect for all things; military, environmental, historical, and most importantly, human life. As my last thought I offer to you; J.B. Priestly The Edwardian: “…What they cherish, even though most of them would immediately deny it, is any action, though it may be accounted a failure that appears when it is recorded to be epic that takes on a poetic quality that haunts the mind like a myth. The long silence, the sudden tragic news, the idea of Scott and his companions doomed in that remote howling wilderness of snow and ice, all of it fired the imagination, and not only then, in 1913, but ever since.” ~Octavia Biggs, Director 5 Designer Notes Scenic & Properties Designer : Eli Weis Have you ever tried remembering something, but as soon as you focus your thoughts it becomes fuzzy? The shapes and ideas are there, but no matter how hard you try, it just won’t become clear. My challenge was taking this aspect and applying it to the set and props. I approached this challenge by utilizing differing opacity fabrics. The reason I decided to use fabric is because the flow of the fabric, not only can be used to show the passage of location and time, but to show how fragile and volatile memories truly can be. Throughout the play Scott has trouble discerning what is reality and what is a fantasy playing out in his head. The fabrics can be used to distort actors until they are ready to become clear, or they can obstruct his vision of them so Scott does not know what they truly look like in this moment. The props help the audience know where Scott is within his head. Any items utilized by the men will look realistic to help ground the reality of the play. Whenever he has a memory or vision that is seen on stage, the props will have a distorted look and not be as grounded in reality. Stage Manager : Andrea Cox As the stage manger, it is my job to know the show and everyone involved better than anyone else. As well as completing anything asked of me in a timely and efficient manor. During rehearsal I am responsible for writing down blocking, tracking props, and answering any and all questions that actors may have. I help keep rehearsals focused and moving along at an appropriate pace. Outside of rehearsal I lead production meeting and communicate directly with the designers on a daily basis to ensure all involved in the show are aware of what happens day to day. My process involves being able to mold myself to the needs of the show, and making myself available to anyone who may need my help. While also keeping in mind the importance of staying punctual and communicating effectively with my cast and crew. While stage management is not the easiest job, it is a rewarding feeling to help a show from beginning to end, watching the growth along the way. 6 Light & Sound Designer : Ali McMurtrey The world of the play is set in Scott’s memory and for the lights used in this play I wanted to explore the distortion of memory. Terra Nova is set in the Antarctic where Robert Falcon Scott and his team of five men race to the south pole. As they travel we see sparks of Scotts memory dance through the sea of white as if they were old photographs distorted by the passage of time. Throughout the play Scott and others remember home, and they speak fondly of the gardens back in England. We are given this vision of colorful flora around artfully crafted pathways, and then I abruptly bring you to this stark, cold, and uninviting environment. The stark contrast between reality and memory is jarring and at times unwelcomed, just like the Antarctic. Terra Nova is a memory play. And like a memory it is distorted and becomes unclear as time goes by and so do the sounds we hear. All sound in the show are familiar but there is something more sinister behind each sound made. The fragile ground they walk on sounds like the crunch of bones underfoot, reminding them that any wrong step may lead them to death. The wind whipping and pulling at their clothes is like the whispers of the dead haunting them as they go further, beckoning them to join their ranks, and to be at peace. The utter silence reminding them that they are alone, so completely and helplessly alone, leaving only themselves for comfort and companionship. Finally the moments of memories where the sounds we hear are welcoming and we have hope and feel safe.