The stage directions indicate Liz's sudden urgency and Julian's frustration, which can help the actors convey the tension and immediacy of the situation, allowing them to build a dynamic interplay between anxiety and irritation. The emotional shifts—Liz's relief upon remembering Carlos and Julian's initial frustration—guide the actors in portraying the characters' evolving reactions and the stakes involved in the potential danger of the oven being left on.
LIZ: (suddenly) Julian! We have to turn around. I think I left the oven on at the house!
JULIAN: What! I thought you turned it off before we left.
LIZ: I thought I did, too, but I'm not sure.
JULIAN: (frustrated) We are nearly 10 miles away at this point. We can't just turn around. Can you call Michelle and see if she can use her spare key to check for us?
LIZ: Michelle is visiting her sister in Michigan this weekend, remember?
JULIAN: What about Carlos? Doesn't he have a spare key?
LIZ: (with a sigh of relief) You're right! I'm going to call him right now.
In one to two sentences, analyze how the stage directions would impact the way actors perform this scene.
(2 points)
1 answer