A. Gautam
TYRONE, a high school student
TERRENCE, Tyrone’s father
ANDREW, Tyrone’s best friend
LOLA, Tyrone’s maternal aunt
Scene 1
[Curtain opens to the Terrence’s room.]
TERRENCE: [Holds Tyrone’s baby clothes. Quickly puts them back in the dresser when he hears footsteps] Son?
TYRONE: [Enters. Excited] Daddy, we’ll hear back any day now. What if I get a full ride but from Boston? Only partial from Texas?
TERRENCE: Do you have to play football? You’re too smart to get constant concussions.
TYRONE: Football pays. I don’t want you to work your bones to dust. [Looks at Terrence’s uniform on the wall hook. Walks to Terrence, holds his callused hands.] I am a big boy now, daddy.
TERRENCE: [Turns away to face the audience and speaks softly] I have forgotten to live without him. [Facing his son] How will I fill the time when you are far from me? I am too young to retire.
TYRONE: [Stands up] Are you too old to dance with me?
TERRENCE: Who are you calling old? [Plays an upbeat song on his phone and starts dancing.] I could go on forever. [Feels breathless and takes a seat.]
TYRONE: [Checks his phone] Hold on, daddy. I will be right back. [Enters stage right to the closet] Already? You’re staying in town then. I’m glad you’ll be around to check in on daddy. Hold on, Aunt Lola is calling. Congrats, Andrew. I’ll see ya soon. Hey auntie! Still waiting. Andrew got his acceptance letters. Mine must be on the way. I know. I know mom would want me to be happy. I know you will check in on daddy. [Curtain closes.]
Scene 2
[Curtain opens to the front of the house. Tyrone paces back and forth.]
TYRONE: [In a singsong voice] How can I leave my old man? Every boy’s dream is to leave and make it on his own, but I don’t know if I can. How can I leave my old man? Mama left for heaven when I was two. Daddy did what he had to do. He raised me the best he could. He thinks I turned out good. The dream is almost in my hands. I think my old man understands. Still I hesitate to even go in. How do I begin?
TERENCE: [A muffled voice from backstage] Son?
TYRONE: Coming. [Goes in. Curtain closes.]
Scene 3
TERRENCE: [In a singsong voice] The letter! The letter! The letter is here. Will it end everything? Can I even bear? The letter is here. My boy has big dreams. I only hear screams. I scream with fear. The letter is here. [Opens the envelope. Reads the letter and puts it back in the envelope.] Oh, I hear him now. I must bear it somehow. Son?
TYRONE: [A muffled voice from backstage] Coming. [Curtain closes.]
Question
Because of the difference in their viewpoints, which is a dramatic irony that the reader can see but that Tyrone doesn’t seem to notice?
Responses
A Terrence has read the letter.Terrence has read the letter.
B Terrence works hard.Terrence works hard.
C Terrence will be alone.Terrence will be alone.
D He is really smart.He is really smart.
1 answer
The correct answer is A: Terrence has read the letter.
This is a clear example of dramatic irony because the audience knows that Terrence has already read the letter and is feeling conflicted about his son's potential departure, while Tyrone is unaware of this information and is focused on his future and acceptance into college.
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