In You Never Can Tell, my question is as to what happens to Valentine and Gloria’s relationship following the events of the play (and, supposedly, their marriage). It feels as if the play implies that their marriage is not meant to last, based on various hints thrown out over the course of the play. Early on, Crampton states that he had seen many men marry out of desperation for money and that it had not worked out. This seems like a foreshadowing of the events to come, as Valentine makes the decision to get married that very same day, when he is broke and penniless, and he even admits as such. Another tell is when Philip addresses their relationship as Romeo and Juliet – the star-crossed lovers. It may mean that he suspects their love will not last and will end tragically. Aside from that, Valentine has said he has felt the same way about other women before – who is to say Gloria isn’t the only one naive enough to fall for him? His last name is even Valentine, like Valentine’s Day – perhaps that’s a hint by the writer that the character is willing to give his heart up to any pretty lady he sees. So, my question: Will the marriage really last or will it simply be a repeat of Crampton and Mrs. Clandon’s failed relationship?
For the Theatre reading, my question stems from where it is stated that the director is interpreting what the playwright has created. If the director’s interpretation is what is being presented on the stage and, thus, is the finished product that the audience will view, does that mean that the play truly belongs to the person directing it and not the writer? It’s almost as if the writer simply creates a guideline of themes and characters and such, and the director’s job is to work within that mold to actually generate the play. As we can see in film and theatrical works adapted from literature, such as A Streetcar Named Desire or The Great Gatsby, the interpretation of the director can be drastically different from what was in the original work. Within the theatre, are we truly ever seeing the creation of the playwright, instead of the director?
