Usually when I read, I try to picture the characters’ appearance, such as their facial features, hair, and clothing styles. So, I did the same thing for the play. As I read it, I imagine Betty 1 and 2 as two middle-age normal housewives, Betty 3 as a casual, party girl in her mid-20s, Betty 4 as a frank girl who dislikes change, and Betty 5 as a masculine, charming, short- haired female. Similar to my expectations, seeing the play on stage completes my image for the 5 Bettys. In fact, it complements the image I had for the five. For instance, the different outfits Betty 3 wears for different stages of the play shows that she values her appearance shown to the public, linking to the reason why she aspires to be an actress. In addition, the muscle tank and combat boots Betty 5 wore throughout the play further enhances the masculinity the author wants to portray.
But, there are also differences between my imagination and the actors’ portrayal of the character. For example, I expected Betty 2 to be a reserved and quiet female. Yet, when I watch the play on stage, Betty 2 gives off a weird and uncanny demeanor. She stutters when she talks and has different hand gestures and movements when she acts. Truthfully, she reminds me of a girl in a movie where people ignores her or not be befriended with. In addition, Betty 4 was much more bold than I expected. She will do things without hesitation, like speaking out her thoughts and spitting her drink during conversation. I guess the reason why expectations are different from reality is because everyone’s interpretation of the character varies. We can only conform to the general idea, but not the specificity of it.
Lastly, I appreciate the props falling down from the ceiling. Not only does it add a humorous touch to the show, it also facilitates and bring emphasis on the details they want the audience to focus on. Certainly, props and costumes are essential to a play, but so are the actors’ acting. This way, it brings attention to the differentiation between the five Bettys and focus on details directly on the actor and not the surroundings itself.
