John Terry played the character of Ben, a middle-aged, deadbeat, awkward, sexually frustrated husband. In watching John’s portrayal of Ben, I began to wonder if in everyday life he truly was this awkward and actually had such a ‘square’ personality. I chose to critique John Terry because I felt Ben was the character that most demanded the actor immerse himself into the role. The other characters, two stoners and a drunk housewife seemed much easier to portray. It could be simple for the other actors to “pretend” to be stoners and an alcoholic, but John really had to “become” Ben to portray him as well as he did. The character of Ben is quite complex given that there are many details that make up his personality and he is a dynamic character.
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While speaking to his wife Mary he feels comfortable and confident so his gaze is steady, but when speaking to Sharon he is more shy and gives a little awkward laugh then breaks eye contact. While addressing Kenny, the only other male, he feels comfortable but is not confident so John shows this by mimicking Kenny’s posture and actions when they speak one on one. Ben is the type of person who likes to put up a facade and seem like they have or are something that they are not. When speaking of his website, the only thing Ben has to his name, John postures his shoulders back and puffs his chest in an alpha male sort of way. This slight change in posture executed only during one conversational topic may be very subtle, but John does well to do this because it shows how the website is the only thing Ben has in his life that he can be proud of. His posture offers a nice contrast when Ben finally reveals that lied about the website the entire time. His shoulders are slugged, back hunched, and eyes fixated on the ground, emphasizing the shame Ben should be feeling in this moment. Appearance is a strong theme throughout the play; seeming to be something you are not and judging someone else by their appearance. John’s use of posture supports this theme because Ben’s facade is that he will soon become a businessman, and John uses this proud demeanor to set up Ben’s …show more content…
During the barbecue when Mary begins to talk about her foot and Ben goes to grill steaks, John grimaces and shouts to drown out what she says. It may not seem like much but this was critical because, he did exactly what the audience was feeling at that moment, and by doing so makes Ben a relatable character. All of John’s subtle awkward details such as his stiff movements and failure to maintain eye contact with Sharon adds to the sexual tension between Sharon and Ben. By making Ben as awkward as possible without going overboard, Ben’s interactions with Sharon become uncomfortable for the audience sometimes. In result, the audience realizes early on that something may be happening between the two of them, and over time, after being subjected to these awkward interactions for long enough, the audience begins to want Sharon and Ben to have some form of affair. By getting the audience to root for Ben, John captivates and immerses the audience into the world of the story, making his awkward efforts
While speaking to his wife Mary he feels comfortable and confident so his gaze is steady, but when speaking to Sharon he is more shy and gives a little awkward laugh then breaks eye contact. While addressing Kenny, the only other male, he feels comfortable but is not confident so John shows this by mimicking Kenny’s posture and actions when they speak one on one. Ben is the type of person who likes to put up a facade and seem like they have or are something that they are not. When speaking of his website, the only thing Ben has to his name, John postures his shoulders back and puffs his chest in an alpha male sort of way. This slight change in posture executed only during one conversational topic may be very subtle, but John does well to do this because it shows how the website is the only thing Ben has in his life that he can be proud of. His posture offers a nice contrast when Ben finally reveals that lied about the website the entire time. His shoulders are slugged, back hunched, and eyes fixated on the ground, emphasizing the shame Ben should be feeling in this moment. Appearance is a strong theme throughout the play; seeming to be something you are not and judging someone else by their appearance. John’s use of posture supports this theme because Ben’s facade is that he will soon become a businessman, and John uses this proud demeanor to set up Ben’s …show more content…
During the barbecue when Mary begins to talk about her foot and Ben goes to grill steaks, John grimaces and shouts to drown out what she says. It may not seem like much but this was critical because, he did exactly what the audience was feeling at that moment, and by doing so makes Ben a relatable character. All of John’s subtle awkward details such as his stiff movements and failure to maintain eye contact with Sharon adds to the sexual tension between Sharon and Ben. By making Ben as awkward as possible without going overboard, Ben’s interactions with Sharon become uncomfortable for the audience sometimes. In result, the audience realizes early on that something may be happening between the two of them, and over time, after being subjected to these awkward interactions for long enough, the audience begins to want Sharon and Ben to have some form of affair. By getting the audience to root for Ben, John captivates and immerses the audience into the world of the story, making his awkward efforts