Necessary Targets: theatrical conventions of the period

Theatrical Conventions of the Period

Realism and Naturalism

Necessary Targets adopts elements of both realism and naturalism, movements that dominated the late 19th and 20th Centuries. These approaches emphasise authenticity in a character’s motivations, wants, and actions.

Symbolism in Set and Props

The play utilises the convention of symbolism, found within the set and props. The use of symbols represent ideas and themes related to the narrative, like the photo of a lost family member or the recurring theme of the bombed-out clinic.

Flashbacks and Time Jumps

The use of flashbacks and changes in time is common throughout Necessary Targets. The play does not follow a traditional linear progression, allowing for profound insights into the characters’ past experiences and traumas.

Emphasis on Characterisation

The importance of detailed characterisation is a dominant convention in the period from which Necessary Targets was developed. By focusing on the complexity of human personality, it renders characters that are deeply relatable and prone to change over time.

Use of Monologues

In line with the play’s period, Necessary Targets does utilise monologues. These monologues serve to reveal significant character backstories or to portray a notable shift in a character’s state of mind. They often introduce tension and conflict between characters.

Modern Female Play but Historical Context

Necessary Targets still echoes conventions from the period with its exploration of female issues. Ensler reveals the atrocities of war through the female point of view, drawing attention to the impact of war on women - a narrative often neglected in war literature.

Researching and understanding these conventions and how they feature in Ensler’s Necessary Targets will enable appreciation of the theatrical context and influences in which this play was created.+