Soap Opera by David Ives - Essay Example

Soap Opera by David Ives Soap Opera is a one-act play created by David Ives. In my opinion, this is a fine play. The play contains a number of characteristics that determine a fine play, for example, intensity, richness, depth, and pertinence. I will use the theme, conflicts, plot structure, action, characters, dialogue, and the genre of the play to show it is a fine play. The central theme of the play is that of misguided love. The main characters, Manny, the repairman and the Maypole washing machine are of different natures. Manny is a human being while the Maypole is a household appliance. Although Manny knows that the Maypole is only a machine, which is in need of fixing, he still personifies it by giving it love and expecting it to love him back. The two characters also differ on the view of relationships. Manny is seemingly in love with the washing machine, he also has a human girlfriend, Mabel, who has to compete for Manny’s attention with the Maypole. Although Manny is in love with the Maypole, the latter appears not to reciprocate his feelings and is extremely affectionate towards the dryer (Ives 180). The Maypole cannot bring herself to love Manny, but only makes demands for him to fix her. As the play continues, Manny changes his views towards the washing machine and the likelihood of a relationship between them. Manny loses interest in the machine when he comes to the realization that the Maypole is not an idealistic partner. As a consequence, Manny chooses his girlfriend, Mabel over the Maypole. The play exhibits both intensity and depth in the way the characters address each other. At one point, Manny and the Maypole’s perspectives on the dryer conflict as Manny considers the dryer merely as a machine while the Maypole thinks of the dryer as the perfect companion. The play is also pertinent in that it is applicable to current life situations. Many people are in relationships that are marred by incompatibility. Many people are ignorant of the proper traits to look for in a partner. The writer of the play employs richness and depth in highlighting the incompatibility inherent in Manny and the Maypole’s relationship. There are a number of conflict situations that are evident; they include, among others, conflict on appropriate partners. Although Manny believes that he and the Maypole are perfect soul mates, the washing machine and Mabel hold a different view. When the Maypole talks about its companionship with the dryer, there is a sudden change in how Manny reacts; he becomes visibly jealous, referring to the dryer as merely a tumbler. The writer uses clear verbal arguments to highlight their different views regarding their compatibility, as well as that of the washing machine and the dryer (Ives 181). Manny exhibits his contempt towards the dryer, which he believes is an inconsequential machine while the Maypole is, in fact, a machine. The antagonist and protagonist also differ in terms of what they seek to achieve from their relationship. Manny is intent on seeking love and companionship with the Maypole. The Maypole, however, looks to Manny as a repairman who will fix her and meet her demands. The playwright ultimately confines the feelings of the characters to the end as the irreconcilable dissimilarities that are largely obscured at the start of the play now emerge in comprehension, Manny accepting the bitter fact that there is more that come between than fuse them. The plot structure of the play provides pertinent information to the audience. The writer gives significant information about the two foremost characters. Both Manny and the Maypole are in need of love and companionship although they find neither in each other. He also goes further to illustrate their natures and characteristics. The playwright highlights a sequence of conflicts and significant events in both Manny’s and the Maypole’s lives. As it unfolds, these two individuals think that they are a match for one another before their difference emerge. Manny does not appreciate other machines while the Maypole is, in fact, only a machine. As the play continues, the writer highlights how Manny is bent on finding love and companionship and is capable of finding both characteristics in a human being while the Maypole is comfortable with its power-driven status. Manny does not seem conscious of the fact that he already has an ideal partner in Mabel. While the atmosphere is filled with humor and is light-hearted at the start of the play, the constant reminders of the incompatible nature of Manny and the Maypole changes the feelings of the characters and makes them reveal their hidden recriminations and sentiments in concise, frequently biting, dialogues. In the closing stages of the play, the two foremost characters come to the understanding that they are not perfect soul mates, and Manny chooses Mabel over the Maypole (Ives 186). The writer uses these instances to help the audience figure out the essential aspects that make the two characters different from one another. David Ives utilizes depth when creating the play. The play begins with the heartening sound of soap opera music. Meanwhile, the Maitre de of a French restaurant is talking on the phone, taking a reservation. Manny walks into the restaurant wheeling the Maypole. Manny talks about his reservations for a romantically set table in a quiet corner. The Maitre de is visibly shocked to learn that Manny’s date is a household appliance, but Manny is seemingly ignorant to this fact and constantly defends the nature of his date. Although the Maitre de tries to get Manny to leave, the latter is adamant that he wants to have a date with the Maypole since he loves the machine. Manny believes that he and the machine are a perfect fit. However, after a while, their differences start becoming apparent as Manny continues to converse with the Maitre de and reflects on his past with Mabel. First, it becomes apparent that Manny and the Maypole do not share any similarities in terms of their nature, Manny is human and the Maypole is a machine. It is also evident that Manny seeks to find both love and companionship in the machine while the Maypole is not interested in getting into a relationship with a human since she fancies another machine; the dryer. Also, both of them do not reach a consensus regarding perfect companionship. Manny detests other machines he considers as competition for the Maypole’s affection while the Maypole detests Mabel, affirming that she does not know what Manny sees in the woman (Ives 187). In addition, every sound of soap opera music is accompanied with a revelation of Manny’s incompatibility with the Maypole. The writer goes further to show how Manny changes his position on the issue of being in a relationship with a house appliance and Mabel affirms this perspective. It is only when Manny and the Maypole start arguing that Manny and the audience are aware of the conflicts existing in their union. The play, Soap Opera, contains intensity. Despite the play being short and extremely concentrated on the quick comprehension of a few dramatic notions, it has adequate room for a comprehensive development of the two foremost characters. The audience is able to observe the differences between Manny and the Maypole (Ives 187). For instance, Manny is for the idea of forming a relationship with a machine, and he despises other machines. In contrast, the Maypole desperately wants a relationship, is focused on accomplishing this with the dryer, and is a machine. The play highlights the different situations between Manny and the Maypole, and provides a simple, vivid, and clear sense of the two characters on the basis of their roles in the plot of the play. The dialogue between Manny, Mabel and the Maypole has depth. The dialogue is established around sudden, sarcastic remarks, with the topics varying from how fun the relationship between Manny and the Maypole used to be their difference in demands, and last the difference in their natures. While the situation in the play is initially loaded with funny and cheerful conversations, it is later changed by conflicts between Manny, Mabel and the Maypole as they articulate their recriminations and sentiments. The dialogue between Manny and the Maypole turns nasty when the latter talks ill about Mabel. This elicits deeper conflicts or disagreements between the two that are previously not highlighted. Manny expresses his feelings in a negative way, articulating how the Maypole is more demanding than Mabel (Ives 188). The play is a comedy-drama and contains richness. It is made up of a cheeky sense of humor and hilarious statements. It is filled with comical events, for instance, at the restaurant when the Maitre de realizes that Manny’s date is a washing machine. Work Cited Ives, D. Time Flies and Other Short Plays. New York: Grove Press, 2001. Print. Read More