1. BT39 – Term 2, Week 5 Martin McDonagh, “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”

2. Geography How is the play’s location presented in performance? Naturalistically? Abstractly? What physical locations matter to the play’s characters? Real-world Real-world, as imagined Purely imaginary Relatedly: what, if any, values are attached to these locations? Aspirational? Judgmental? Negative?

3. Violence What damage is done, or implied, to bodies during the play? How is this damage represented on the bodies of the actual actors? Onstage vs. offstage Stylized vs. “realistic” representation Point of contrast: “Sport of My Mad Mother” vs. “Beauty Queen” Is this violence punished, or allowed to remain unpunished? What training would be required of actors to perform this violence? Stage combat, gesture How, if at all, is the audience implicated in this violence? Bodies attract sympathy Abstract violence may invite detachment

4. Accent How are the play’s characters divided, or gathered, by accent? How is this accent rendered in print: Exaggerated or naturalistic? Asserted in stage directions, or given in print (spelling, punctuation)?