Christina Russell
28 April 2018
THTR Drafting
Daphne's Analysis
Daphne's Dive is a relatively novel play written by Q. A. Hudes. The notorious book is about Daphne with six of her regulars: Jenn, Pablo, Rey, Inez, Ruby, and Acosta that gather for a drink after a long day. They talk about their lives through life, politics, and art in a small run-down bar in North Philly. Moreover, the Daphne and the others became an odd family through their adventures in that old broke down bar around the corner. Next, let's talk about the climaxes that make this play worth talking about.
The play consists of five scenes over the course of 17 years. There a couple major events that occur during the play I should mention. First, Daphne talks about her apartment being raided by police. There was an average sized family renting from Daphne at the time. The family consist of two parents and two kids; one boy and one girl. The parents were arrested as soon as the police came inside. The boy and the girl ran after the police came in. The mother told them to run. The boy had a disability and couldn't escape from the cops. The girl jumped from the window and hides. Daphne takes the girl inside after the incident. Then, four years later, Daphne adopts the girl. Second, the major event is when Jenn commits suicide by covering herself in gasoline and liting it at the Love Statue. Some of the regulars couldn't believe she was gone. Now, let's talk about the background of Daphne's play.
The play was originally set in North Philly during the Spring in 1994-2011. The weather is sunny and cloudy. The story takes place mostly inside the bar. There were a few elected 2nd congressional district representatives from the mid-1990s -2011. Also, Philly got a new mayor in the 2000s. I think the characters gather during the afternoon or night to get a drink.
My version of the play takes place in a bar located in North Chicago. The weather is partly cloudy and sunny on most days. The bar is called "The Bottom". I chose this name because it is in the poor neighborhood and has cheap drinks. The bar is an old building that has been around since the late 1940s. The building’s walls are completely constructed out of brick, with wooden flooring. It's a two-story building with a bar on the first floor and an apartment on the second floor. The second floor is accessed through the staircase on the side of the building. The first floor has four tables with two chairs per table. There are two ceiling fans, two gender-neutral bathrooms, and no a/c unit. There are political and life art pieces. The customers usually come in the afternoon or night. The bar is open to all types. Now, I am mentioning the characters of Daphne's Dive.
There are seven characters in the play. Each character has their own unique story. Jenn is one of the characters. Jenn is a female activist that loved to live life. I think she was very much a leftist. Jenn connected with all the regulars and the owners. She is a lovable and outgoing individual, it's hard not to adore her. She would wear outfits that symbolize freedom and change in order to protest, which she might get arrested for. Jenn is an optimistic individual when it came to life, but she also had thoughts of suicide. She had severe depression. She committed suicide in the play. In the ending, the regulars and Daphne missed Jenn every day after that. The regulars and Daphne formed a family through talking about their lives. Daphne and the regulars would give cheers to Jenn and yell Democracy.
Daphne was a reserved Latina woman. She was single and independent. She loved coffee. She was a business owner and a landlord. She later becomes a mother of a little girl that was abandoned. Daphne and Pablo had a unique relationship because Pablo constantly wanted to dig in her trash to make trash art. Pablo once even suggested buying her coffee, hoping he would get her to give in to explore her trash can. Daphne had a strong relationship with her sister Inez. I could tell they take care of one another while having their own lives. Daphne deals with things a calm matter. She is blunt.
Pablo is an adult Latino male. He is a painter that paints trash art. He digs in trash cans and such to get the supplies he needs for his art. He uses a grocery cart to gather his art supplies and brings it home. He lays all the trash on his living room floor and sketches it with pencil on a white canvas. Then, he uses paint to it fill it in. Pablo is considered his art expensive and valuable. He loves his hobby. He tends to bargain with Daphne when it comes to her dumpster. He offers her coffee in exchange. Daphne often declines his offer, but she will take the coffee. I think Pablo is driven artist that recycles trash into art. Also, he does not let people walk over him. Pablo seems to have a strong relationship with Daphne and Acosta in the story from what I’ve read. Pablo drinks orange juice.
Inez is Daphne’s sister that is a Latina. She loves to shop. Inez literally puts up an 8-foot fence because her neighbors were hanging their underwear outside on a clothesline. In addition, Inez and Daphne are both from Puerto Rico. Inez had a Boricua garden, which she planted with guiros. She planted the guiros after she put up the fence. I would say Inez is not much different from her sister. She is an independent woman that is hot-blooded. Except, Daphne is not as hot-blooded. She is slightly racist. She likes to drink ginger-ale. Inez had a strong relationship with her sister Daphne. They help each other out. Also, Inez has no problem speaking her mind.
Rey is a white adult male. He is a glass cutter and manual labor. He is a hard worker. Rey is a biker. He drives a Goldwing GL. He is a loner. He is not a morning person. He is a traveler. He seems to be an older man since he has a grandson in St. Louis. He loves money. He is old-fashioned when it comes to money. He accepts cash. Rey is good old friends with Acosta. They talk about how North Philly and how it has changed over the years. Also, Acosta offers Rey a job on the spot. Rey has only one rule though, pay him in cash. Then, they will have a deal.
Acosta is Latino male, who is Inez's husband. Acosta is interested in politics and business. He is a businessman. He started managing his father's grocery stores at the age of 15. He also wants to run for mayor of Philly. He wants to better the community of Philly by making it safe for everyone. Acosta is an independent man that loves a challenge. He is a family man as well. Also, he is a close friendship with Pablo and Inez. One, Acosta's friendship with Pablo is mostly business related. For instance, he wants Pablo to paint a trash painting of a palm tree for his campaign. Second, Acosta is best friends with his wife. They have nicknames for one another such as Papi and Mami.
Ruby is a young lady that was adopted by Daphne. Ruby got separated from her family. She helps out around the bar. Ruby was taken advantage of at a young age. Ruby goes through therapy to help deal with the trauma. The child protective services wouldn't let the biological parents take Ruby back because of the abuse took place at home. Daphne and Ruby had a mother and daughter relationship. They became very close over the years. Inez and Ruby are close as well. Inez educates Ruby about her sexual health. Finally, I will do a break down of the of the five scenes.
Scene one begins with Roby when she is eleven. It gives a brief description of Daphne's bar. There are currently two props, which are an aloe plant and a piano. The piano plays live music. Daphne and Pablo talk about the live music and art. Then, Daphne and Pablo start talking about cops evading the apartment on the second floor. Daphne also talked about the trash art with Pablo. Rey and Daphne eventually start talking about Rey's bike in front of the bar. Jenn walks in. Jenn then starts commercing with Daphne about she got chased around the Calder sculpture by cops for protesting. Jenn was wearing a bikini with the American flag on it. Rey talks with Jenn about her clothing. Inez and Daphne talk about how her neighbors and her guiros. Pablo brings coffee. Inez tries to grab it. Pablo gestures no that is for Daphne. Acosta walks into the bar. He dresses pretty well. Inez and Acosta talk about having lunch. Rey and Acosta catch up on what they've been doing over the years. Acosta asks Rey to work for him. Rey unfolds a map. Pablo asks about Acosta's business, Acosta's Glass Corporation. Then, Pablo asks about Daphne's trash. Daphne gives Pablo a beer. Rey and Pablo talk about painting Rey's motorcycle with mermaids. Jenn, Acosta, and Daphne talk about 400 bandanas that provided by Acosta. Pablo leaves to dig in Daphne's trash. Daphne heads outside as well. Pablo says look the third-floor window is broken. Then, they found Ruby. Jenn wraps her in the American flag. Ruby explains how she got stuck outside.
Scene two starts with piano music playing from the third floor. Ruby is 15 years old. There is snicker shoe on the bar. The aloe plant is still near the window. Also, their posters that say Acosta for Councilman. Daphne puts out drinks, snacks, and catering for the event. There is a banner for Acosta's campaign. Rey and Daphne are flirting. Daphne says they are having a party. Ruby tells Rey to stop flirting and help them out. Jenn and Ruby hang Acosta's banner up. Inez walks in and rubs the lucky shoe as well. Acosta walks in. Acosta said he was nervous about the campaign to Pablo. Ruby asked why he was nervous. Inez says to take down the banner because it is bad luck. Acosta gets his family's suit. Inez and Acosta talk about the suit. Acosta goes into the bathroom to put on his suit. Acosta tells Daphne that the toilet is flooded. Daphne says change into your suit out here then. Inez says watch out for Acosta's chicken legs. Jenn found a list of names that owned the suit. Acosta gets the suit on and models it. Pablo tells Acosta that he looks adorable. Acosta says he can't wear it. Inez replies with it is a "power suit". Jenn offers to fix up the suit because it doesn't fit Acosta. Rey, Acosta, and Inez all talk about campaign voting. Later, Ruby asks what a diaphragm is after Inez mentioned one. Daphne does not want to talk about that with Ruby. Inez explains what it is. Then, Inez mentions Daphne was married at some point. Ruby asks you were married. Daphne drops a glass into the sink. Acosta was like why is this happening right now. Daphne is trying to not to talk about the time she got married. Ruby asks her the same question again. Daphne gives in. Daphne tells Ruby it was Catholic marriage that did not last long. Daphne and Ruby continue to talk about the marriage. Then, Jenn tells everyone the suit is done. Jenn and Ruby talk about dealing with anxiety before Ruby's speech. Pablo, Inez, and Acosta continue to talk about the campaign. They drink together. Ruby asks to do the speech. Everyone started to get frustrated when Ruby was trying to do her speech. Then, Acosta and Jenn were rude to oneself because Acosta does not particularly like Jenn. Jenn and Rey admit that they did not vote. Daphne and Inez tell Ruby how she should present herself during the speech. Ruby says her speech. Later, Acosta got the vote. Acosta won. Everyone cheers! Jenn tells Daphne that she is "God's alarm clock" to the world. Jenn and Daphne "fuck 'em" to their ex-husbands. Jenn tells Daphne she was prostitute back in the day to get by. Jenn and Daphne talk about her past marriage once again. Jenn asked Daphne about how old she was when got married. Daphne says 24. Later, Jenn feels on Daphne. They make a connection. Daphne notices Ruby is on TV. Jenn says "she looks great." Daphne and Jenn hold hands as they watch the TV.
Scene three begins with piano music playing once again. Ruby is 20 years old now. Pablo now has an art gallery on a college campus that is full of trash paintings. Ruby is wearing a cocktail dress. Pablo is wearing a budget panache. Pablo and Ruby talk about the art gallery. Pablo mentions his idea on fire paintings to Ruby. Pablo and Ruby start talking about Jenn. Ruby wants to invite Jenn over because they haven't spoken in awhile. Ruby pours two glasses of wine for Pablo and herself. Ruby tells Pablo how she used sneak drinking liquor behind Daphne's back. Pablo tells her to not drink. Daphne comes in with cheeseburgers and milkshakes. Daphne tells Ruby about Jenn's funeral and how she committed suicide. Jenn left Ruby a letter. Daphne gives it to Ruby. Ruby, Daphne, and Pablo talk about the letters they received from Jenn. Ruby argue with Daphne and Pablo on how Jenn was a hero to the world. They continued to read the letters.
Scene four starts off with the piano playing music on the second floor. The lucky snicker shoe is still on the bar. The aloe plant is still alive near the window. The bar now has a Heineken poster. Ruby is 25 years old. Inez asks Daphne if she wants to dance. Daphne says no. She plays the guiro instead. Ruby takes a spoon and taps a rum bottle. Ruby tells Pablo to tap on the bongo. Pablo then taps on the pongo. Rey picks up the "leave-a-penny jar" and shakes it. Acosta and Inez decided to dance to music. They were salsa dances and ended with wonderfully. after the dancing, Inez and Acosta decided to talk about they met in the bar and danced there. They continued talking about it. Rey, at some point, auditioned for a role in Goodfellas. Everyone does a shot after hearing Inez and Acosta's love story. Then, Ruby wonders if there is a good story on Jenn. Everyone says no and want to talk about something positive. Pablo brings up the phrase "half a brain." They continue talking about that for awhile. Daphne says it is our first holiday together. Rey, Daphne, Acosta, Inez, Pablo, And Ruby all share their throwbacks for that holiday.
Scene five begins with piano music playing upstairs, not sure what floor. Ruby is 29 years old. The old lucky sneaker is still sitting on the bar. The aloe plant is still there growing. Ruby is working as a bartender for the bar now. The day is Jenn's anniversary of her death. Rey and Ruby bet five dollars that Acosta comes to the event. Pablo comes in with a cart full of burnt trash to make art. Pablo puts some of his art on the bar. Ruby tells him to take it down. Pablo started talking about the Waterloo house that burned to the ground. He found a rice pot and took it home. Pablo buys Daphne a coffee maker. Daphne said I needed this 20 years ago. Then, Pablo proposes to Daphne because he does not want to die alone. Daphne said no. Pablo was probably joking about the proposal. Acosta walks in. Everyone talks about Jenn and going to the Love Statue. Daphne is moving away from the bar. Daphne nails the lucky shoe to the bar. The pianist continues to play the music. There is car honking at the ending.
The themes of this play are love, family, and freedom. One, I think love is the theme because Daphne adopted Ruby because she wanted a better life for her. This displays love. To the ending, the regulars and bar owner showed they were a family because they celebrated Christmas together and grieved together. Jenn displayed the concept of freedom. She protested until the end of her days.
My scenic design will support these themes by having art pieces of love, family, and freedom. This way I can visually show the relationship between the characters in the play.
I have read the play and have a better understanding of what it is about. This gives me more of visual to draft for the project. I can select images and piece them together to create a more efficient model of the play.
The skills I will use for the play will be drafting and modeling. Also, I will use lighting and shadow to display the events that will not be shown on the set. Narration will be given by the characters for that particular story. I would like to learn how to create small furniture better because I do poorly at this skill. Practice makes perfect!