Students are asked whether they have ever participated in a live theatrical performance. If yes, can they recall their experience? If not, what do they think it would be like? In what ways did/might it differ from reading a book or seeing a movie? Students discuss the prompt in small groups (2-4 people) and then report to the class. If students mention live performances that are not strictly speaking theatrical, a conversation may ensue on what makes theatre recognizable as such. Each group is then asked to decide on three core points that summarize what they are taking away from the conversation. The entire class listens to the core points report. As an assignment for the following session, students may be asked to write a reflection on one of the core points of their choice.
Having students discuss in small groups is generally a wise idea, as it lowers the stakes and provides them with a contained environment in which they can express and test their ideas more freely; students usually contribute more easily to class discussions after engaging in smaller debates. This activity also prepares them to the reading of Pirandello’s text through a reflection on their personal experience, fostering a more immediate engagement with the materials.
by Anna Santucci (PhD Candidate, Brown University)