PDF file: Drama - Higher - Lovers - Education Scotland

OVERALL DIRECTORIAL INTERPRETATION AND DRAMATIC COMMENTARY
Losers
Extract Three
(pages 68-77)
Why might this Extract be important in your production of
the play?
Develops plot
• We have returned to Andy in his sanctuary in the back yard. He has
brought us back to the present to give us further anecdotes and he
prepares us for the climax of the play. He gives us a blow-by-blow
account of his downfall. He reveals that things started to go wrong for
him as soon as he got married. For starters he was hoodwinked into
moving into Mrs Wilson’s house after his honeymoon was over.
• Andy reveals that one of the reasons that he got married was to
dodge being sent to Northern Ireland by his firm.
• Andy reveals that he noticed a big change in his relationship with
Hannah as soon as they got married. ‘The spirit seemed to drain out
of her from the very beginning.’
• Andy gives an insight into his married life and we cannot help but
compare this to the earlier passionate courting sequences. It is ironic
that once they get married Mrs Wilson only rings her bell when Andy
and Hannah start to speak. When they were courting she would ring
her bell if there was a long silence! We get the impression that Andy
and Hannah’s marriage has become one of long silences.
• Andy reveals that when he initially moved into Mrs Wilson’s house he
refused to join in the nightly ritual of the Rosary. This was his protest
at not being in his rightful place, in his own home, ‘Riverview’. He
reveals that Mrs Wilson is not happy with this protest.
• Andy reveals that he made a mess of exacting his revenge on Mrs
Wilson once he discovered that the Vatican proclaimed that there
should be no further devotions to St Philomena. He got drunk and
‘bollixed it’. This sets us up for the big confrontation between Andy
and the women. The fact that he has warned us about what is about to
be shown increases the dramatic tension and provides further
dramatic irony.
DRAMA 35