We Live By The Sea Play Analysis

Both the play ‘We Live by the Sea’ and the lyrics of ‘Waiting for My Real Life to Begin’ explore a similar idea that happiness and fulfilment stem from acceptance. The director Alex Howarth in ‘We Live by the Sea’ explores the idea that acceptance of oneself and others is required for happiness, where as Colin Hay explores that if one does not accept their life they are ultimately unhappy and unfulfilled. Alex Howarth expresses his idea through stage property, with the use of a visual schedule to demonstrate that Katy’s daily life is a set of rules and rituals that keep her feeling safe. She wakes at the same time every day, will only drink a certain brand of juice, time in the shower is strict 'exactly 5 plus 5 plus 5 because that 's the

When he wakes up, everything is still the same as it was, yet he seems a bit surprised that nothing happened. In his dreams he is amazing and can do anything and is the hero slaying dragons, demonstrating that in his life he is unfulfilled and dreams of better things. Similarly, both texts utilise other characters aside from Katy in ‘We Live by the Sea and the lead in ‘Waiting for my real life to begin’ to support the idea. Firstly, Alex Howarth incorporated the character Paul Williams to give the audience insight into Katy’s way of thinking. While using Ryan and the bullies at school to demonstrate and contrast the effect of acceptance has on happiness with both Hannah and Katy. When Ryan accepts Katy, both Hannah and her sister are happy as he fulfils their needs while the bullies at school do not accept Katy and call her a ‘spastic f*ck’ which makes her extremely sad. In ‘Waiting for My Real Life to Begin,’ the ladies voice pleads for the man to be in the moment, enjoying his life ‘open up your heart, let the light shine in,’ but he cannot come to terms and accept his