tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822178819496339840.post431261210608514544..comments2016-08-14T15:53:27.101-07:00Comments on DavidGoingOn: The End of Old TimesDavid Downshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03603495122136867789noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822178819496339840.post-35179925970333123402010-04-28T15:13:27.485-07:002010-04-28T15:13:27.485-07:00Mitchell, thanks so much for your generous and ins...Mitchell, thanks so much for your generous and insightful comment. I am hoping that these posts of mine can start vibrant discussions about the issues and you have provided a brilliant example of how helpful we can all be to one another's thinking.David Downshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603495122136867789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8822178819496339840.post-55935958528506209832010-04-28T13:19:56.097-07:002010-04-28T13:19:56.097-07:00As always, thank you for your insights. This blog...As always, thank you for your insights. This blog is lighting a creative fire. <br /> <br />Kate has an amazing way of directing the flow of all conversation, given that she is the prize of Deeley and Anna's competition. She keeps Anna talking about Sicily even after Deeley's forceful attempt to veer the conversation away ("...There's nothing more in Sicily to investigate"). She gets their attention and can momentarily stop their bickering even by saying things that have no apparent meaning ("Yes I quite like those kinds of things, doing it"). Then, the competition becomes being the first one to correctly decipher her code. She is the abacus on which they keep score, and she is also in control of their game.<br /><br />The one thing she seems to consider a foul in their match is when she is addressed as part of an opposing team. When Anna invites, "You are welcome to come to Sicily at any time, both of you, and be my guests," the reaction is "Kate and Deeley stare at her." Just that look, that image of both Kate and Deeley united in opposition against this silly false invitation, leads Anna to apologize for causing any trouble. <br /><br />Kate does nothing to stop this competition from occurring though, because she could have easily loaded the dice in Deeley's favor by simply telling him all about Anna before she came. Yet, she knows that Deeley has already won, because - like you said - here we are. Does she actively want to see them to compete? Is she trying to teach Deeley a lesson about being grateful for what they have?<br /><br />And then, that final freeze frame, so many questions arise about Deeley’s actions. Is he sobbing because he is grateful for having a specimen such as Kate? Or is he ashamed of how foolishly he has been acting? Or does he pity Anna (although, I do not think he cares enough for Anna in any capacity to be moved to tears by her)? Or is he flabbergasted by just how little he knew about Kate before tonight? When he curls up on her lap is he admitting his powerlessness or showing Anna that she is his? <br /><br />Each of your thoughts about what Old Times is really about brings up several possibilities for what the “correct” answer is about Kate’s motives and Deeley’s breakdown (in the sense of reserved British Pinter emotion, definitely a breakdown) at the end of the play. So many chances to play this truthfully in different ways, only one text. Now that’s a brilliant play.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12061655604309839498noreply@blogger.com