Response to Justin
Middleton’s “The Sun of the Stage”
In “The Sun
of the Stage” the main character is Mr. Akron, who volunteered to fill the
director’s place in the school play when Ralph couldn’t make it. He wants to
help out his son, Scott, while he performs on stage, but while operating the
soundboard knocks over one of the high school student’s, Lea’s, purse and finds
two knives. He tries to hide the knives from her, she finds out and eventually
is there is a fight between them and he accidentally stabs her.
I really
loved the main character’s voice, and how he was sarcastic and funny. One of my favorite lines was when he saw
Ralph’s notes for a recipe with ricin, to which he replied, “Which is to say,
not helpful.” I also liked your descriptions of Lea, your stereotypical high
school girl. I thought that your description of her on the first page, when she
pinches her nose and waves her hand around. It is very comical and what one
would expect. I think this also makes it much more interesting when Mr. Akron
finds the knives in her purse, because it is the last thing you would expect to
find in there.
For
revision, I would make the age of Scott clearer. We know he’s in middle or high
school, but from the description of his poking his head out behind the curtains
on the first page, I at first thought he was much younger. Once I realized it
was a play it made a little more sense, but his nickname, “Scotch Tape,” is one
that makes me thing he is very young. I would also describe better what
happened to the mother. Page seven makes me think that the mother passed away,
but it is never confirmed and left me wondering. Lastly, at the end of the
story, I was a little confused as to what happened to Mr. Akron. The line, “the
world closes in and I wonder, I wonder, if this is how my wife felt,” makes it
seem like he died, but I wasn’t sure because as far as I could tell people had
just grabbed him and pulled him away. Overall though, I really enjoyed your
story!
No comments:
Post a Comment