CosiThemes in Louis Nowra’s play

Considerations: Synonyms Key scenes/Quotes Differing Perspectives Contention/Perspective of play

MadnessSYNONYMS insanity craziness extraordinary lunacy abnormal mental illness deranged

SYNONYMS absurd psychosis psychotic obsessive personality schizophrenic paranoid unstable sensitive issue

Madness

ASYLUM

DOUG

Pyromaniac, Burnt mother’s house and cats

JULIE

Drug addiction - heroin, parents admitted her into institution

HENRY

Loss of wife, Loss of job, depression

RUTH

Obsessive personality, routine, perfection. Physically, mentally, emotionally abused

CHERRY

Violent tendencies, lack of self-esteem

ROY

Delusional, abandonment

ZAC

Addiction to prescription medication

COMMON THEME IN ‘MADNESS’ – Avoiding/Escaping Reality, no support, confined

Madness“Mozart is about love, not madness” p.59

“Why can’t I ever say no? Just Leave? They’re mad, it’s madness” p.16

“Barricades and bombs? Why not?” p.17

“They want to overthrow the establishment” p.17

“A madman is someone who arrives at a fancy dress party in the Emperor’s New Clothes” p.7

“Not only they are nuts, but they are right-wing nuts” p.47

Madness“You can always find loneliness in a marriage but never solitude” p.19“I didn’t know he had been released from a closed ward” p.5“Sometimes a vision is destroyed . . . as far removed from this depressive asylum” p.63“they are normal people who have done extraordinary things, thought extraordinary thoughts” p.5

Madness“I’m not from a ward, I’m the director” p.2

“It’s not divine madness . . . madness is just madness” p.61

“I knew she had gone mad but she was still my grandmother” p.32

“I can’t stand real things – if I could put up with reality, I wouldn’t be in here” p.62

“The drugs are a rocket to the stars”p.32

Madness“Drugs make me feel sort of living” p.37“I can handle something being an illusion or real, but not at the same time” p.26“I can live with the illusion as long as I know it’s an illusion” p.26“Only mad people in this day and age would do work about love and infidelity” p.41“They’re coming to take me away. Ha ha. To the funny farm” p.77 (SARCASM)

Madness“Mad actors are bad enough, but madmen . . . ” p.1

“A psychopath is too kind a word to describe him” p.9

“Just between you and me, I’ve got a flick knife” p.34

“Julie’s a looney and a junkie” p.76

“You’re screwing a mental patient” p.72

Madness Doug starts a fire in the toilets Cherry feeding Lewis Zac’s overdose on medication Lewis hitting Nick Shock therapy treatment Julie’s haircut experience p.37 Cherry’s Jealousy

Doug’s understanding of marriageJulie’s insights p.36-37 (self-awareness of herself as well as others – Doug, Zac) Henry Act 1, Scene 4 p.46-49

Madness – Differing Perspectives

Social attitudes deny mentally ill patients their humanity, ostracising them into the confines of a separate institution Lewis initially feels insecure and frightened of the patients, however he comes to understand their stories and accepts them as thoughtful and ‘ordinary’ people The theatre offers refuge to the patients from the institution but also offers Lewis refuge from the political and radical expectations placed on youth (educated middle-class) in the outside world. Nowra recognises that the madness of the patients is brought on by the desire to escape reality. The distinction between sanity and insanity is not easily defined. The patients are aware that they are seen in a negative light.

Madness – Differing Perspectives

Outsiders to the institutions don’t know what it’s really like Nowra demonstrates society’s view of madness in a stereotypical way – people are uncomfortable/frightened – he challenges this view by presenting the patients as having deep insights and serious thoughts.

Nowra’s Perspective Society sees the institution and those within it as ‘mad’, while the patients see the outside world as ‘mad’. We are all part of the same world Nowra challenges the audience to reconsider their preconceptions of madness and normality.

Love Devotion Affection Adoration SexPassionRomanceTenderness Indulgence Fondness Fidelity

Trust Loyalty Jealousy Commitment Faithfulness Attraction Physical gratification Convenience Desire Need/Want

Love“Love is hallucinating without drugs”“It’s about important things – like love and fidelity”“You have enemies for life, but never lovers” p.61“Woman’s constancy is like the Arabian Phoenix” p.71“Love is not so important these days” “Only mad people in this day and age would do a work about love and infidelity” p.41“All I wanted was a fuck to calm me down”

Love“Women are God’s punishment for men playing with themselves”

“Music is what love between humans should be” p.61

Differing Perspectives on Love

There is no distinction made between lust and love for many of the ‘self-aware’ characters in the play.Nowra presents the patients as having a stronger definition of love than the ‘sane’ people.Nowra challenges the concept of ‘free love’ prominent in the 1970’s.The patients show a deep capability to love despite being separated from society.There are prevailing masculine and feminine attitudes towards love.Love is an indulgence

Nowra’s perspective on Love

Love has many complex layers and is unique and different. Ideas of love are directly shaped by the experiences individuals have of love.Passionate love is not necessary to be in a relationshipMen often objectify women as a means to satisfy their physical needs.Lucy and Nick have the luxury of rejecting love because they have lived a highly privileged lifeWithout love, you run the risk of remaining unfulfilled and unsatisfied.

ArtSYNONYMS

• Beauty• Expression• Story• Creativity• Culture• Personality• Individuality• Religion• Talent

SYNONYMS

• Escape• Theatre• Music• Play• Performance• Production• Opera• Originality• Therapy

Art“This is a masterpiece. Ever since I was a child I’ve adored it” p.11“Music is what love between humans should be like” p.61“Cosi Fan Tutte is an opera by Mozart. It is the greatest opera in the whole world” p.8“Mozart is about love not madness” p.59“There is the harmony of the spheres and that harmony is Mozart’s music” p.13

Art“The music of this opera keeps the world in harmony” p.13“Without this opera having been composed, there would be just a clanging, banging, a bedlam all around us”p.13“It’s about important things – like love and fidelity” p.70“I like it because I’m doing something. Using up my energy. Getting out of my ward” p.36

Art“Politics is the real theatre” p.32

“As boring as this opera? Let’s do a rock musical. A nude tribal ‘let’s make love not war, man’ rock opera” p.15

“I can’t stand real things. If I could put up with reality I wouldn’t be here” p.62

“Cosi gave me something to think about, something to do” p.36

Art“Why do you think an opera has music – no one will have to pay attention to the words” p.63“A world that was as far removed as this depressing asylum as possible” p.63“Cosi offers you a chance to do something successful at least once in your dismal life” p.27‘You don’t understand, Lewis. Today Australia was changed forever. She doesn’t want to see an opera about a few upperclass twits” p.76“I mentioned Macbeth and Roy tried to strangle me” p.79

Art“This was an experiment to bring them out of their shells not to allow them to wreak havoc” p.23“[My history of love] that’s the world I wanted Cosi Fan Tutte to capture . . . But it’s gone, the music too. p.64“Comedy is better when it’s real” p.61Velvet Underground ‘Candy says’ p.68 – song about sexuality and the physicality of love. Foreshadows Lewis and Lucy’s discovery about each others’ infidelity. Life imitating art.“burnt out theatre . . . pitch black inside” p.1

Differing perspectives on Art

The patients in the play use ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ as an escape from the mundane reality of the institution. Art is like madness in that not everybody understands it Is merely a source of entertainment Art is the home of dreams and desires Relatable - both ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ people can respond to it A chance to experience success A medium by which to transmit political views (convice others) Expressions of both destruction and beauty A means by which to express one’s true self Energising, inspiring, challenging environment Open to interpretation – Art imitates life.

Differing perspectives on Art

Unifies people but it can also divide Colours life – provides direction, purpose, questioning, motivating Boring – if it is not understood Art as an illusion for happiness rather than face reality

Nowra’s perspective on Art

Nowra tries to show that art, like the mental patients themselves, are not appreciated by mainstream society in Australia. Art has been constantly undermined, undervalued and ignored. Art is a legitimate form of alternative therapy as it allows patients an opportunity to be creative, express themselves, challenge their own abilities Allows for intellectual fulfilment and development.

Essay Questions on ArtIn many ways Cosi is about the liberating nature of theatre and how it unifies everyone. Discuss with reference to the text.

Reality and Illusion Imagination Delusion Perspective Perception Distortion Fantasy Wishful Thinking Understanding Truth Avoidance

Belief Interpretations Honesty Realism Legitimate experience Genuine Simplistic Complicated Serious Experience

Natural Exclusive Unique Changing

Self-Discovery