Elephants Graveyard Essay Sample

The play was about a small muddy, beat up town. There was a drifter named Red who traveled around with a circus. His elephant, Mary, was minding her own business and noticed a melon rind in a ditch. She was about to walk away from it when Red whipped her. The elephant was probably tired and hungry, so in rage, she picked Red up with her trunk and beat him against a stand. This act killed Red. When the townspeople saw what happened, they decided to hang Mary with the use of a crane. The entire play was done in a monologue style where everyone in the town gave their piece. The central thesis of the play was a cautionary tale on animal abuse in the future. This was because the play was set in the early 20th Century, when the actual death of an elephant named Mary happened. However, the play could also portray the message that an eye for an eye will not satisfy the masses for very long. A small town like Erwin, since there is nothing much happening, will always look for something that would entertain. Like what was said nearing the end of the play, once the elephant has been killed, everyone will go back to their normal lives. Therefore, the message that the play is trying to voice out is that the masses cannot be subdued, they will always unite for something that they feel strongly about, no matter how temporary the issue is.
The set design and the audience interaction were two things that were very striking about the play. First is the set design, which was almost minimalistic, although it was brightly decorated. It had a lonely feel to it, and you could sense that the story that was going to be told was not a happy one. You could feel the isolation of the town, and how far away the townspeople were from everything else. The sound effects which were done by the actors themselves or off stage helped set the mood throughout the show. This showed resourcefulness and creativity. The costumes of the characters helped set the time of the piece. It also helped the audience adjust to the setting. Another interesting thing about the entire production was the audience interaction. It was as though an oral biography was being told, since the actors would give their own monologues. Although it was difficult to connect with this style at first, it was an effective way to convey the story and get to know the characters. As the audience grows with the characters, you feel more comfortable towards this type of style. Without technology or any special effects, the actors were the only ones responsible for conveying the story, which was done excellently because it allowed the audience to feel an intimate connection with each of the characters.
The implications of the production told more than just the execution of Mary. It spoke of the town and the time. This was during the early 1900s, when America established itself as a world power, and the continent was settled from coast to coast. The fact that the townspeople thought that they could bring justice by killing an animal is quite absurd. It was as if the people in that town believed that they had the ultimate decision, that even they can control animals. Also during this time, cities were growing and becoming industrial. However, this particular town was backwards, and everything about it seemed to be standing still. No matter what they decided to do with Mary, their town would still be muddy and run-down.