China Journal: Part 2

I KNOW JOE AND I ARE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH WHEN THE AGING HIPPIE IN “BIG SUR”—WITH THE ARROW IN HER FOREHEAD?—MAKES HER ENTRANCE FROM STAGE LEFT. In BIG SUR, Jeremy Chester’s very first hitchhiker steals Jeremy’s car at gunpoint and leaves Jeremy stranded in his...

China Journal: Part 3

After leaving Joe, I stop at the newsstand that is open late and I pick up a copy of China Daily, an English edition of daily news. The newsstand is located on a part of the campus that has produce stands, restaurants, a bank and other buildings which, during class...

China Journal: Part 4

WHAT IMPRESSES ME MOST ABOUT THE PLAYWRITING CLASS IS HOW FAST THESE CHINESE STUDENTS OF ENGLISH GET IT. WHAT CONTINUES TO IMPRESS ME ABOUT JOE GRAVES IS HIS ABILITY TO RUN A PROGRAM, TEACH, DIRECT AND BUILD A FIRST-RATE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LEAD CHARACTER, JEREMY...

China Journal: Part 5

SILLY TONGUE-TWISTER EXERCISES FOR THE ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASSPEKING UNIVERSITY/SPRING SEMESTER 2007 1) Ends of words must all be said, said Ed, who read with dread the final consonants put there to break his head. 2) Violent Willy vividly wishes his windows were...

China Journal: Part 6

(ALL THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS ARE REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE PLAYWRIGHTS) Among the many imperatives for the playwright, one of the most important is to get his/her drama off the ground as soon as possible. I call this...