Summary Our Country's Good: Exam Example Questions

OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD
8) QUESTIONS
The Set Out;

Section B: 20th and 21st century drama
Answer all three questions.



Question 18 Wertenbaker: Our Country’s Good

Answer all parts of this question. You must make specific reference to
the social, cultural and/or historical context of Our Country’s Good in
your answers and ensure that your interpretative ideas are
appropriate to the play as a whole.


1. Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from ********* to
**********of the printed extract in order to highlight each of the characters’
feelings at this moment in the play.

10
marks

2. As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of *********
in order to reveal your interpretation of the character.

10
marks

3. As a designer, outline your ideas for lighting or sound/ costume or set design
for this extract. Explain and justify how these would help to create an
appropriate mood and atmosphere at this point in the play.

10
Marks

, Act 1 Practice Essay Questions
Act One, Scene One/ Two
- Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from the start of the play
until “Aborigine: Best leave it alone” in order to convey the mood and atmosphere
of the opening of the play.
- As a performer; explain and justify how you would perform the role of
Wisehammer in Scene One AND the Aborigine in Scene Two in order to reveal
you interpretations of the roles.
- As a designer, outline your ideas for sound or lighting for this moment. Explain
and Justify how these would help create the appropriate settings for these points
in the play.

Act One Scene Three
=How would you perform the role of Harry in Act 1, Scene 3 to bring out your interpretation of
the character?

Act One, Scene Four
- Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from the line “Harry: we
used to hear you on the ship Ralph” until “Ralph: you won’t forget to talk His
Excellency about the play?” in order to convey the scene title; The Loneliness of
Men.
- As a performer; explain and justify how you would perform the role of ralph from
the beginning of the scene until “Harry brewer has come in” in order to reveal
your interpretation of the role.
- As a designer; outline your ideas for set design for this moment. Explain and
justify how these ideas would help to show the appropriate period setting for the
play.

Act One, Scene Five
=How would you direct Act 1, Scene 5 to help show the attitudes of the female convicts?
=How would you perform the role of Mary in Act 1, Scene 5 to bring out your interpretation of the
character?
- Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from “Meg: we heard
you were looking for some women” until “Meg:.. old shitty Meg” in order to show
your interpretation of the moment.
- As a performer, explain and justify how you would perform the role of Sideway
from “Top of my profession, Mr Clark” until “Sideway Scuttles off” in order to
reveal your interpretation of the role.
- As a designer, outline your ideas for lighting or set design for the scene. Explain
and justify how these would help create the appropriate mood or atmosphere for
this point in the play.

Act One, Scene Six
=How would you direct Act 1, Scene 6 to emphasise the contrasting views to putting on a play?
- Explain and justify how you would direct the performers from “Ross:
Constellations. Plays!...” until “Campbell: wilde. Wilde” in order to show your
interpretation of this moment.
- As a performer explain and justify how you would perform the role of Ralph from
“and why not” until “England” in order to show his defence of the play to the
officers.