Too Much Punch for Judy Play Analysis

The play 'Too much punch for Judy' involves two sisters, Jo and Judy also their mum-Vi and younger brother Johnnie. Jo and Judy are very close but one night after they had both been drinking, they had a terrible accident in which Jo died, leaving Judy who was driving to pick up the pieces which she doesn't do very well.

For our first task we were asked to use still image to introduce the family, in the first picture set before the accident we chose to use split scenes.

One side of our picture presented Jo and Vi happily cooking together, Vi has a look of contentment and Jo is smiling, Judy is to the left of the two with a look of resentment towards Jo and the fact that Jo has a better relationship with her mother.

On the other side of the picture we displayed Jo and Judy together in a pub they are both intoxicated and are deliberately drawing attention to themselves.

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We used split scenes to demonstrate the two sides of Jo: she is very well behaved and mature in front of Vi, however when she is with her sister she is disinhibited and boisterous.

In the next still image after the death of Jo, we used thought tracking to try and demonstrate what all the characters are thinking. We positioned Johnnie watching television in the corner of the room with a look of sadness and boredom, the line Johnnie used to show this was "I don't want to face the reality my big sister Jo has left us and I know my mums heart is broken but I don't know how to fix it" Johnnie said these lines to show his naivety and that he didn't really understand but still wanted to help.

We put Vi and the priest in the middle of the room, Vi has her head in her hands the priest has one hand resting on Vi's arm to show he is trying to comfort her. "I just cant think of anything else my baby's gone and my child feels responsible, I cant deal with all of this" Vi says still sobbing. Judy is sitting away from the rest of the family showing that she feels at a distance from them now. "I know my mum blames me for this but she wont say it she knows I'll crack, she just can't face that her daughter killed her own sister. I wish she just wouldn't be false with me-shout at me, Hate me! I know I deserve it."

I think you can understand the characters better when you use thought tracking because its not what the characters are saying to anyone else which might not be their genuine thoughts.

The next explorative strategy set a while after both accidents, was Hotseating, this is when you ask the chosen character questions about the relative issue. It is used to get deeper into a character.

"How did you feel after the first accident?"

"Well I was devastated of course for myself but for Judy too she blamed herself and there was nothing I could do. I just kept thinking why us? Why Jo? It just keeps going over and over in your head y'know-why didn't I call them, tell them to get a cab? Blaming yourself is all part of the grieving process I suppose but you cant think like that or you'll never let go."

Vi had just learnt to deal with the loss of her child and cope with everything when she was informed that her daughter, Judy was involved in yet another accident and had killed someone else, the interviewer asks:

"How did you feel after the second accident?"

"I was shattered when the police called, I felt sick I almost didn't believe them.

The whole world drained of colour, I felt faint, heartbroken how could Judy have done this when she promised me she would never drink and drive again." We portrayed Vi as a woman with a broken heart her daughter has betrayed her and now she has nothing but the memories of her perfect family.

Our last task was to show Judy after both accidents, Jo comes back from the dead to speak to Judy. Judy is sitting on the floor with her legs crunched up so she looks really small. Jo walks up slowly behind and silently behind her, and whispers:

"How could you?" Judy whips round,

"Oh Jo I am sorry its not my fault jo...." Jo cuts her off

"Do you actually know what you've done?" Jo whispers then her voice gets louder as the conversation progresses this makes her seem almost scary.

Judy looks away as if she is about to cry, but Jo carries on louder now.

"Do you Judy? Do you how our mother is feeling now?"

"Jo stop...please" Judy sounds pathetic now she is sobbing

"Judy you have ruined her life, she is so ashamed of her only daughter-that's your fault too!" she is now shouting at Jo "how could you do this again even after what happened? Do you not care? You killed someone else Judy that's two people the same way, are you that stupid? Don't you understand?" Jo circles Judy, "Judy? Judy? You don't get it do you Judy? Judy? It's all your fault! Judy?" Judy is sitting on the floor with her head in her knees crying loudly Jo is circling Judy and repeatedly asking her questions, which are very insensitive, and she sounds very haunting.

"I hope you start sorting your life out Judy or you'll be a pathetic wreck for the rest of your life." Jo bends down and says this line right in Judy's face she says it with hate then walks out. Judy is left hysterically crying on the floor she freezes-the lights go off.

The ending of the drama is supposed to make you think of the consequences of drink driving it makes you realise how many people are affected by just a few too may drinks.