Shoe Horn Sonata

John Misto, used many distinctly visual techniques to enhance the many past distinctive experiences during the world war two, that was shared by the two protagonists Sheila and Bridie, in the Australian Play ‘shoe Horn Sonata’. Through the use of the great dialogue, and pleasing dramatic techniques, misto explores, through sheilas and brides demonstrations and flashbacks the story of the thousands of women including bridie and sheila kept prisoned by the Japanese. On the other hand, the poem ‘the send-off’ written by Wilfred Owen, was also set in a war, ww1. This poem is about the send-off of the soldiers and is very similar to the Shoe Horn sonata as it also reflects a sad disappointing image that very few will return. Both of these texts here reflect on harsh experiences during the war.
The opening scene act one of shoe horn sonata shows Bridie doing a re enactment of the kowtow, a tribute to the emperor of japan that the females have to attend to when they hear the words ‘keiri!’ It than shows bridie standing in a spotlight, bowing stiffly from the waist and remains in this position. This technique allows the readers to visualise exactly how the composer wants it to be performed. The reader is able to engage with bridie and share their experiences. Misto also includes projected images on a screen behind to support the dialogue. This allows the readers to feel included in the experiences that were experienced and creates an emotional relationship between the readers and the women, also reminding them that even though the play is fiction the stories that are told are sadly real.
The first line ‘Down the close, darkening lanes they sang their way to the siding-shed’ from the poem the send-off, Wilfred Owen illustrates the soldiers singing happily, when they are going to defend their country. This line is juxtaposition because it portrays the soldiers and the ‘close darkening lanes’. This is a powerful line because it shows to the readers the