QUESTION 7: MISSING BY REZA DE WET Study SOURCE G below and answer the questions that follow - NSC Dramatic Arts - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 1

1. Sound Effects: Incorporate distant sirens or muffled voices from outside to create a feeling of danger and urgency, highlighting the town's unsettling atmosphere.

2. Lighting: Use dim, flickering lights to symbolize uncertainty and danger, casting shadows that create a feeling of being watched or stalked.

3. Pacing: Slow down the delivery of dialogue to enhance tension. Pauses can create suspense and reflect the characters' fears, allowing the audience to absorb their anxiety.

4. Props: Introduce subtle elements, like a phone that rings ominously in the background or the sound of footsteps offstage, to amplify the feeling of lurking danger and the omnipresent threat.

The irony in Miem's words lies in her dismissal of the danger facing the community. While she expresses frustration with those who do not see the threat, she herself cannot recognize the peril posed by the circus and the people associated with it. Miem's anger at the naivety of others contrasts with her own blind spot, revealing her inability to fully grasp the seriousness of the situation.

Miem appears to view the revealed abuses as naive or foolish. She expresses indignation that people trust the circus despite its potential dangers, feeling that they are disregarding the serious warnings she and others have provided. Her frustration indicates that she sees them as complicit in the very dangers they face, highlighting her protective instincts toward the community.

Light functions as a significant symbol throughout the play, representing truth and awareness. In this scene, well-lit areas can symbolize safety, while dim lighting reflects ignorance and denial of danger. The contrast between bright circus lights and the dark outside world suggests a false sense of security, indicating that those drawn to the circus are blinded to the ominous reality. Consequently, light intensifies the themes of enlightenment versus ignorance in the narrative.

Miem's character exhibits protective instincts and an acute sense of danger. Her repeated warnings about the rapist and disdain for the community's ignorance reveal her sense of responsibility for others' safety. Additionally, her anger towards Gertie's naïveté and her desire to wash her hands of the situation remarks on her frustration with the inability of others to recognize genuine threats. This illustrates her strong moral values and determination to shield those she cares about, even at the cost of her own peace of mind.

Vocally, I would portray Miem's character with a mixture of urgency and frustration. Her tone would be sharp and clipped when expressing anger, particularly when saying, "The idiots! But I wash my hands." I would incorporate rising pitch to signify her distress. Physically, I would use tense body language, such as clenched fists or crossing arms, to express her hostility and indignation. Furthermore, frequent glances toward off-stage locations can convey her anxiety about the outside threats.

Reza de Wet conveys the supernatural through the mysterious atmosphere surrounding the characters' fears and the uncanny events that unfold. The presence of unseen forces, symbolized by the ominous references to the rapist and the circus, suggests a broader commentary on societal anxieties. The sudden disappearances of characters and the looming threat felt by the community highlight the unpredictable and often frightening nature of the supernatural. This interplay between reality and the unknown grips the audience, making them question where danger truly lurks.