Dialogue
Dialogue can tell us a lot a lot about people. Many aspects of someone’s personality can be shown through good use of dialogue.
David Williamson’s “The Club” uses one simple setting and only 6 characters of different ages and status as a foundation for a play filled with different language devices and classic dialogue.
In “The Club”, we are introduced to Gerry Cooper, an administrator at the club. Through the playwright’s clever use of dialogue throughout the play, we, the viewer, perceive Gerry as a deceitful and untrustworthy member of the committee.
The use of flattery in Gerry’s lines allows him to control other members of the committee without being hated in return, for example, Gerry to the team coach, Laurie- “ I'm just the administrator, you're the expert”. He pretends to be everybody’s trusted friend and supporter, when in actual fact he is on the committee for his own personal gains.
Gerry’s character also uses devices such as cunning and lying. This is clearly seen when Gerry and the club president, Ted Parker, are talking about the repercussions of Ted assaulting a stripper. Gerry to Ted- “"I just thought you might want to resign. That's all." Discussing the stripper incident, Gerry to Ted, "If it comes to the point of testifying, I'll say that I was confused", but he hides information about the medical report from Ted. Again he presents himself to Ted as loyal: "I wouldn't be surprised if you're right, but the public are going to believe her rather than you." Gerry is pretending to Ted that there is nothing that he can do.
In addition to Gerry Cooper, the viewer meets ex-coach and committee member, Jock Riley. Unlike Gerry, Jock is not overly intelligent and lacks imagination and creativity. This is evident in his language. David Williamson uses dialogue to portray Jock as a thug and a bully, this is shown when talking tactics with Geoff- “Get your thumb, and ram it up his arse Works every time”. Hypocrisy is used by the...