The concluding statement of the ‘Shoe-Horn Sonata’ draws out the main concerns of the play by providing distinctive visuals in order to create images in the mind of the audience. The playwright John Misto emphasises his desire to provide a realistic experience of war and allow the audience to be impacted in a way, which will continue to affect them. John Misto shapes these final lines to connect with the issues of friendship, survival and atrocities of war of the woman prisoners in a terrifying and distinctive manner. ‘Sisters of War’ directed by Brendon Maher interrelate with these concerns and acknowledges the impacts of war towards its audience.
The Atrocities of War shape the lives of both Bridie and Sheila. Their ‘music, joy, triumph and survival’ were all impacted on the way the war had affected each other. The ‘bright-light’ reflecting on the shoehorn, in the final lines of the play, emphasises the respect and gratitude they shared for this object as it guided them through a long road of constant torment and torture. Bridie and Sheila’s encounter with Lipstick Larry demonstrates the uttermost atrocity, which left both women with a remembrance of this moment for the rest of their lives. The voice over which consists of ‘ugly thumps of young Bridie being punched and hit’ highlights the mistreatment of woman during the time of the war. Their treatment was that of pests and animals as they struggled to get by everyday without an inch of hope. As Bridie and Sheila recall this moment through flashbacks on the voice overed soundtrack the audience is left with the continuous sound of young Bridie being beaten. This is continued as a way to keep the audience thinking about the tragedy, which had overcome these women. The scene ends with a ‘blackout’ in the lighting. This lighting refrain is included to provide fear and imagination towards the audience. The use of black lighting emphasises the power of the Japanese. The horror that is held by these women as...