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Soliloquy- Chance's final line tells the audience about the enemy, time. He is giving advice about how to use your time because you only have a limited amount.  He wants the audience to make good choices and make use of time for good.

Symbolism- Hollywood is a symbol of youth for Princess. After she calls the agent, she no longer uses the oxygen tank and her confidence regains. She is about to get her youth again.
Clocks in the houses, ticking away of your life.
Will

Parallelism- Chance and Princess seemed to parallel the whole drama until the last couple of lines. Chance accepts his age, while Princess decides to go back to Hollywood and chase the youth further.
- Phillip

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Princess- The Princess has a major in develop in finding her youth. She finally gets a comeback in Hollywood after she finds out that her movie was a bigger success than she thought. She will head back to Hollywood, and achieve her youth dreams.

Chance- He has the opportunity to go back Hollywood with Princess, but he decides to stay with Heavenly in St. Cloud. He is in contrast with Princess, as he has accepted his youth, while the Princess will continue to chase her youth. He has realized that chasing is youth has actually made him older, and not age is the enemy, but time is.
Will

Tom Finley and henchman - Tom Finley and henchman go to Princesses door with the intention to make sure she gets the help she needs with leaving with Chance,  they lurk in the hotel so she will be gone soon. - Phillip

Alexandra - Learns from reporter that Princesses movie broke all industry records and her comeback has been a success that no one could ever imagine, and the opposite of the reactions they got at the premiere.
Phillip

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"Princess, the age of someone can be calculated by the level of -level of- rot in them. And by that measure I'm ancient."
Chance is explaining to Princess that while he may look young, he feels old due to all the bad things and wrong choices hes made in his life. Chance has come to the realization where he accepts his age/ aging, this is proved in the end of the drama. In contrast to Princess, who will continue to chase youth.
Will

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Chance gets the Princess to call a famous Hollywood columnist.Princess that her movie actually turned out to be somewhat of a success, and she is somewhat on the rise again. She was supposed to mention Chance and Heavenly, but she does not.
The Princess wants Chance to come with her, but he would rather stay with Heavenly.
Foreshadows that Chance may have been killed by Tom Junior and company.
Tells the audience that time is the real enemy in all of us.
Will

Resolution - Tom Jr. ends up in the doorway. wanting Chance dead. Also as the play comes to an end Princess decides to call Chance for using her. While also asking Chance to leave St. Cloud. with her. Chance who refuses to leave  because he belongs there, wanting whatever that comes his way. - Phillip

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Longing for Youth- The Princess may have found her youth again when she finds out that her movie was a success and she is ready to return to Hollywood.
Chance denies the youth, by declineing an option to return to Hollywood with her. This is motivated by his love with Heavenly.
In Chance's final line, he explains that Time is the real enemy. Meaning that you shouldn't waste your time getting caught up in bad situations like Chance, and how it seems like he was ultimately killed for it.
This is avery relatable theme, applies to all at some point.
Will

Self reflection - Heavenly was not a good influence on Chance and he finally understands and sees the consequences that were surrounding him. The "youth" inside Chance has left him.  Which helped him and is what he relied on to get him through life. Also in Act 3 The rise in Princesses fame starts up again, making her realize amd think about the real things in life. - Phillip

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" I know I've done many wrong things in my life, many more than I can name or number, but I swear I never hurt Heavenly in my life".
This shows chances ignorance and selfishness. It touches on the past and the freedom that came with it. Chance did not know he had given Heavenly a disease but he made the decision to be with another known "whore". Now he as well as heavenly are in bondage over the past wrongs and mistakes that occured.
-Connor
"Never do that to a man with thinning hair"
This line is said by Chance. Many people in the audience may think of Chance as the youngest one on the stage, but yet he is still showing signs of aging, in his thinning hair. Showing he has some vulnerabilities.
-Will

"People that loved you expected just one thing of you-sweetness and honesty."
"Chance: Nothing goes that quick, not even youth."
- Phillip

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Soliloquy- Chance is drunk and his emotions get the better of him. His soliloquy gives more insight into his love with heavenly. How he sees her as perfect and pure. He states, "Where ill take her is not to a place anywhere except to her place in my heart". You can see his intentions are wholesome and he doesn't believe that this is heavenly's endorsement.
Stage Directions- The stage directions add to the characters persona and body language. Its stated, "Chance draws a deep breath. Then, he stalks back into the main part of the cocktail lounge like a matador entering a bull ring". This allows the reader to imagine this scene. It also allows the actor to interpret what a "matador" entering a ring would hold himself as. The stage directions essentially allow for he play to be authentic and interpreted differently by actors.
Parallelism- Heavenly is closely guarded by her father. Essentially taking her away from chance. Its forbidden love that will never be kindled. The parallel to this is the princesses love for chance. She wishes to be with him. But his heart belongs to Heavenly who he will never acquire. Chance and the Princess are more alike than different but chance cannot get over heavenly to see what he has with the princess.

connor

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Longing for Youth- The setting of the bar, is creating an effect of a time of little responsibility and having fun.
Princess comes down to the bar to look for Chance. She has to be with him, possibly as a social symbol, to look younger, being with a younger man.
Heavenly blacks out when the question is asked about her operation.

Love is Complicated- Chance and Heavenly finally see each other in the hotel bar, though, they don't say anything. This could foreshadow a future and suspenseful meeting between them.

Consequences of actions taken - Chance must face the consequences of his job. Chance has to deal with Princess entering when Heavenly was nearby, taking the deal with repercussion from the way that he has acted. Being evident in his discussion with Aunt Nonnie, seeing how immature he is.
- Phillip

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Miss Lucy is at the hotel bar, after Boss Finely smashed her finger after commenting on her poor sexual performance.
Nonnie and Chance also enter, Nonnie tells Chance he must leave, but brings up the contract, Chance emphasizes that he must be with Heavenly.
Princess comes down to the bar, she is mad Chance for leaving her alone. Then the Finley's come in.
Tom Junior tells Chance that he must leave town before midnight, or he will be castrated.
They watch the rally from the hotel room, the Heckler asks Heavenly about the operation, on,live TV.
- Phillip

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Heavenly- Now the whole town knows about Heavenly's operation. After the Heckler asks the question that the rally
Chance- Chance learns that he has to leave town or there will be consequences.. Theres is a weird atmosphere surrounding the town, due to what he did to Heavenly. After the rally he learns the plunder.
Miss Lucy- Resentful toward Boss. He smashed her fingers on his jewelry box. She wants to help Chance to get back at Boss.
Tom Junior- He wants to defend his sister when confronting Chance.

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Soliloquy- Boss Finely has somewhat of a non- traditional soliloquy in this scene. It is near the beginning, and he is explaining to Scudder that Chance took Nude photos of Heavenly and had them developed and spread around. This line really highlights the pure hatred for Chance that Boss has. The audience may feel inclined to have a negative opinion of Chance as well, after hearing that Heavenly was only 15 when these were taken, and some of the phoos got out into the public as well.
Stage Directions-  A lot of stage directions are given throughout the scene, allowing thoses who may not be viewing the rendition, but rather reading, to get a good "picture" of how the author wanted the set and scenes to look when performed live, or in a movie. On page 49, a description is given, for how a light was turned on, and what kind of music was playing in the scene. Details that would only be present in a live rendition.
Parallelism- Most characters share some parallels, in the longing for youth. EX: Princess and Heavenly. (Princess is washed up, Heavenly had her operation). Boss Finely taking away the love of Chance and Heavenly.

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Nonnie [To Tom Juinor]: I hope you don't mean violence - does he, Tom? Violence doesn't solve problems. It never solves young people's problems. If you leave it to me, I'll get him out of St. Cloud.
The theme of Age/ Youth is referneced in this quote. Nonnie is claiming that Violence won't solve problems, even in the young. By claiming this, she could be referring to that young people may be more driven to do things, without thinking. This quote is also important to the plot of the story.
-Will

"You favored Chance Wayne, encouraged, aided and abetted him in his corruption of Heavenly over a long, long time".
Boss Finely has held a grudge over those who liked Chance. He as well as the other characters in the play can't let go of the past. The Boss is upset that his daughter lost her childhood at 15. But the fact being she is an adult now and nothing can change what happened years ago. This adds to the theme of the past holding strings. Strings that tie you back to it.
-Connor

Heavenly: "Papa, you have got an illusion of power". This illusion is apparent throughout the story. He sees her as a young girl still. And the illusion that youth is still in the air. Everyone longs for it but can't grasp it. He feels as though he has a grasp over their lives when in reality he doesn't.
-Phil

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Boss Finely has been informed that Chance has returned home. He asks his son, Tom to throw him out of town, because he gave his daughter a STD. Aunt Nonnie talks with Chance and tells them, she can get him to leave, peacefully.
Finely is running for re- election, he demands that Heavenly appear on a televised rally, or Chance will be harmed.
These actions drive this suspenseful and interesting plot.
Themes such as time and age are demonstrated throughout this scene. People change over time can be used as a thematic statement.

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Boss Finley: He is very upset and in disbelief that Chance Is back in town, and wants him removed some how. He lets his son (Tom) know that he wants him gone by tomorrow. Not wanting to create any more drama and scandal to tarnish his political career, he finds Heavenly at the edge of the lawn and warns her about this.

Tom - A delinquent who gets in trouble too many time, does whatever his father tell him, while he bails him out frequently.

Princess - She parallels the longing of youth. Always demanding and persuasive, she is always getting her way and always needing to be glamorous while on going out with her.  She acts just as a real princess should; bossy, selfish, demanding, and pretty.

Chance - Chance is in a bad situation as Boss Finley wants to kill Chance because of what he has done to Heavenly.  Does not want to settle down like everyone else. He wants an exciting youth; unlike the "routine" and "discipline" in the navy. Giving women a feeling of youth and appreciation, and being cocky. The only thing he has is beauty, according to both princess and himself. He is completely in love with Heavenly, but not loyal to her. He has "permanent in a world of change" with a hint of "pretentious".

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Longing of youth - Heavenly has an operation, which ends with her not being able to have kids anymore, Princess is washed up. All characters are wishing for a simpler time for where they don't have much responsibility.

Love and Class - The person Chance loves is part of a family with a high political relevance causing him seem inferior. Chance want to use the money he has from the princess, and use the car to show the town that he is worthy of her.
Deception - The theme of deception is still relevant in this play, except now the main characters are not trying to deceive each other. Chance wants the help of the princess now to deceive Heavenly that he is wealthy and worthy of being her lover. Chance's main goal is to do anything that he can in order to get Heavenly to fall in love with him.
- Phillip

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The princess signs the Travelers checks. We then learn the life story of Chance. He did not take a traditional route of life. After the military, Chance met Heavenly, her father does not want them to marry. Chance asks Princess to help him set up a fake talent contest to lure in Heavenly. This talent show could be the climax later on.

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Chance: "I gave people more than I look."
- This quote resens heavily with the theme of youth. Further on in the quote, he claims that the middle age look to him for youth. This could apply to princess as well. As she is looking for youth.  -Will

"That was the peak of my youth and I knew my youth wouldn't last long".
This shows Chances vanity. How he believes the only way to get further is his beauty. How in age he would be denied the things of the world.
-Connor

'Say it! Say it! What you had was beauty!" This quote goes along with the theme of aging/clinging to youth. Both chance and Alexandra Del Lago seem to have peaked in early youth, and that's all that they seem to think about. - Phillip

"I want to be seen in your car on the street of St. Cloud" This quote lines up with the theme of self consciousness. Both of them are extremely caught up about how people think of them, even if it's not true.
- Phillip

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Pacing - This scene is rather short, causing the pacing to be rather quick, at least quicker than the first scene.
Irony - Chance decides to join the Navy because he thinks the outfit looked good on him. He may have some kind of ego.
Stage Directions- The important directions in the script help tell the story the author wanted it to be told. Some of them add to the tone such as the direction "mocking" in scene two. A sarcastic tone throughout can be interpreted.

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Longing for youth- Chance longs for the love he had experienced in youth. And the princess wishes for her feelings of youth.
Desperation- chance is desperate to make things right with heavenly. And is willing to go to a great extent to accomplish this. In addition, the princess is desperate for love. Even if that means she has to pay for it.
- Connor

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You get a glimpse into what chance has went through in his life. He becomes vulnerable as he talks of his deep love with heavenly. And how their relationship ended badly. You discover that his motives for being with the princess was for him and heavenly to be the winners of a competition. So that he will get time with her to talk things over.
You also begin to see the Princess motives. She is essentially using Chance as a companion. She is lonely and he makes her feel young again. You see that she will do anything for chance to come back. As she lets him use her car and she gives him money. At the end of the scene chance says he might never come back. And with this she says she will wait and blows him a kiss signifying her love for him or love of him
-Connor Huseman

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Scene 1 could be seen as the exposition of the novel. The readers are exposed to the main characters, such as Chance and Princess. They are together in a hotel room, who Scudder meets them, claiming to Chance that his mother is dead, and that his ex- girlfriend's father is going to come after him. This drives some exciting action, in the beginning of the drama, keeping the audience intrigued. The scene ends with some blackmail, as Chance secretly places a tape recorder without the consent of Princess, in order to get money, as they are under contract together. THis creates more exciting action for the audience to enjoy.
- Will

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Staging - The whole scene takes place in small hotel room, and is basically just one conversation

Dramatic irony - The audience has the ability to see the ages of the actors that are playing the characters. When the characters that are actually young act, the audience can really understand and get a feel of what is going on.

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"Princess, the end of the story is up to you". This relates back to the theme of living in the moment. The princess has memory loss and is trying so hard to remember. But in her doing so she is missing out on the opportunities in front of her. And she is missing out on making new memories in the present.
- Connor
"Well I like a good mystery novel, I read them to put me to sleep and if they dont put me to sleep, they're good; but this one's a little to good for comfort. I wish you would find my glasses."
-WIll

" I just wasn't young, not young, young. I wasn't young anymore....." - This shows the theme of the problems of aging very well. Alexandra Del Lago is upset that she is no longer considered young by the hollywood standards, wishing she can look young again.
- Phillip
"Princess! Do you know something? All this conversation has been recorded on tape?"
- This line is when chance reveals he has blackmailed the princess telling her his plans of using her to get to the limelight  - Phillip

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Youth - The pursuit of perfection and purity that comes with youth. Hoping that age will never come. Princess could be described as a washed up actress. She is looking to strike it again, but worried people won't think about her the same way, as they did when she was younger.
Dreams - Straying away from reality. Chance is dreaming on being with Heavenly again, but is not possible due to her father. Princess wants to be a world class actress again, might be to old, just to name a few examples.
(Themes From Scene 1, add more later)

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Exposition - Sweet Bird of Youth- Scene 1

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Exposition - Sweet Bird of Youth- Scene 1

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Setting - St. Cloud, Florida. Some high end resort/ hotel
Main Characters - Alexander Del Lago "Princess" , Chance Wayne
Situation - Chance and Princess awake. Princess is confused and remembers that Chance is her gigolo. Met on a movie set, she does not want to retire (Youth). They are in contract with each other.
- Will

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Chance Wayne: He claims himself to be the best looking boy in his Gulf Coast hometown. His family was very poor. A skilled diver and star of his high school drama program, he left home at 18 to sing in Oklahoma! on Broadway. Wayne had to join the Navy because of the Korean War that was going on.  He then left after several years of service due to his mental breakdowns that were occurring.
Alexandra Del Lago "The princess 'Kosmonopolis" : Wanting no public attention at all, a major movie star in her youth, but retired 15 years ago. She believed that her reputation hinged upon her beauty and youth, and left the movies when she felt that those qualities had begun to fade. Recently, however, she has filmed her comeback picture—but left the premiere early, and hasn’t been in contact with her Hollywood friends since.
Heavenly Finley: 27 years old, is the only daughter of Boss Finley; the younger sister of Tom Finley Jr; and Chance Wayne’s longtime sweetheart. Like her late mother she is a practicing Catholic, although this frustrates her father. Recently, Heavenly suffered through an awful loss and put on black in mourning. Although her family attempted to keep her circumstances private, there are rumors throughout St. Cloud that something tragic has happened concerning Heavenly.
Boss Finley: Comes from humble beginnings. At the age of 15, he came as a barefoot hillbilly to St. Cloud out of the “red clay hills.”  He claims that the Voice of God called him to defend segregation and protect white southern youth from corruption, and is willing to do nearly anything to protect what he considers a sacred mission.
Tom Junior: The only son of Boss Finley, Tom Finley Junior has devoted the past year to organizing the “Youth for Tom Finley” clubs. However, some believe that the club members are little better than thugs, and Tom Junior himself holds a decidedly spotty record, including a citation for drunk driving and a raucous stag party that was difficult to keep out of the papers.
Aunt Nonnie: Aunt Nonnie is the sister of Boss Finley’s late wife, and aunt to Heavenly and Tom Junior. She lives in the Boss’s household with Tom Junior and Heavenly.
Dr. George Scudder": George Scudder is the chief of staff at the Thomas J. Finley hospital in St. Cloud. He’s a serious man; he tries to act conscientiously, and is very much aware of his position as the young, successful head of the local hospital.
Miss Lucy: Miss Lucy is Boss Finley’s longstanding mistress. She lives in a $50-dollar-a-day suite at the Royal Palms Hotel and has charge accounts at many shops in New Orleans, all of which the Boss pays for. She is also a connoisseur of fine jewelry.
Charles:  He’s served the Finley's family for many years, and is privy to many of their secrets.
Fly: Is a waiter at the Royal Palms Hotel. He remembers seeing Chance Wayne and Heavenly Finley dance together at the Grand Ballroom on Saturday nights.
Stuff: The bartender at the Royal Palms Hotel cocktail lounge, having advanced from his previous job as a soda-jerk at Walgreens. He is also a member of the Youth for Boss Finley club, and a fan of the fiery speeches in the Boss’s political rallies.
The Heckler: Appears at Boss Finley’s rallies. Although he is accused by Boss Finley and his followers of heckling, he claims to only be asking questions—but the questions he asks are loaded, and he’s previously been beaten after asking them. The Heckler, like the Boss once was, is a hillbilly; he is not from St. Cloud.
Bud and Scotty: Bud and Scotty are married to Edna and Violet, and used to be friends and classmates of Chance Wayne and Heavenly Finley. Scotty works at the bank in town. They’re supporters of Boss Finley, and strongly agree with his agenda of Southern segregation.
Edna and Violet: Edna and Violet are married to Bud and Scotty and are some of the young matrons and bridge-players of St. Cloud society. Although they grew up with Chance Wayne and used to be friends with him, they’re not pleased to learn that he’s come back to St. Cloud.
Hatcher: The assistant manager of the Royal Palms Hotel in St. Cloud. Having seen Chance check into the hotel with the Princess Kosmonopolis, Hatcher is one of the first to know that Chance Wayne has returned to St. Cloud. He’s also friendly to George Scudder and Boss Finley—after all, the Boss pays Miss Lucy’s not insignificant hotel bill.

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I predict heartbreak in this play. As well as deception and lies throughout. I do however believe there will be a happy ending. - Connor Huseman

I predict this play we be quite exciting, as it is normally performed in a live action setting. As well as some interesting character development. - Will Owens

My prediction for the play 'Sweet Bird of Youth' is for it to be a love story that ends in heartbreak. And there will be a dramatic change of character development throughout the story. - Phillip Hobbs

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3 Act Play
Hands kind of shaky this mawnin?
Whos that?
How did you know I was here?
Want some coffee?
Why've you come back to St. Cloud?
These questions bring confusion. The solution to these questions is for the man to get to know this "mystery" woman.
Alexandra Del Lago is a faded movie star. While the play focuses on her it also is about the loss of innocence and corruption. This play reveals the dark side of the American dreams of youth and fame.

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"Sweet Bird of Youth is a tamer and tidied but arresting version of Tennessee Williams' Broadway play. It's a glossy, engrossing hunk of motion picture entertainment, slickly produced by Berman." Variety Staff (1961) The critic is excited by the performance of the play. He applauds the producer of his work.

"Tennessee Williams' fleet of fragile, fading beauties contains many traps for long-beautiful actresses eager to publicly confront their neuroses and their mortality, if only to assert that they're not in denial about the constant ravages of time, even though we all are. But Diane Lane, whose richly textured performance is a needed anchor for director David Cromer's passionate, arresting and unwieldy Goodman Theatre production of Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth," The critic is applauding this live action rendition of Sweet Bird of Youth. " Jones (2012)

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Historical Context - Sweet Bird of Youth

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Historical Context - Sweet Bird of Youth

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Written when the United States was on the verge of the Cold War (1959) between America and the U.S.S.R. Two new states were were admitted (Alaska and Hawaii). Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower was near the end of his second term.

Significance: Tells the story of a gigolo and drifter, Chance Wayne, who returns to his home town as the companion of a faded movie star, Alexandra Del Lago (travelling incognito as Princess Kosmonopolis), whom he hopes to use to help him break into the movies.

Genre:. The genre of the play is based on a drama.The main reason for his homecoming is to get back what he had in his youth: primarily, his old girlfriend, whose father had run him out of town years before.

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Background Information - Tennessee Williams

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Background Information - Tennessee Williams

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Born: March 26, 1911
Died: February 25, 1983
Other Works: The Glass Menagerie (1944), A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955)
Where: Born and Raised in Columbus, Mississippi
Studied at the University of Iowa
Much of William's works were adapted for cinema, earning him a spot in the American Theatre Hall of Fame