David French is one of Canada’s most renowned playwrights of the 20th century. With his play "Jitters", which he wrote in 1979, French turned away from his more serious plays to create his first comedy. The plot is set in the theatrical world of a small Toronto theater, the Leicester Street Play-house, and takes place shortly before, during, and after the performance of the play-within-the-play, "The Care and Treatment of Roses". French uses the characters in his work to illustrate the contradictory attitudes regarding the clash of Canadian and American culture, in this case from the point of view of actors, producers and henchmen of the stage. And even though the play revolves around the institution of theater, French’s depiction of its characters also aims at the Canadian people as such. In "Jitters" he gives an insight into the weak Canadian self esteem and the attempt of forming a Canadian identity in competition against the more dominant American culture.
Thus, in this term paper, I would like to elaborate on Canadian–American relations in French’s play. In a first step, I will give an overview about the historical development of theater in Canada and to what extent it is intertwined with the question of national identity in that country. With this theoretical knowledge as a basis, I will further go on with an analysis of the people in "Jitters" itself. I will begin that part of the term paper by looking at the minor characters in the play and will then go on characterizing the two protagonists, namely Jessica Logan and Patrick Flanagan. These two are used by French as the strongest opposing forces when it comes to different attitudes regarding the relations between the two north American nations. My analyses will be made against the background of the images which are created of Canada and the United States and the relations between these two countries respectively. Professional theater in Canada is not older than about fifty years. The wish to establish this art form, however, reaches back to the early days of colonization by European settlers. Back then, in the 16th and early 17th centuries, the theater was dominated by the French lan-guage which was because north America had become the battlefield of French and English interests. Thus, the development of a national theater was closely connected to the political and military situation in the young country.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. National Identity and the Canadian Stage: A Historical Overview
3. Canadian – American relations in Jitters
3.1 Characters in Jitters
3.2 Jessica Logan
3.3 Patrick Flanagan
4. Conclusion
5. Works Cited
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the complex cultural and social relations between Canada and the United States, utilizing David French's 1979 play "Jitters" as a primary case study. It investigates how characters within the theatrical world reflect broader Canadian anxieties, specifically regarding national identity, self-esteem, and the perceived dominance of American culture in the pursuit of artistic success.
- Historical development of the Canadian theater and its link to national identity.
- The influence of Canadian mentality, including the absence of traditional "heroes" and "star cults."
- Character analysis of the play's protagonists, Jessica Logan and Patrick Flanagan, as opposing forces.
- The symbolic tension between Canadian theater professionals and the American market (Broadway).
- The thematic role of irony and humor as a therapeutic tool for Canadian cultural insecurity.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Jessica Logan
Jessica Logan is presented as a middle-aged actress who has long been in business. She was born in Canada but has also worked in London and New York (cf. French: 36). She spent most of her acting career in the United States but was not very successful the last two years, having starred in “plays that barely made it to curtain” as she says herself (French: 117). Therefore she has returned to Canada because now she is considered someone there, having worked abroad. Jessica is aware of the fact that her homecoming is only a temporary attempt of saving her flagging career for despite her misfortune she still sees her future in America. That is why she invited New York producer Bernie Feldman to Toronto, hoping that he will enable her to return to Broadway as we learn in the conversation between director George Ellsworth and Robert Ross, the playwright of The Care and Treatment of Roses (cf. French: 29).
Moreover, it becomes clear that she is willing to do everything that is necessary to eliminate any obstacles on her way, particularly fellow actor Patrick who poses the biggest hindrance to her return to the big stage: “So she’s not about to let Patrick botch her chance to take this show to Broadway”, George explains (French: 29). Nevertheless, Jessica is aware of the fact, that it is a difficult step to work in New York. Her own, dubious experience there is expressed in a quarrel with Patrick: “At least I’ve got the guts to work outside this country” (French: 56).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the author's intent to analyze Canadian-American cultural relations through the lens of David French’s play "Jitters," setting the stage for an examination of national identity.
2. National Identity and the Canadian Stage: A Historical Overview: This chapter provides a historical context for the Canadian theater, discussing its evolution from British colonial roots toward an independent identity shaped by political and cultural developments in the 20th century.
3. Canadian – American relations in Jitters: This section explores how the characters in the play embody the conflict between domestic artistic aspirations and the allure of the American stage.
3.1 Characters in Jitters: An analysis of the supporting cast and crew, highlighting their reliance on American recognition and their general resentment toward the realities of the Canadian theatrical landscape.
3.2 Jessica Logan: A character study of the play’s female protagonist, focusing on her "diva" persona, her experiences in America, and her complex emotional dynamic with Patrick Flanagan.
3.3 Patrick Flanagan: An examination of the male protagonist, characterizing him as a cynical, experienced actor whose deep-seated insecurity and fear of American-driven failure define his internal conflicts.
4. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, arguing that the characters' insecurity and obsession with foreign validation ultimately mirror Canada's broader struggle for a self-confident national identity.
5. Works Cited: A formal bibliography listing the primary play text and secondary academic sources used in the research.
Keywords
Canadian Drama, David French, Jitters, National Identity, Canadian-American Relations, Theater, Broadway, Cultural Insecurity, Acting, Performance, Post-colonialism, Identity Formation, Character Analysis, Artistic Success, Diaspora
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the tensions and dynamics of Canadian-American relations, specifically focusing on how these are dramatized through the characters and plot of David French’s 1979 play, "Jitters."
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include national identity, the pursuit of artistic success, the influence of American culture on Canadian theater, and the psychological impact of being a "minor" cultural nation adjacent to a dominant neighbor.
What is the main objective or research question?
The goal is to analyze how the characters in "Jitters" reflect Canadian self-esteem and the struggle to move beyond feelings of cultural inferiority compared to the United States.
Which methodology is applied in this study?
The study utilizes a literary analysis approach, combining historical context regarding the Canadian stage with a detailed character-based investigation of the play’s internal dynamics.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body examines the historical evolution of the Canadian theater, the behaviors of minor characters in the play, and a deep-dive into the two protagonists, Jessica Logan and Patrick Flanagan.
Which keywords best describe this academic work?
The work is defined by keywords such as Canadian Drama, National Identity, Cultural Insecurity, and the specific play "Jitters" by David French.
Why does Patrick Flanagan refer to New York as "Mecca"?
He uses the term ironically to critique the "religious" fervor and blind devotion that his colleagues show toward the American market, highlighting his own skepticism regarding the necessity of Broadway validation.
What role does the play-within-the-play, "The Care and Treatment of Roses," play in the analysis?
It serves as the focal point for the characters' aspirations and failures; the production’s low-budget reality stands in stark contrast to the grandeur of the Broadway success the characters desperately seek.
How does the author interpret the relationship between Jessica and Patrick?
The author views them as opposing forces—the ambitious diva versus the cynical rebel—who are nevertheless bonded by a mutual understanding of each other's fears and insecurities, despite their constant conflicts.
- Citar trabajo
- Roman Büttner (Autor), 2007, Canadian-American relations by the example of the characters in David French's "Jitters", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90947
