DNA: School Edition (Oberon Modern Plays)

Product Information

Richard initially looked like a potential leader of the group. His gang mates were scared of him and he challenged John Tate, but he proves himself too weak.'

Throughout the entire play, Leah has been trying to gain Phil’s attention, and he is constantly ignoring her. Now Phil turns to her for approval and puts his arm round her. She pushes him away and runs off. Now Phil realises that even Leah is rejecting him, he begins to think about what he has done, and spends the rest of the play by himself, refusing to talk to anyone. Cathy doesn't care, she's too busy running things. You wouldn’t believe how thingshave got. Phil, she's insane! She cut a first years finger off! That’s what they say anyway. Doesn't that bother you? Aren’t you bothered?! Richard: " Cathy doesn’t care. She’s too busy running things…She’s insane. She cut off a first year’s finger, that’s what they say anyway." Scene 3: The police have found a man that fits the description of the man that Phil concocted because Cathy used her ‘initiative’ to find a man that matched the description. The plan has gone wrong. Brian is refusing to go into the police station to identify the man who is being framed. Phil threatens him with being taken up to the grille if he doesn’t go. Brian goes. Besides the DNA located in the nucleus, humans and other complex organisms also have a small amount of DNA in cell structures known as mitochondria. Mitochondria generate the energy the cell needs to function properly.Y'know, whatever he wants he just doesn't Nothing. So y'know, it's just been me talking and talking about how I talk too much but... but well Phil, hasn't said nothing. Haven't you Phil? And then he comes with this idea to send the cops on a wild goose chase!

Leah: " It’s Adam, Phil, Adam! We used to go to his birthday parties, he used to have that cheap ice cream and we used to take the piss, remember?" (p58)Then we plant one of Adams jumpers, with the D.N.A of a random stranger on it near the scene of the crime, and we put them off our scent. When the authorities believe the lie, Phil is embraced as leader of the group, and everything seems to settle down. The dirty secret appears to bring them all closer.' A Chimp will find itself on the outside of a group and before he knows it he's been hounded to death by the others. Sometimes for months!

Jan and Marks scenes in The Street introduce the audience to what has been happening to the characters and then prepare us for the action that is to come in the group scenes (Scene 3 in each act). Although quiet for a long time, Phil clearly considers everyone’s words and actions before he speaks. He gives calm and considered instructions to each member of the group as he assigns roles and tasks for them to complete. This makes him appear callous and nihilistic. A key quote that justifies his actions:He cannot deal with his guilt and is prescribed medication to help him cope. He is seen to revert to a childlike state of ‘play’ by Act 3 Scene 3 as his way of dealing with the events.

Lou has no complicated speeches but instead speaks using simple sentences or short phrases. Phrases such as ‘We’re screwed’ (p34) make her appear young/ not assertive and relies on being given instruction. She also appears to believe the lies the group have created (p35) DNA was developed ten years ago as a part of National Theatre’s Connections Scheme, which commissions playwrights to write plays for young performers aged fourteen to eighteen. Cathy appears to have a callous side when she obtains DNA evidence from an actual postman who fits the description Phil made up. Did she do this because she is a social climber who is trying to impress the leader, or did she genuinely not realise what she has done? (p38) Adam is gone, presumed dead. He was last seen teetering on the grille of a deep, disused shaft, a group of bullying teenagers throwing stones at him. They may all be guilty as hell, but they have no intention of getting caught. They have their futures to consider. Fortunately, help is at hand in the form of Phil, an eccentric teenage criminal mastermind who may be a genius or a psychopath, and who comes up with the solution to their little problem that ensures it's the perfect crime.

The molecular structure of DNA

Richard can be very negative and grumbles when given instructions by the leader. It could be argued that this is why he does not progress in the social hierarchy and Cathy does. Phil instructs Richard to take Brian to the police station but has to repeat his instructions to him (p41) These characters act as the ‘chorus’ or narrators. They throw the audience directly into the action at the beginning of each Act and are useful as they fill in any blanks for us.