Scene Spurs by Lindsay Price theatrefolk.

com/spurs

The Happy Family

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. What was going on with this family before the picture was snapped?
They just came back from a funeral.
2. Who are the members of this family? Give them all names and ages.
1st person in the 1st row = Clarence & 31 2nd person on the 1st row = Louis & 28
3rd person on the 1st row = Gertrude & 32 4th person on the 1st row = Martha & 26
5th person on the 1st row = Earl & 35 6th person on the 1st row = Ernest & 25
1st person on the 2nd row = Myrtle & 59 2nd person on the 2nd row = Ida & 40
3rd person on the 2nd row = Howard & 79 4th person on the 2nd row = Edith & 75
5th person on the 2nd row = Eva & 4 6th person on the 2nd row= Julia & 34
7th person on the 2nd row= Elma & 37 1st person on the 3rd row= Ray & 8
2nd person on the 3rd row= Lester & 42 3rd person on the 3rd row= Leroy & 37
4th person on the 3rd row= Marion & 6
3. Why did this family want to have their picture taken? Or, who initiated the portrait and why?
The man who sat in the 3rd chair in the 3rd row wanted the photo. The reason why I think
that is because he is the only one smiling.
4. The family members are looking in three different directions. Why?
There is more than one camera.
5. What makes this family happy?
It doesn't look like they aren't easily pleased or happy.
6. Which one of the children is the favourite? Why?
The little girl who sat on the lap of the person who sat on the 3rd chair on the 3rd row.
The reason why is because she has a gift.
7. Which one is the black sheep or outcast? Why?
The women who sat in the seventh chair in the 2nd row. She is the most isolated from the
family photo.
AUTOMATIC WRITING

Write about this picture for two minutes. What comes into your mind when you look at the
picture? Look at it from top to bottom, left to right. Write about the relationships in your family.
Do you get along? Are there fights? Keep writing for the whole time!

MONOLOGUE PROMPTS (Choose only one prompt and write a short monologue.)

1. Choose a couple of family members and write their inner monologue. What’s going on in
their head as they sit there?

2. Write a monologue where the photographer tries to get the family to smile.
He keeps trying to get their attention which doesn't work. He finally gives up and
tells them to smile. Which also doesn't work. He tries for about 30 minutes and
then he just gives up and yells ¨SMILE¨ and takes the photo.

SCENE PROMPTS (Choose only one prompt and write a short scene.)

1. Write out five different captions for this picture. Take one of those captions and turn it
into a scene.

2. Theatricalize the conversation going on in this situation right before the picture was
snapped. What was the conflict? Write that scene.

3. In this time period it was normal for people not to smile in photos. Write a scene where
this family has the hardest time keeping a straight face as they pose for the photo.

4. Write a scene where one of the sons has just returned home after a five year absence.

5. Write a scene where it’s very important for one member of the family to have this picture
and it’s completely unimportant for a different family member.
It's a school project to get a family photo. But the rest of the family doesn't really
wanna do it. But he was able to convince them but they never promised to smile
or look happy in the photo. So because of this he scowls in the photo because he
knows that he can't convince them anymore.