PicnicPicnic

By William IngeBy William Inge

The Life of William IngeThe Life of William Inge

May 3, 1913 - June 10 1973• William Inge, born May 3, 1913 in Independence, Kansas.

• In 1935 Inge graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama.

• Later Inge was offered a scholarship at The George Peabody College for Teachers to study a Master of the Arts degree. However Inge dropped out and it wasn’t until after returning to Kansas to teach English and Drama for a year that he decided to return to complete his MA in Nashville, Tennessee.

• He was an American playwright whose play, Picnic earned him a Pulitzer Prize. (An American award established in 1917 to commend achievements in musical composition, literature, online journalism and work in newspaper).

• Inge committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on June 10, 1973 at the age of 60.• Influenced by the short play ‘Front Porch’ in 1952.

• First premiered on Broadway, in February 1953.• Strong exploration of small town life.

May 3, 1913 - June 10 1973• William Inge, born May 3, 1913 in Independence, Kansas.

• In 1935 Inge graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama.

• Later Inge was offered a scholarship at The George Peabody College for Teachers to study a Master of the Arts degree. However Inge dropped out and it wasn’t until after returning to Kansas to teach English and Drama for a year that he decided to return to complete his MA in Nashville, Tennessee.

• He was an American playwright whose play, Picnic earned him a Pulitzer Prize. (An American award established in 1917 to commend achievements in musical composition, literature, online journalism and work in newspaper).

• Inge committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on June 10, 1973 at the age of 60.• Influenced by the short play ‘Front Porch’ in 1952.

• First premiered on Broadway, in February 1953.• Strong exploration of small town life.

CharactersCharacters

Flo Owens

Madge Owens

Millie Owens

Mrs Potts

Hal Carter

Rosemary Sydney

Alan Seymour

Howard Bevans

Plot SummaryPlot Summary

• Labour day, the neighborhood is preparing for a picnic• Based around a grouping of women in the yard of a typical small midwestern town

during the 1950’s• Mrs Owens has two daughters Madge and Millie, Madge being the prettier one.• Hal ( a Bum) comes off the street to work for Mrs Owen neighbour, Mrs potts • Meanwhile he falls for Madge, even though she is currently going steady with his

friend Alan • Eventually he tells her his feelings and persuades her to make love to him.

Therefore missing the picnic• After not attending the picnic everyone knows where she was, and blames Hal for

leading her astray• Therefore Hal is banished by Alan, Hal ask Madge to join him she refuses• After Hal leaves Madge breaks down declaring her love for him to her mother and

runs off to be with him

• Labour day, the neighborhood is preparing for a picnic• Based around a grouping of women in the yard of a typical small midwestern town

during the 1950’s• Mrs Owens has two daughters Madge and Millie, Madge being the prettier one.• Hal ( a Bum) comes off the street to work for Mrs Owen neighbour, Mrs potts • Meanwhile he falls for Madge, even though she is currently going steady with his

friend Alan • Eventually he tells her his feelings and persuades her to make love to him.

Therefore missing the picnic• After not attending the picnic everyone knows where she was, and blames Hal for

leading her astray• Therefore Hal is banished by Alan, Hal ask Madge to join him she refuses• After Hal leaves Madge breaks down declaring her love for him to her mother and

runs off to be with him

ThemesThemes

Loneliness

Gender roles

Beauty

Youth

Loneliness

Gender roles

Beauty

Youth

GenreGenre

Tragedy

Comedy

Tragicomedy

Tragedy

Comedy

Tragicomedy

1950s1950s

Economic growth

Anti-communism

Socially conservative

Consumerism

Civil rights

Sex

Economic growth

Anti-communism

Socially conservative

Consumerism

Civil rights

Sex

Stoneham Theatre Production 2009 Stoneham Theatre Production 2009

Film AdaptationFilm Adaptation

• Joshua Logan directed the 1955 film adaptation of Picnic. Which stars included William Holden, Kim Novak and Betty Field.

• The film won 2 Oscars and another two awards; a Golden Globe in 1956 and an NBR award in 1955 and a Golden Globe in 1956. Joshua Logan’s film also received 10 further nominations.

• Original Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1A1vqmkftw