Spatial:

Entering the theatre, everyone was very talkative, and it helped create an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. I was actually quite eager to see what the auditorium would like like, and it was actually a little larger than I had expected. Growing up in New York, I've been too plenty of plays, in both large and small theaters, and the Constans theatre felt like a very good place to put on a production. my seat also helped enhance my experience, as i had an outside seat, which made my experience more enjoyable. Being stuck between two people can make me a feel a little trapped, so being on the outside gave me some breathing room. When the lights finally dimmed and the curtain rose, the room went from chatty and loud to completely silent. This let me know that everyone was cued in as to what was happening on the stage. You could feel everybody really paying attention to the play, and that limited the distractions for me as a viewer. Place has a very important role in the good life. For one to enjoy something, they have to be comfortable with where they are. If they're not, it will take them completely out of whatever they're doing and cause them undue stress.

Social:

I attended the performance alone, and i think that helped me focus more on the play and what it was trying to say. To get ready, I showered, and got dressed a little early, so I could have some time to relax before i had to leave for the play. I made sure to get there early too, so I got credit for attending. I left Rawlings at about 7:45, and it was an extremely short walk to get to the theater. I was one of the earliest to arrive, so I took the pictures in the lobby beforehand, and went in. Shared experiences is definitely important in the good life, but it's almost important to do what you want to do and not allow your friends to dictate your life. Enjoying things with friends leads to moments you will never forget, but if you do everything with other people and never allot any time for yourself, you will lose who you are.

Cultural and Intellectual:

The central issue of the play was the inequality of the rich and poor, and the ways they view and treat each other. While it was set very long ago, the themes still hold up today and are actually of great importance in society today. I knew a good amount about the subject beforehand, and knew a lot about the way the poor were treated and used during the time the play takes place. The play didn't actually change my mind about anything, because I agreed with most of the play's message about the disadvantages of the poor and the near insulting ways the upper classes expect poor people to behave. I think that the play actually has a connection to the recent election and the way a lot of the people on the coasts acted toward Trump voters. Many of these people, largely upper middle class, just assumed anyone who voted for Trump was a bigot, instead of actually talking to Trump voters and asking them why they liked him. It was an extremely condescending way to look at Trump voters, many of whom were lower middle class and had economic problems that people on the coasts just didn't have. Every time someone from the media would go and talk to a Trump voter, they were almost shocked that the person wasn't a complete racist and sexist. Like in the play, the rich didn't consider the problems the lower classes might have and made wild assumptions about them.

Emotional:

Typically plays tend to be for the upper class, since plays are expensive and only people with money to spare can afford tickets. So it was interesting that this play specifically targeted the upper class with its criticism. Its as funny, while at the same time attempting to change the behavior and views of a specific group of people. This provides an opportunity for katharsis because people in the audience who're guilty of behaving in the way shown in the play, can realize they're mistakes along with others who're in a similar boat. The play doesn't feel mean-spirited, just instructional.

Works Cited:

Cooper, David. Shaw Festival delivers with thinking-man’s play The Divine. 2015, Niagara. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwia_uvLh_jRAhWD54MKHTPXAWIQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.niagarathisweek.com%2Fopinion-story%2F5795019-shaw-fes. Accessed 5 Feb. 2017.

The Divine: A play For Sarah Bernhardt. 2017, University of Florida, gainesville. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwirvM_wz_nRAhWJ8YMKHZPABwAQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Farts.ufl.edu%2Fin-the-loop%2Fevents%2Fthe-divine-a-play-fo. Accessed 5 Feb. 2017.

University of Florida Constans Theater Air Handling Unit T2 Replacement. 2016, University of Florida, Gainesville. University of Florida Constans Theater Air Handling Unit T2 Replacement. Accessed 5 Feb. 2017.