Aside

Last updated

An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience. By convention, the audience is to realize that the character's speech is unheard by the other characters on stage. It may be addressed to the audience expressly (in character or out) or represent an unspoken thought. An aside is usually a brief comment rather than a speech, such as a monologue or soliloquy.

The aside was used by Ian Richardson's character Francis Urquhart in the 1990 BBC mini-series House of Cards , as well as by Kevin Spacey's character Frank Underwood in the 2013 Netflix original series of the same name. [1] It can be used to explain the often complex politics on the show, describe what the character's plans/emotions are or simply for humorous effect.

It was also used by Michaela Coel’s character Tracey in the Channel 4 comedy series Chewing Gum; and by the titular character in Fleabag , written and played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>House of Cards</i> (British TV series) 1990 British television serial

House of Cards is a 1990 British political thriller television serial in four episodes, set after the end of Margaret Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It was televised by the BBC from 18 November to 9 December 1990, to critical and popular acclaim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth wall</span> Concept in performing arts separating performers from the audience

The fourth wall is a performance convention in which an invisible, imaginary wall separates actors from the audience. While the audience can see through this "wall", the convention assumes the actors act as if they cannot. From the 16th century onward, the rise of illusionism in staging practices, which culminated in the realism and naturalism of the theatre of the 19th century, led to the development of the fourth wall concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monologue</span> Speech presented by a single character

In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media, as well as in non-dramatic media such as poetry. Monologues share much in common with several other literary devices including soliloquies, apostrophes, and asides. There are, however, distinctions between each of these devices.

Metatheatre, and the closely related term metadrama, describes the aspects of a play that draw attention to its nature as drama or theatre, or to the circumstances of its performance. "Breaking the Fourth Wall" is an example of a metatheatrical device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Skinner</span> English actor

Hugh William Skinner is an English actor. He is best known for starring in sitcoms W1A (2014–2017) and The Windsors (2016–2020), and his appearances in musical films Les Misérables (2012) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

<i>Fleabag</i> British black comedy television series

Fleabag is a British comedy-drama television series created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, based on her one-woman show first performed in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was originally produced by Two Brothers Pictures for digital channel BBC Three in a co-production agreement with Amazon Studios. Waller-Bridge stars as the title character, a free-spirited but angry and confused young woman in London. Sian Clifford stars as Fleabag's sister Claire, while Andrew Scott joined the cast in the second series as 'Hot Priest'. The protagonist frequently breaks the fourth wall to provide exposition, internal monologues, and a running commentary to the audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Waller-Bridge</span> English actress and screenwriter (born 1985)

Phoebe Mary Waller-Bridge is an English actress and screenwriter. As a creator, head writer, and star of the comedy series Fleabag (2016–2019), she won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes and a British Academy Television Award. She received further Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for writing and producing the spy thriller series Killing Eve (2018–2022).

Vicky Jones is an English actress, stage director playwright and screenwriter, who is the co-artistic director of DryWrite Theatre Company, along with her frequent collaborator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

<i>Crashing</i> (British TV series) 2016 British comedy-drama television miniseries

Crashing is a British comedy series produced by Big Talk Productions and written and created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Its six episodes aired from 11 January 2016 to 15 February 2016 on Channel 4 and was released internationally as a Netflix Original series. It stars Waller-Bridge, Jonathan Bailey, Julie Dray, Louise Ford, Damien Molony, Adrian Scarborough, and Amit Shah.

Two Brothers Pictures is a London-based British television production company founded in 2014 by brothers, Harry Williams and Jack Williams. The company launched with the BBC One seriesThe Missing. The show was nominated for 2 Golden Globe Awards, 4 BAFTAs and 2 Emmys as well as winning two Nymph d'Ors, Bulldog, and BPG awards. The Missing returned in 2016 for a second series airing on BBC One and Starz.

The Free Association, or The FA, is an improvised comedy theatre and school, based in London. It is currently the largest provider of improvisation training in the UK.

Isobel Noeline Waller-Bridge is a British composer who is known for her scores for film, television, and theatre, along with her works for electronic music and contemporary classical music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sian Clifford</span> English actress

Sian Clifford is an English actress. She is best known for playing Claire, the older sister of the titular character in the BBC comedy-drama series Fleabag (2016–2019) and also portrayed Martha Crawley in the ITV/Amazon Studios series Vanity Fair (2018). In 2020, she played Diana Ingram in the ITV series Quiz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">71st Primetime Emmy Awards</span> 2019 American television programming awards

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2018, until May 31, 2019, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The ceremony was held on September 22, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California, and was broadcast in the United States by Fox; it was preceded by the 71st Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 14 and 15. The show did not have a host for the fourth time in its history, following the telecasts in 2003, 1998, and 1975.

Jenny Rainsford is an English actress.

Harry Bradbeer is a British director, producer, and writer. He is known for his work on the television series Fleabag and Killing Eve, and the films Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2.

"Episode 1" is the first episode of the second series of Fleabag, and the seventh overall. The episode was written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Harry Bradbeer. It premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 17 May 2019 along with the rest of the series.

The 2020 British Academy Television Awards were held on 31 July 2020, hosted by British director and comic actor Richard Ayoade.

<i>Emma</i> (2020 soundtrack) 2020 soundtrack album by Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer

Emma. is the soundtrack album to the 2020 film Emma, directed by Autumn de Wilde, based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel of the same name. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy in the titular role, alongside Johnny Flynn, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, and Bill Nighy. The soundtrack, accompanying the film, consists of acappella recordings of folk and classical songs, performed by Maddy Prior, June Tabor, The Watersons, The Carnival Band and The Cambridge Singers. The cast members Johnny Flynn and Amber Anderson, also performed few numbers in the album. The former, also wrote an original song for the film, in addition to the incorporated classical songs. The rest of the album, consists of the original score composed by Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer. The 35-track album was released by Back Lot Music digitally on February 14, 2020 and in physical formats on February 21. A vinyl edition of the soundtrack was published and released by Mondo on May 15, 2020.

References

  1. ↑ Zach Seward (May 10, 2013). "House of Cards' fourth wall". medium.com.
  2. ↑ Hunt, El (2019-03-29). "'Fleabag' proves that Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the master of the monologue". NME.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.