Study Guide prepared by Catherine Bush

Barter Playwright-in-Residence

A Wrinkle in Time Adapted by John Glore From the book by Madeline L’Engle *Especially for Grades 3 and up By the Barter Players, Barter Theatre, Fall 2015

On tour January thru March 2016

(NOTE: standards listed below are for reading A Wrinkle in Time, seeing a performance of

the play and completing the study guide.)

Virginia SOLs English –3.5, 4.5, 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, 5.9, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, 7.4, 7.5, 7.7, 7.9, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7, 8.9, 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.6, 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.6 Theatre Arts – M.6, M.7, M.8, M.9, M.13, M.14, TI.6, TI.7, TI.8, TI.9, TI.11, TI.12, TI.15, TII.2, TII.12, TII.14, TII.15, TIII.6, TIII.12

Tennessee Common Core State Standards English/Language Arts - Reading Literacy: 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, 7.4, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 9-10.1, 9-10.4, 9-10.9 English Language Arts – Writing: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.7, 6.9. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.7, 8.9, 9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.3, 9-10.7, 9-10.9 Theatre – 3.6.2, 3.6.4, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.8.1, 4.6.1, 4.6.4, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8.1, 5.6.1, 5.6.4, 5.7.1, 5.7.2, 5.8.1 Theatre 6-8: 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 Theatre 9-12: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2

North Carolina Common Core State Standards English Language Arts – Reading Literacy: 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, 7.4, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 9-10.1, 9-10.4, 9-10.9 English Language Arts – Writing: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.7, 6.9. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.7, 7.9, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.7, 8.9, 9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.3, 9-10.7, 9-10.9

North Carolina Essential Standards Theatre Arts – 3.A.1, 3.CU.1, 3.CU.2, 4.A.1, 5.A.1, 5.AE.1, 5.CU.1, 6.C.1, 6.C.2, 6.A.1, 6.AE.1, 7.C.1, 7.C.2, 7.A.1, 7.AE.1, 8.C.1, 8.C.2, 8.A.1, 8.AE.1, 8.CU.1, 8.CU.2, B.C.1, B.C.2, B.A.1, B.AE.1, B.CU.1, B.CU.2, I.A.1, I.AE.1, I.CU.2

Setting Earth and various other planets in the Universe.

Characters

Meg Murry – a twelve year old girl, considers herself plain Charles Wallace – Meg’s younger brother, super smart Mrs. Murry – Meg’s mother, a scientist Mr. Murry – Meg’s father, has been missing for two years Calvin O’Keefe – Meg’s schoolmate, popular and smart Mrs. Whatsit – the youngest of three celestial beings Mrs. Who – the second of three celestial beings Mrs. Which – the oldest of three celestial beings Camazotz Man – an inhabitant of Camazotz Camazotz Woman – an inhabitant of Camazotz Aunt Beast – a many-tentacled inhabitant of the planet Ixchel Man With the Red Eyes – A robot-like inhabitant of Camazotz

Note: Cast Size and Doubling of Actors This production of A Wrinkle in Time features only six actors, with some actors playing more than one role. Doubling of actors requires distinction between characters. In this production, characters will be distinguished by costume, voice and other physical character traits.

Vocabulary Words

Define the meaning of the following words then use them correctly in a sentence.

patchwork

frantically

tramp

repulsive

impulsive

caviar

frivoling

compulsion

genetic

mutation

detriment

paraphernalia

skeptic

portal

wormhole

summit

density

matrix

abandon

arrogance

annular

pathetic

distraught

putrid

privilege

megaparsec

Synopsis Meg Murry is an, awkward girl, plagued by insecurities as well as her concern for her father, a scientist who has been missing for two years. One dark and stormy night, Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are visited by the eccentric Mrs. Whatsit, who is actually a celestial creature with the ability to read Meg’s thoughts. She startles Meg’s mother by reassuring her of the existence of a tesseract--a sort of “wrinkle” in space and time. It is through this wrinkle that Meg and her companions will travel through the fifth dimension in search of Mr. Murry.

The following afternoon, Meg and Charles Wallace walk over to Mrs. Whatsit’s cabin. On the way, they meet Calvin O’Keefe, a popular boy in Meg’s school whom Charles considers a kindred spirit. The three children learn from Mrs. Whatsit and her friends Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which that the universe is threatened by a great evil called the Dark Thing and taking the form of a giant cloud, engulfing the stars around it. Several planets have already succumbed to this evil force, including Camazotz, the planet on which Mr. Murry is imprisoned.

The three Mrs. W’s transport the children to Camazotz and instruct them to remain always in each other’s company while on their quest for Mr. Murry. On Camazotz, all objects and places appear exactly alike because the whole planet must conform to the terrifying rhythmic pulsation of IT, a giant disembodied brain. Charles Wallace tries to fight IT with his intelligence but is overpowered by the evil and becomes a robot-like creature under IT’s control. Meg and Calvin try to confront IT, but they, too, are unable to withstand IT’s power; they escape only at the last minute, when Mr. Murry appears and “tessers” away with them to a planet called Ixchel where a creature called Aunt Beast cares for them. Charles Wallace remains a prisoner on Camazotz.

On Planet Ixchel the three Mrs. W’s appear once again, and Meg realizes that she must travel alone back to Camazotz to rescue her brother. Mrs. Which tells her that she has one thing that IT does not have, and this will be her weapon against the evil. However, Meg must discover this weapon for herself. When standing in the presence of IT, Meg realizes what this is: her ability to love. Thus, by concentrating on her love for Charles Wallace, she is able to restore him to his true identity. Meg releases Charles from IT’s clutches and tessers with him through time and space, landing in her mother’s vegetable garden on Earth, where her father and Calvin stand waiting. The family joyously reunites, and we see the three Mrs. W’s twinkling in the night sky.

Biography of the Author – Madeline L’Engle

Madeleine L’Engle was born on November 29th, 1918 and spent her formative years in New York City. Instead of her school work, she found that she would much rather be writing stories, poems and journals for herself. At age 12, she moved to the French Alps with her parents and went to an English boarding school where her passion for writing continued to grow. She finished high school back in the United States and attended Smith College. She graduated with honors and moved into a Greenwich Village apartment in New York. She worked in the theater, whose flexible schedule afforded her the time to write. She published her first two novels during these years—A

Small Rain and Ilsa. It was during this time that she also met actor Hugh Franklin. They eventually married and raised four children, living for a while in Connecticut and then moving back to New York City, where Madeline continued to write. Madeleine also began her association with the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, where she was the librarian and maintained an office for more than thirty years. Shewrote over 60 books and won several awards, including the prestigious Newberry Medal for A Wrinkle in Time. . She died September 6, 2007.

Biography of the Playwright – John Glore

John Glore is the Associate Artistic Director of South Coast Repertory (SCR), in Orange County, Calif. He is an award-winning playwright whose work for young audiences includes his adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, which debuted at SCR in 2010 and has since moved on to numerous productions nationwide; an adaptation of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, which had its professional premiere at the Coterie Theatre and has since had dozens of productions nationwide; and his newest, an adaptation of Laura Amy Schlitz’s The Night Fairy, which has been produced at SCR and Imagination Stage in Washington, D.C. Other plays for young audiences include Wind of a Thousand

Tales, Folktales Too, Rhubarb Jam, and The Day After Evermore. His plays for adults include On the Jump (produced by SCR and Arena Stage in Washington D.C.), The Company of Heaven, Preludes and Fugues, and City Sky (a scenario for a dance piece).

With the performance trio Culture Clash he has co-authored adaptations of two plays by Aristophanes, The Birds and Peace. In addition to the theatres already named, his work has been produced at Berkeley Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Round House Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Company, First Stage, Childsplay, Oregon Childrens Theatre, the Getty Villa and many others. He received a 2000 Playwrights Fellowship from the California Arts Council and has occasionally taught playwriting and related subjects at UCLA and Pomona College.

A Brief History Barter Theatre was founded during the Great Depression by Robert Porterfield, an enterprising young actor. He and his fellow actors found themselves out of work and hungry in New York City. Porterfield contrasted that to the abundance of food, but lack of live theatre, around his home region in Southwest Virginia. He returned to Washington County with an extraordinary proposition: bartering produce from the farms and gardens of the area to gain admission to see a play.

Barter Theatre opened its doors on June 10, 1933 proclaiming, “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh.” The price of admission was 40 cents or the equivalent in produce, the concept of trading “ham for Hamlet” caught on quickly. At the end of the first season, the Barter Company cleared $4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly and enjoyed a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds.

Playwrights including Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder accepted Virginia ham as payment for royalties. An exception was George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, who bartered the rights to his plays for spinach.

Today, Barter Theatre has a reputation as a theatre where many actors performed before going on to achieve fame and fortune. The most recognized of these alumni include Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Ned Beatty, Gary Collins, Larry Linville and Frances Fisher. The list also included James Burrows, creator of Cheers, Barry Corbin, and the late Jim Varney

Robert Porterfield passed away in 1971. His successor, Rex Partington, had been at Barter in the 1950s as an actor and in the 1970s as stage manager. Rex returned as chief administrator from 1972 until his retirement in 1992. In March 2006, he passed away.

Richard Rose was named the producing artistic director in October 1992. In that time, attendance has grown from 42,000 annual patrons to more than 163,000 annual patrons. Significant capital improvements have also been made. Including maintenance to both theatres, and in 2006, the addition of The Barter Café at Stage II and dramatic improvements to Porterfield Square.

Barter represents three distinct venues of live theatre: Barter Theatre Main Stage, Barter Theatre Stage II and The Barter Players. Barter Theatre, with over 500 seats, features traditional theatre in a luxurious setting. Barter Stage II, across the street from Barter Main Stage and beyond Porterfield Square, offers seating for 167 around a thrust stage in an intimate setting and is perfect for more adventurous productions. The Barter Players is a talented ensemble of actors, producing plays for young audiences throughout the year.

History is always in the making at Barter Theatre, building on legends of the past; Barter looks forward to the challenge of growth in the future.

WORD SEARCH Find the following words below: Meg Murry, Charles Wallace, Mrs. Which,

Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Calvin O’Keefe, tesseract, wrinkle, Camazotz, stars,

Aunt Beast, Madeline L’Engle, Black Thing, calculus, John Glore, brain,

Barter Theatre, megaparsec, oddball, omnivator

C P K M M E L K N I R W B J G

R H N P A T C L A N Y C B O N

O K A V D E I J A R E A D H I

T C O R E X L S R B R H C N H

A A H X L K A U T T D A P G T

V M W A I E M U E A L D C L K

I A S D N G S R N C H E O O C

N Z R I E B T W U T S W S R A

M O M M L H R L A R B R S E L

O T K V E F U A A L A E W R B

N Z G A N S U P I T L X A Q M

O G T W G D A J S N D A L S W

Z R F T L G M R S W H I C H T

E E F E E K O N I V L A C E S

N Q N M T E S S E R A C T L M

True and False

Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False. 1. ____ This story begins with a dark and stormy night. 2. ____ Meg Murry loves herself the way she is and wouldn’t change a thing. 3. ____ Mrs. Murry makes her living as an artist. 4. ____ a tesseract refers to a wrinkle in a woman’s skirt. 5. ____ Charles Wallace is Meg’s younger brother. 6. ____ Calvin O’Keefe is a genius at differential calculus. 7. ____ Charles Wallace falls under the control of IT. 8. ____ Mr. Murry saves Meg and Calvin from IT. 9. ____ Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who are in reality stars. 10. ____ Meg has to return to Camazotz alone to rescue Charles Wallace. 11. ____ Meg uses stubbornness to defeat IT.

Matching

Draw a line connecting the person/place in the first column with the corresponding description. 1. tesseract a. a scientist

2. omnivator b. took care of Meg on Ixchel

3. Mrs. Murry c. the youngest celestial

4. Aunt Beast d. multi-directional transportation device

5. Camazotz e. not good at calculus

6. Mrs. Whatsit f. a dark planet

7. Calvin g. a wrinkle in space-time

Questions/Activities

1. After you read the book A Wrinkle in time and see The Barter Player’s production of the play, write a paper comparing and contrasting the two. Which did you prefer and why? Which chapters from the book were left out of the play? Why do you think this was done? Working in groups, pick one these

chapters and turn it into a dramatic scene. Write a script, assign the parts, design costumes and props and sound effects, rehearse it and present it to your class. Is it easy to adapt a book or story into a play? Discuss.

Everyone’s A Critic!

2. Write a critique of The Barter Player’s production of A Wrinkle in Time. Include the production values (set, costumes, lights, props, sound, etc.), each actor’s performance and the script. What did you like? What didn’t you like? How would you have designed/directed/acted it differently?

“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its

freedoms, is like a sonnet: You're given the form,

but you have to write the sonnet yourself.”

3. What sort of rules and obligations are you confronted with on a daily basis? What sort of freedoms do you have? What things about your life can you control in spite of these rules and obligations? Discuss.

ACTIVITY

Research the form of the English (or Shakespearean) sonnet. Using that form, write a sonnet describing the life you wish you

could have. Then, using the same form, write a sonnet about your life as you view it currently. How different is reality vs. the

dream? What can you do to bring the two closer together?

“People are more than just the way they look.”

4. Meg refers to herself as an oddball and frequently wishes to be “normal.” How do you define normal? Why is it so important for Meg to be like everyone else? What happens on the planet Camazotz when everyone acts and thinks the same way? What does that tell us about our differences? If there was one thing about you that you would change, what would it be? Why are we so afraid to act or look or dress differently about others? Discuss.

5. The story of Good vs. Evil is a major theme in A

Wrinkle in Time. What actions does “Evil” undertake in this story? What is the effect on every one who encounters IT? In what ways does Good battle Evil? Who wins at the end? Discuss.

“They are very young. And on their earth, as they call it,

they never communicate with other planets. They

revolve about all alone in space."

"Oh," the thin beast said. "Aren't they lonely?”

6. Do you think life exists elsewhere in the universe? If it does, would you be interesting in seeing it for yourself? Are you interested in space travel? If you were offered a chance to colonize Mars with the caveat that you could never return to Earth, would you do it? Why or why not? Discuss.

Pick one of the following scenes and rewrite it from the

point of view of the given character:

Scene Point-of-view Flying to the top of the mountain Mrs. Whatsit Meg’s arrival on Ixchel Aunt Beast Meg rescuing Charles Wallace IT

Read your scene aloud in class then discuss how

point-of-view affects a story.

ORAL PRESENTATION

Pick one of the topics below. Research it thoroughly and, using visual aids, present your findings to the class.

wormholes in space the star Megrez

the star Cor Caroli

the star Kitalpha differential calculus

Madeline L’Engle

Cape Canaveral Mission Control

NASA Space Shuttle program

tesseract

Do the Math!! 7. What is a light year? A parsec? A megaparsec? Assume that we have a spaceship capable of making the journey to the outer edges of the universe. Assume that this ship can travel 17,500 mph. How long would it take this ship to travel a light year? A parsec? A megaparsec? Do you think it may be possible to “wrinkle” in the future? Discuss.

PERSUADE ME!

Imagine you are Meg and your father has been missing for two years because of the top-secret space mission he was sent on by the U.S. government. Write a letter to the President of the United States

persuading him to shut down funding to the space program. Explain how space exploration has destroyed your family. Now imagine you are Mrs. Murry who, like her husband, is a scientist. Write a letter persuading the President of the United States to allow

funding to continue to the space program. Explaining how important space exploration was to your husband and how it is also your only hope of finding him.

Compare the two arguments. Whose do you think is the most valid?

Why? Discuss.

Suggested Reading

Other books by Madeline L’Engle:

A Wind in the Door

A Swiftly Tilting Planet

Many Waters

Meet the Austins

A Ring of Endless Night

An Acceptable Time

The Arm of the Starfish

The Small Rain

A Circle of Quiet

Troubling a Star

The Moon by Night

The Young Unicorns

A House Like a Lotus

Dragons in the Waters

The Other Side of the Sun

Other books:

Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of Our Solar System and Beyond by David Aguilar

The Hubble Cosmos: 25 Years of New Vistas in Space by David H. Devorkin and Robert W. Smith