Gregorys Girl

By Bill Forsyth

Gregorys Girl
Weve spent some time reading the play Gregorys Girl now take a look at the cover. In what ways might the cover be surprising and how might it link to themes in the drama?

Theres a girl in a football kit! An action shot / Girls cant play football A mans game too rough for girls. Themes may challenge our perceptions (understandings) of the norm

Gregorys Girl
Discuss what you understand of the term stereotypes. Who or what are stereotypes? Can we agree on a definition for stereotypes?

Gregorys Girl - stereotypes

Race ~ Black rappers are often stereotyped as being involved in violent crime and promoting the use of guns.
Religion ~ Members of certain religious faiths are often stereotyped - most notably the stereotype of Muslims being terrorists.

Gregorys Girl - stereotypes

Gender stereotyping has been a prevalent part of human culture for thousands of years. Women are often portrayed as being the weaker sex, while men are portrayed as tougher and more "macho".

In what ways does the playwright Bill Forsyth - use stereotyping (and the idea of role reversal) in "Gregory's Girl?
~ Make a list ! Women Know Your place!.avi

Gregorys Girl
Scene 1:

~ scenes

A football match was being played with Gregory's team losing. On the sidelines the spectators included Gregory's little sister, Madeline, and her boyfriend Richard, who seemed to be having a rather mature discussion about Gregory and his "adolescence". The PE teacher was disappointed in the team's performance and demoted Gregory from the position of striker to goalkeeper.

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- scenes

Scene 2: A group of 4th year boys were spying on a young nurse getting undressed through a window of the nurses' hostel. They were desperate to see her topless and even resorted to trying to use mental powers to persuade her to take off her bra. When the nurse finally removed her bra one of the boys almost fainted from excitement. After these young voyeurs* had departed 11 year old Richard and his friend appeared on the scene and were witness to the nurse removing her knickers as well - however, unlike the 4th year boys before them, these two boys were not noticeably excited about the sight of a naked women. The playwright made good use of ellipsis (...) throughout this scene to convey the excitement of the 4th year boys.
voyeurism is the practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviour (or to be blunt: being a Peeping Tom!)

Consider what it is that makes these scenes funny?

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~ scenes 3 & 4

Scene 3: Gregory is changing for school. He spends a lot of time in front of the mirror and the playwright makes good use of monologue to show Gregorys strangeness hes not only speaking to himself, he also uses strange turns of phrase such as "demon sweaty odours" and "encourage the chesty follicles". Later, Gregory meets his father and has a brief chat with him, the suggestion being that Gregory hardly ever meets his parents: his father says: "I told her we had met in the hallway, briefly, last Thursday and you looked fine...") and this shows Gregory to be isolated from every age group except his peers. Scene 4: In this scene Gregory tells his friend Andy that he has been dropped from the football team and replaced in goal by Gregory. The two boys talk to one of the teachers and Andy mentions that he goes to the gym most mornings (perhaps to impress the girls? Theme of adolescence...). Once the two boys have disappeared off to class the PE teacher tells another teacher that he has set up a football trial to look for Gregory's replacement as striker.

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~ scene 5

Scene 5: The big football trial. Six boys try out for a place on the football team, but theyre all terrible. Dorothy arrives to try out and at first the PE teacher won't let her, but Dorothy is persistent. Unlike the boys, she is brilliant - scoring goals and proving fitter and more skilful than the boys. Gregory is smitten with Dorothy - impressed by more than her football skills! At the end Dorothy follows the PE teacher and demands a place on the team as she was the best at the trial. The major themes in this scene are those of gender stereotyping and role reversal. Dorothy isn't taken seriously as a player since she is a girl and girls don't traditionally play football. However, the roles are reversed as it is Dorothy (the girl) who is brilliant and the boys who are pathetic at the game. What themes do you think youll be asked to write about in the essay
question for Gregorys Girl?

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scene 6

Scene 6: The cookery class is a mixed class of boys and girls. The girls discuss Dorothy trying out for the football team and Susan asks: "Why is it boys are such a physical disaster? The girls go on to discuss boy's hairstyles, saying that "It's so temporary" suggesting an aspect of role reversal in that it is the boys in this play who are obsessed with their image (flashback to Gregory in front of the mirror possibly?) rather than the traditional view of girls being image obsessed. Gender stereotyping and role reversal also appear through the character of Steve who is portrayed as being a master cook and it is the girls who ask him how to cook things properly rather than vice-versa.

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scene 7

Scene 7: Role reversal and gender stereotyping are again the main themes at the next football match. Alan asks Dorothy if he can borrow her football, only to rebuffed as it is "a Telstar 5. It's only the best professional football in Europe" Alan doesn't understand the technical aspects of football but Dorothy (a girl) does. We then see the girls at the side of the pitch discussing the boys' sex-lives (or lack thereof...) unlike the boys who get over-excited whenever sex is even hinted at (remember the nurses' hostel?) the girls discuss sex in a confident, matter-of-fact manner then go on to discuss the football match, using technical terms and obviously enjoying and understanding exactly what is happening on the football field- whereas the boys are more interested in checking out Dorothy. Even when the boys try to focus on the game its obvious that they don't understand it as well as the girls. At the end of the scene Gregory flirts with Dorothy near the changing rooms, only for two boys from the school newspaper to butt-in and try and seduce her themselves! In the conversations with the boys it is Dorothy who comes across as the most confident person - showing Gregory her scars and using innuendo in her reply to Gordon when she says: "Bring your pencil too...and your sharpener...just in case..."

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scenes 8-9

Scene 8: A recent school leaver called Billy is waiting outside the school to speak to some of the 4th year boys. He is obviously as obsessed with sex as the schoolboys and brags about his supposed sexual conquests even stating that one of the school teachers is desperate to have sex with him. Compare this discussion about sex to the one the girls were having in the previous scene - which group seems more mature, confident and believable? Watch the Harry Enfield "Women know your place" video below:

Scene 9: Madeline and Gregory are sitting in a cafe discussing Gregory's infatuation with Dorothy. Here is an obvious example of role reversal - rather than Gregory giving his younger sister advice it is Madeline who is advising her older brother. If you look at the language used by each character it is Madeline who seems more like an adult in this conversation; in fact if you weren't told Madeline's age you could be forgiven for mistaking her for Gregory's mother. Towards the end of the scene Richard (Madeline's 1st year boyfriend) calls at the house and asks Gregory where Madeline is. Rather than telling Richard where his sister is Gregory acts very childishly and tells him to "pissoff" and act his age; however, Richard rises above Gregory's behaviour and acts like an adult...yet another example of role reversal!

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scenes 10-11

Scene 10: This scene is set in the darkroom at school. Eric is developing the photos he's taken of Dorothy and Gregory is trying to buy one from him. The scene is important with respect to the play's theme of adolescence and how difficult a time it can be for teenage boys. It highlights the boys obsession with sex - which is important with regards to the themes of role reversal and gender stereotyping when we compare the boys treatment of sex / the opposite sex to that of the girls. Scene 11: Breaktime in the school playground. The scene opens with Pete trying to get Lisa to sleep with him by falsely declaring his love for her and stating "But it's dangerous to wait for too long. It's unhealthy. It's bad for you". Lisa isn't interested and maturely replies "If you love me you can wait then". The scene moves on to Gregory being told that Dorothy wants to talk to him over by the bikesheds - where she asks him to help her practice football during the lunch break. Gregory thinks that it's a date. Meanwhile Andy and Charlie are desperately trying to chatup some girls by telling them "interesting" facts such as the speed at which snot escapes your nose when you sneeze...funnily enough the girls aren't interested. This is another prime example where we can compare and contrast the boys vs girls attitude towards the opposite sex and relationships in general.

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scenes 12-14

Scene 12: Gregory is helping Dorothy practice her football skills. She appears on scene immaculately dressed in a track-suit, whereas Gregory is wearing a pair of borrowed shorts. They practice football for a while Dorothy is brilliant and Gregory is rubbish. At the end of the session Gregory asks Dorothy out on a date and she says "Okay". Amazed at this response Gregory says: "I mean on a kind of date" and asks her to "stop fooling around" when she once again says yes. This shows Gregory's lack of confidence and awkwardness. Scene 13: Gregory is getting ready for his big date with Dorothy. Madeline is acting like a mother figure making sure that he is cleaning himself properly and giving him advice on what to do and say on the date. Role reversal with Madeline and Gregory once again rears its ugly head. Scene 14: This is the final scene of the play. Dorothy stands Gregory up and he is told this by Carol who offers to walk with him to the chip-shop. At the chip-shop Carol passes Gregory across to Margo and then makes a telephone call to Susan. Margo goes for a walk with Gregory and leads him towards where Susan is. We find out that the girls have conspired to set-up Gregory with Susan as she is the one who actually fancies him. Gregory and Susan seem to get along really well together and at the very end of the play they kiss. Think about the key characters Gregory / Dorothy / Boys / Girls / Madeline

Gregorys Girl
Gregory self conscious worried about his appearance useless at football unfit / bruises easily shy with girls rather delicate has a crush on Dorothy Other boys Steve - best cook others talk all the time about girls unsure of themselves Other girls talk about sport etc. confident organise the date with Gregory

~ characters

Dorothy very confident strong and athletic excellent football player very fit confident with boys determined in control Tough Richard and Madeline Very mature in their attitude toward Gregory Not like children or what we expect children to be like ( M ) gives advice like a mother ( R ) calm and understanding

Gregorys Girl
Ready to tackle the essay?

~ the essay

How do you achieve good marks?

Firstly, read the question carefully. Dont just write about what you know about the play you must structure your essay to answer the question asked. Youll need:An Introduction A main body A conclusion

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the essay

How to prepare an Introduction: A good tip is to rephrase the question to create an introduction which: 1: names the play and the playwright 2: gives a very brief outline of what the plays about. 3: says what your essay will do (refer to the question)

What goes in the main body of the essay? The main body covers several paragraphs which answer the set question in detail. You might perhaps look at different scenes or different characters providing examples and quotes from the play to support your answer to the question. You should also include your own personal response (how you felt & why).
What about the Conclusion? This is where you sum up the evidence you have provided and directly answer the set question.

Gregorys Girl
Essay Question:

the essay

Bill Forsyths play - Gregorys Girl - deals with themes of gender stereotypes and role reversal. How does the playwright challenge these ideas in the course of an enjoyable, light-hearted play? Try now to create your own Introduction to this essay question: Remember, name the play and the playwright. Give a short outline of what the play is about (a sentence or two only). Rephrase the question to say what your essay will do. (say how you will answer the question) Do this now you are aiming for a paragraph of perhaps 5 or 6 lines only. Gregorys Girl is a play by Bill Forsyth. It tells the story of teenage adolescence and a growing awareness of the opposite sex. Forsyth uses gender stereotyping and role reversal in a comical play which challenges our ideas on gender roles in society. This essay will show how Forsyth uses humour to make us think about stereotypes.

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the essay

The main body: The question requires you to discuss stereotypes and role reversal while also considering how these may have been presented in a comical or humorous manner. You must find examples from the play. ~ Dorothy playing football better than the boys. ~ The female supporters knowing more about the game than their male counterparts. ~ Steve being a better cook than the girls. ~ Dorothys innuendo with the boys from the school magazine. ~ Madeline and Richards roles in dispensing advice to their older peers. It will help your grade if you remember to use P.E.E. Make a Point Support your point with Evidence (quotes) Explain why this was Effective

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the essay

The conclusion: Your conclusion just closes out your essay by reminding the reader of the points you have covered. Make sure you give a personal response to the text say what you liked / enjoyed and why. Make sure you address the question directly and provide an answer. In conclusion, I found Bill Forsyths Gregorys Girl a very humorous play. Character roles were reversed to provide comic situations. Adolescence, a period of transition from childhood to adulthood was used to highlight gender stereotypes and perhaps challenge us all to make a further transition to a wider acceptance to see individuals not gender.