Drama first arrived in America in the early eighteenth century. Initially influenced by English drama, American drama started to develop a unique identity over time. In this activity, you will answer questions about The Still Alarm by George S. Kaufman. Part A
How would the play The Still Alarm have been different if it was not a parody and the characters reacted normally to the fire in the hotel?

ANSWER:
Under normal circumstances, in the event of a fire at a hotel, the hotel guests and employees would panic and head to an exit as quickly as possible to save themselves. The characters would not idle away time in needless, calm conversation, but rather they would call the fire department for help immediately. As the characters realized the flames were reaching their floor, they would have become more frantic and concerned about finding an escape route. The firemen would also have been more proactive and would not have brought along a fiddle to play. If the characters reacted more realistically, the play would not have the same humorous effect.