Qwerty: The Musical - Style and effects (page 2/2)

The dialogue is fast, witty and naturalistic. Occasionally one of the characters will address the audience direct – Mrs Baslow actually hands out pamphlets publicising her course, Frankie offers a commentary on the awfulness of the course and the shortcomings of her husband Des, Susan invites the audience to see her happy home life or to partake of refreshments at the interval – so the audience is acknowledge and involved in the action.

But the ‘monologues’ are always at odds with what the action reveals – Mrs Baslow poses as an idealistic teacher while the action shows up her stupidity and dishonesty; Frankie boasts of her prowess as the ‘school bully’ but eventually reveals her sympathetic nature with Susan; and Susan extols the virtues of her home life as we witness Alec’s infidelity.