Hornby

In The Conduct of Life, the motif of distrust and secrets. Leticia does not trust Orlando. Orlando does not trust Leticia. Both keep secrets from the other. Most would say torture is the key in this play, but what leads to the torture aspect? Lies, secrets and lack of trust. This begins the whole torture cycle. It starts the insanity of the characters. Neither character trusts the other to love them, to be right for them. Then, they develop secrets, a secret sex slave, a secret friend who may or may not really exist. 

This is seen in other forms of media. In television, American Horror Story shows this as well. Lies and distrust just kick starts everything else in the show. This is just like The Conduct of Life.

Vogel

Adding a "Greek chorus" feel to a play makes it very dramatic and theatrical, which this play is at some points. I think it's also just a nice breath of fresh air. It brings plays back to their roots, which is to tell a story and entertain.  It keeps the audience interested, and interest makes a person remember. Having a chorus describe characters could help audience members learn these characters and remember their traits, rather than latch on to a certain character and try to envision their own traits upon that character. It's just a way of keeping the true essence of a character grounded.

Fornes

The tension and awkward feel that the play created really stood out to me. The scenes that were mainly based on slow, drawn out movements and involving no words really stood out. It's quite powerful to be able to strip away all the words, all the actions, everything, and create an awkward, tense, and just bone chilling experience for the audience. Plays are about evoking feelings in the audience, and this approach really stays with a person. It is a great writing method and a great choice made by Fornes to include in the play. IT shows the rawness of the characters and the rawness of the situation.

Triffles

I do not agree with the choices of the director. The play could be done with less detail, but the play sort of centers around the little details. It's understandable to want the audience to hear the words and notice the actors more than the detail of the stage, but you would lose the meanings of the words if you remove all the small details of the play. these details were put into the script mainly to show the audience sides of the characters and the over all theme of the play. It would lose the playwright's original meanings of the small details.

Overtones By Alice Gerstenberg (THTR 2130)

When it comes to the "rules" concerning Harriet/Hettie and Margret/Maggie, it's seen as four women on stage, but only two in the play's world. Within the world of the play, I think that what determines these rules is the fact that the alter personalities of the cultured women are only meant to be inner dialogue, describing inner thoughts and double meanings. This can be related to girl world. Two girls could have a seemingly normal conversation, yet both girls have secret meanings behind each word that both understand without a word being said about the double meaning. This theory can be backed up by the writer's stage directions when she states that Hettie is talking to Maggie. They characters may not see or hear each other, but when the dialogue is aimed towards them, this could represent a hidden meaning to the other civilized woman's seemingly normal words.
So, to straighten things up, Harriet and Margret are talking to one another and can see one another. Hettie can be heard by Harriet, and Maggi can be heard by Margret. Neither Harriet or Margret can see their alters, and neither Hettie or Maggie see one another. The only way Hettie and Maggie seem to become aware of each other's intentions is through the double meaning of Harriet and Margret's conversation.
Luckily, the dialogue between Harriet and Hettie at the beginning of the play will establish that Hettie is not to be seen, but only heard by her counterpart. The same establishment could also easily be made between Margret and Maggie.
Through out the play, the rules of this world seem to stay constant. Yes, at times, this play seems confusing, but it is the audience's responsibility to keep up with the inner and outer dialogue portrayed by the different characters.
The effects of the constancy choices help establish that Hettie and Maggie are not physically there, but they are mentally present through the thoughts and inner dialogue of the main characters. It helps portray the struggle within humans wether or not to show their true colors or hide behind a facade. This helps portray a form of visual thinking.