This week we ran through the last few ending scenes. The last few scenes of the play are the most difficult to interpret within the play, the lack of stage directions makes it hard to know how the other characters react to the situation. We decided to workshop a few ideas.
Our first approach to the situation was to act scared and shocked. This is when we looked into the fight or flight theory. When we looked at each of our characters we all decided that none of our characters were the fighting type. Instead we decided to all react shocked and scared, fleeing from their chairs and screaming for a few brief moments. I decided that Cissy would be the most likely to hide behind Bennett for protection, although Bennett wouldn't be of much help. Tristan (Tanya) would be the one to scream out of the group, possibly fall of his chair. Nicky, I believe, would freeze in his seat, but I'm not he would freeze out of fear, more out of caution. Chadwick is already standing so I think he would back up to the wall with a look of shocked fear. When trying out this idea, we showed it to our teacher. Our teacher picked out the fact that it looked too staged, and perhaps to over the top. After reflecting upon this, we found this scene was to similar to the wasp scene. The wasp scene is dramatic for comedic values, this scene had to be far more serious.
We then tried a different approach. We all sat and discussed what we would do if this situation was to occur in real life. We all decided that we wouldn't know what we would do, we would be frozen in fear. We then work shopped this idea. When we showed this back to our teacher he told us that this idea was far more realistic and would work perfectly for our play.
We came across another problem within this last scene when rehearsing. We had to include 3 deaths within this. Murders are extremely hard to perform in a play in a realistic way, especially with a gun. We have two main problems with a shooting in the play. The first is we have to make their deaths believable. The second is that we have to do so from a long distance with a fake gun, so the timing and gun usage has to be perfect. When discussing this scene we decided to invest in a fake gun that fires nothing but sounds real. Dan told us that he has a few guns like this where he works. I came up with the idea of blood capsules that the characters can either place in their mouth or in their pockets. Bennett is the first character to die and he is shot twice. Cissy then runs over to him, screaming. If Dan had a blood capsule in his pocket, Cissy would be able to run over to him place her hand in his pocket and pull it out with blood all over her hands. This adds a gory, horror effect to the scene, making their deaths more realistic.
I have never worked with a naturalistic death scene before, so the challenges we face are fun to experiment with, working with different ideas to compose the perfect outcome.
Friday, 26 February 2016
Friday, 12 February 2016
Weeks Review - 2
This week we managed to run through the entire play, using our scripts. I find running through the script continuously helps me learn lines. I begin to remember my queues for when to say my line. It also helps me understand the story and allow me to develop and workshop different tones and emotions to portray.
When looking at the first few pages of the script where Lilly and William begin the play, we are introduced to Williams obsessive behaviour. Within these first few pages all the characters are introduced to the play. We were told that first impressions are crucial to the play as it allows the audience to see how the characters develop. When I first read through the first scene, when work shopping the play I thought Lily might be an eager character, possibly seen as nerdy. I tried this style when performing the first scene. After discussing with the group about characters I decided Lily is more of a refined character with a confidently subtle persona. Within the first page of the play, Lily and William meet, and we can see from the start that William is infatuated with Lily. William asks her questions like "where do you live?" and "what house number". Instead of taking on an over-friendly co-operative personality, I decided to perform this scene as if Lily were slightly annoyed and cautious of William. I kept the responses blunt, with minimal tone or eye contact. This is a stereotypical outline of the average person attempting to end conversation. I then work shopped this idea and found it worked far better.
Once we walked through the first few pages, Lily is introduced to all the other characters. Throughout these pages Lily doesn't say much other than introducing herself. The script doesn't include a lot of stage directions so it is mainly down to us a group to decided on tactical movements. I noticed that when performing this play we spend a lot of time sitting down. I decided that when other characters are talking I would make an effort to move around the stage, whether it be moving to another seat or moving to get a book off the book case. This stops the play from being to central and boring. I found that moving even the slightest bit, having conversations standing can make a difference to the play.
What I hope to do is draw a set design and work shop a lot of ideas between the group.
When looking at the first few pages of the script where Lilly and William begin the play, we are introduced to Williams obsessive behaviour. Within these first few pages all the characters are introduced to the play. We were told that first impressions are crucial to the play as it allows the audience to see how the characters develop. When I first read through the first scene, when work shopping the play I thought Lily might be an eager character, possibly seen as nerdy. I tried this style when performing the first scene. After discussing with the group about characters I decided Lily is more of a refined character with a confidently subtle persona. Within the first page of the play, Lily and William meet, and we can see from the start that William is infatuated with Lily. William asks her questions like "where do you live?" and "what house number". Instead of taking on an over-friendly co-operative personality, I decided to perform this scene as if Lily were slightly annoyed and cautious of William. I kept the responses blunt, with minimal tone or eye contact. This is a stereotypical outline of the average person attempting to end conversation. I then work shopped this idea and found it worked far better.
Once we walked through the first few pages, Lily is introduced to all the other characters. Throughout these pages Lily doesn't say much other than introducing herself. The script doesn't include a lot of stage directions so it is mainly down to us a group to decided on tactical movements. I noticed that when performing this play we spend a lot of time sitting down. I decided that when other characters are talking I would make an effort to move around the stage, whether it be moving to another seat or moving to get a book off the book case. This stops the play from being to central and boring. I found that moving even the slightest bit, having conversations standing can make a difference to the play.
What I hope to do is draw a set design and work shop a lot of ideas between the group.
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Lilly Cahill - profile
If i were to picture Lilly i would see her as classically pretty. I used Chloe Grace Moretz as a model for my ideal look, as i believe she portrays an ideal look for my character. She has delicate features, but she can show an intriguing side.
When reading through the script, looking at her conversations with different people, she doesn't seem to be that involved in the group. She only fully interacts with William and Nicholas, talking to them for full scenes. She also doesn't seem to follow the hierarchy rule that is commonly placed by Bennett. She mainly keeps her self to her self making her a more refined character. Although everyone mocks Chadwick in the group, Lilly is the only character that treats him as an equal. She never makes fun of him.
In scene 5, William often intimidates and handles Lily physically in an aggressive manner. Despite these aggressions she still often checks on him "William are you alright?". Her affections for her friends seem to overpower any violent gestures made. It's clear she is a brave and caring character.
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Weeks Review - 1
This week we were given our script on the play "Punk Rock". We had been work shopping a few plays, and had eliminated all but two "Punk Rock" and "The Handbag". Our production team would be split in two, 1 group for each play. After looking at a few scenes from both scripts I decided that I preferred "Punk Rock" and was delighted when I found that I was put in the group performing this play. In my group I have:
We also decided to make a few rules that we must all follow in our group. This will help us maintain a strong working order allowing us to stay focus and perform the play to the best of our ability. Our main issue, in my personal opinion, is staying on task. We are a close group and we are all very good friends, and often drift off task, wasting time. We also have a lot of disagreements in our group, because we are all so close and comfortable with each other. We recently had a disagreement in the group, that ended up being nothing more than a silly misunderstanding. This argument was resolved before the next rehearsal so we wouldn't waste any time.
In our play we have a shortage of girls. In our group Carl plays Tanya, who is of course supposed to be a girl. We decided to mould this character into Tristian, who is instead, a gay male. This also adds a comedic view on the play as Carl often has to imitate a girls scream or comment on other boys. I think this will still have the same effect on the audience as Tanya would have, if not better.
We were able to stage the first 2 scenes this week. We also staged the play, as it is all performed in the common room/library. The layout is simple, and we hope to get a backdrop with library shelves to put on the back of the stage.
- Tom - playing William
- Dan - playing Bennett
- Kyle - playing Chadwick
- Meg - playing Cissy
- Theo - playing Nicholas
- Carl - playing Tanya
We also decided to make a few rules that we must all follow in our group. This will help us maintain a strong working order allowing us to stay focus and perform the play to the best of our ability. Our main issue, in my personal opinion, is staying on task. We are a close group and we are all very good friends, and often drift off task, wasting time. We also have a lot of disagreements in our group, because we are all so close and comfortable with each other. We recently had a disagreement in the group, that ended up being nothing more than a silly misunderstanding. This argument was resolved before the next rehearsal so we wouldn't waste any time. In our play we have a shortage of girls. In our group Carl plays Tanya, who is of course supposed to be a girl. We decided to mould this character into Tristian, who is instead, a gay male. This also adds a comedic view on the play as Carl often has to imitate a girls scream or comment on other boys. I think this will still have the same effect on the audience as Tanya would have, if not better.
We were able to stage the first 2 scenes this week. We also staged the play, as it is all performed in the common room/library. The layout is simple, and we hope to get a backdrop with library shelves to put on the back of the stage.
School that fits the script
When looking over the script we decided to all look up schools that we believe would best suit the script. I found a school called: George Watson’s College:
Annual senior day school fees: £10,983
Based in Edinburgh, George Watson’s College is a large co-educational school, with over 2,000 pupils. Academically the school is highly successful, offering a broad range of International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers and some A-levels, with over 90 per cent going on to higher education. In 2015, 55.4 per cent of A-level results were graded A*/A. The school has a technology centre devoted almost entirely to electronics, up-to-date science labs, and Mandarin Chinese is on offer as a language. Sports wise, the school is famed for its rugby and has a huge choice of over 20 sports clubs, in addition to 80 other clubs and societies. Sir Chris Hoy and former rugby internationals Gavin and Scott Hastings are former pupils. Money wise, pupils may apply for short term financial help at any stage, there are up to 13 academic and music scholarships annually, and a variety of bursaries offer assistance to over 100 pupils. I really like the look of this school. I like how it looks aged on the outside, and to me, this seems like a well classed private school.
As most of the script is set in the common room/library I decided to look up the library of the school and see if that would also fit in with the atmosphere in the play. I really liked the look of the library. I like how the library is sectioned off by books, and I think this would be perfect for our characters, as I could imagine them having their own section of the library that they stick too. I also liked the stereotypical olden wood that is the desks. I like how it has a historical feel to it, it makes the school seem aged and experienced. I also like how simple the layout is, it hasn't been modernised, so it keeps the educational feel to it, rather than a technical approach.
Annual senior day school fees: £10,983
Based in Edinburgh, George Watson’s College is a large co-educational school, with over 2,000 pupils. Academically the school is highly successful, offering a broad range of International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers and some A-levels, with over 90 per cent going on to higher education. In 2015, 55.4 per cent of A-level results were graded A*/A. The school has a technology centre devoted almost entirely to electronics, up-to-date science labs, and Mandarin Chinese is on offer as a language. Sports wise, the school is famed for its rugby and has a huge choice of over 20 sports clubs, in addition to 80 other clubs and societies. Sir Chris Hoy and former rugby internationals Gavin and Scott Hastings are former pupils. Money wise, pupils may apply for short term financial help at any stage, there are up to 13 academic and music scholarships annually, and a variety of bursaries offer assistance to over 100 pupils. I really like the look of this school. I like how it looks aged on the outside, and to me, this seems like a well classed private school.
As most of the script is set in the common room/library I decided to look up the library of the school and see if that would also fit in with the atmosphere in the play. I really liked the look of the library. I like how the library is sectioned off by books, and I think this would be perfect for our characters, as I could imagine them having their own section of the library that they stick too. I also liked the stereotypical olden wood that is the desks. I like how it has a historical feel to it, it makes the school seem aged and experienced. I also like how simple the layout is, it hasn't been modernised, so it keeps the educational feel to it, rather than a technical approach.Monday, 1 February 2016
Punk Rock Research
Punk Rock is a play by the British playwright Simon Stephens which premiered at the Royal Exchange in 2009 and transferred to the Lyric Hammersmith directed by Sarah Frankcom. The play concerns a group of private school sixth formers during their A Level mocks exams. I was given the character Lily Cahill. Within the original performance of Punk Rock Lily is played by: Jessica Raine.
Google interpretation of Lily:
Lily Cahill: to play 17, tries to appear quite sophisticated beyond her years, tries to be enigmatic and mysterious. She is in fact struggling for that image, and does not have the confidence she projects. Sexy in her mysteriousness, seemingly casual sexually but really trying to discover the limits of her new-found allure. Smart and quick to understand and reply…new to the school but sassy and unafraid.
My interpretation of Lily:
I believe Lily has 2 sides to her personality. I think part of her is timid and caring, this is clear in the first few scenes when we are first introduced to the characters. But as Lily meets Nicholas we see a more sensual side of Lily. I think Lily is a confident character, and I also think she is confident within herself.
I think my opinion on Lily may change in time, the more I develop my character.
Google interpretation of Lily:
Lily Cahill: to play 17, tries to appear quite sophisticated beyond her years, tries to be enigmatic and mysterious. She is in fact struggling for that image, and does not have the confidence she projects. Sexy in her mysteriousness, seemingly casual sexually but really trying to discover the limits of her new-found allure. Smart and quick to understand and reply…new to the school but sassy and unafraid.
My interpretation of Lily:
I believe Lily has 2 sides to her personality. I think part of her is timid and caring, this is clear in the first few scenes when we are first introduced to the characters. But as Lily meets Nicholas we see a more sensual side of Lily. I think Lily is a confident character, and I also think she is confident within herself.
I think my opinion on Lily may change in time, the more I develop my character.
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