IP Saturday Rehearsal

To get the play really up and running a weekend rehearsal was called! So at Saturday 10am, everyone rocked up and was ready to begin…

Went through scenes today, Sophie was there for the first 45 mins, and Clare and Jack for the entire time as well as Gabby, Maddie and I.

• We went though gabby’s scenes, it was great to get a sense of how they would really look on stage.
  • One note is that we need Gabby to be a bit louder, its great that she knows her lines but her projection needs some work.. All in good time of course, as she’s only very young. This is something that I will have learnt from the IP, how to work with children
  • We went through where she would move, how she would get about the stage. “lily Lilly, I’ve got a secret..”  she enters from stage left, running past Lilly as she says it.
• We went through the whole play, scene by scene.
• Then again, with the song added in. It was received well by the other actors which was a RELIEF!!
  • Note: its hard to sing/ act with a cold!
• Letter scene, we decided that gabby moves the letter, it is comic relief from the song that has just been sung and therefore means I don’t have to leave the stage.

 

 

 

 

• The lights were put on, and although they aren’t positioned exactly as we want at this moment, they give us a good idea of the atmosphere.
  • Jack gave us the idea of having a light that shines through the door when its opened, (symbolic of life outside his world.) There was already a light set up that did something to this effect but it will be relocated to really emphasise this light coming through.
  • Lights experimented with during the phone call scene, with a spot on both Isabelle and mike. This means that jack can slightly step out of the light and then realise that he’s still on the phone!

 

• The decision was made to paint the set from copper to black, this will allow the colours that are used to become more prominent and make the set far more ‘block’ish.
  • Should we move the screens in? do we want them in the set? Experimenting with this toward the end of the session.

Today was a great session, it allowed us to get a far better feel for how the play will really be, without scripts. There was a lot of run throughs, especially of Gabbys scenes, which allowed her to become more confident. Its really coming along nicely, costumes and lighting need to be changed from here on in though. Because we had had so many lunchtime rehearsals over the weeks it was great to see all the scenes consecutively and in context. It made the whole play flow a lot better!

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Wednesday the 27th of May- IP Lunchtime Rehearsal note (DIRECTING)

 

• I experimented with my outlooks on directing today, introducing all the practices that I have been influenced by. Of course, there were elements of Stanislavski, however I expanded upon this using other theories.
  • First off, image theatre, from Theatre of the Oppressed was utilised to really show emotion through the body. The principle of Image theatre is that any word can be expressed with the body, and over the course of the next few weeks I want to encourage through my directing this movement of the body to communicate on a different level to the audience
  • Other gesture/movements I was influenced by was the way in which Commedia dell’arte uses Lazzi/ slapstick to create the humorous moments in their directing/ acting techniques in order to express the humour in the scenes. This I used for Jack, I wanted there to be humour in the way in which he turns away from Ruby to put the chocolate back on the table.
    • Timing is key in these movements, as Maddie needs to time her lines so that Jack is in the exactly right position.

 

One problem Jack was experiencing was that although in the script it said to get up at a certain time, by getting up then, he had to walk very slowly so that he wasn’t delivering his lines off stage!

• To fix this problem, I suggested he get up at ‘you know with a set of lungs like yours..”
  • This would mean that he would be walking towards ruby when she says “you have an awful singing voice”
  • The next part is key to when Maddie says her lines, its in order to express just how well the two characters know each other. At this moment, I asked Jack to do a swivel on his feet and start walking back towards the table to put the chocolate down. Then I asked him to pause, chocolate in hand, wavering above the table, with a piece of chocolate broken, ready to be eaten in his hand- as though he is saying to ruby ‘you want to take that back or..?’
    • This will help to illustrate their relationship/friendship and when Maddie says ‘wait..’ he can smile and bring the chocolate in towards his body, then saying ‘why thank you ruby’ (facing the audience) and then turning and singing off stage.

• Another theory which I used to help me with this scene was biomechanics (and I hope to add in a little more of this later.) The way in which Mike moves about is rather mechanical, in that he pauses, then brings the chocolate in towards his body, then swivels his body and walks off stage. He is not an awfully relaxed man, he is rather awkward and the biomechanical (Meyerhold) movements can bring this out in his body, through the robot like movements, isolating each movement into several smaller movements. The pauses will also be used.

 

This is all my notes from todays session, I believe my outlook on directing is improving and that with more rehearsals and more emphasis on these techniques I will be able to help the actors even more so.

 

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Sourcing…

•  
  •  
    • What’s needed:

  Clothing

   

  Item:	Sourced/not
  Lilly
  Red dress
  Black flats (for Lilly)	YES
  White dress (?)
  Jill
  Purple cardigan
  Black skirt
  Black shoes
  T-shirt (with writing of some sort)
  Jeans
  Gardening belt
  Hiking boots/runners
  Ruby
  Black jeans
  White t-shirt with blue deisgn
  Blue scarf
  Blue converse	YES
  Leggings (black)	YES
  Jazz/dance shoes	YES
  Blue singlet	YES
  Tracksuit jumper	YES
  Isabelle
  Green cardigan
  Black work jeans/pants
  Work shirt
  Work shoes/ heels
  Bag+ wallet for business card
  Doctor
  Doctor’s attire
  stethoscope
  Nurse:
  Nurse’s attire
  Mike:
  Black pants
  White shirt	YES
  Black shoes for mike

 

Props

What’s needed:

Item:	Sourced/not
Business card	YES
Wedding ring (MADDIE)	YES
Chair for mike (mine)	YES
Chair for Lilly
Birthday cake(s)(ILL BAKE THEM)	YES
Plates, finger food, bowls wine glasses and bottle	YES
Paper for letter (me)	YES
Envelope (Me)	YES
Pen x 2 or 3 (letter +phone)	YES
Clipboard with paper, written on
Water dispenser (must ask staff)
Block of chocolate (I’ll buy)	YES
Breakfast foods, juice Cups, plates/bowls
Newspaper (I’ll bring)	YES
Bag for ruby (me)	YES

 

 

Other

What’s needed:

Item:	Sourced/not
plants

  

This is a list of everything I need: as head of costume and props!

I’m going to be sending the list to all the cast, and then we can determine what other actors can provide some of the costumes/props. Some of the costumes will be very tricky to source, as theyre modern etc. but im sure I’ll find them.. eventually!

 

 

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IP Journal- 25/5

• Scene 4:
  • Technique of over exaggerating. This could make the scene have more interest- we can pull it back later.
  • How do we open the door?
  • Open it  and stand in the doorway
  • Instead- she walks up to the second rostra, allows mike to shut door (we don’t lie it open) and then he can walk inside.
  • Made jack put his script down to make sure the cut offs were faster and more realistic.
  • Jill : “I’m making your favourite…. And they’ll be dancing!” (don’t stop really)
  • Mike becomes an undertone Jill never stops for a moment, Mike can’t get a word in.
• Scene 6:
  • Jack threw a shoe, good point, adds emotion and drama.
  • How should he say ‘go away’- angrily?
  • Jill has ruined a memory/moment with lilly and therefore Mike is angry at her.

 

• When further work shopping scenes, the idea of Ruby’s light going out when the accident takes place introduces elements of symbolism. Jill could also notice (as Ruby and Jill are on the same side of the stage) and then run to get Mike.
  • The scene with Lily and Mike has connotations that Lilly knows what has happened but cannot interfere, for she is a memory.
• We then sat and tried to go through the scenes without scripts, trying to get our lines down as early as possible will allow a lot more work to go into blocking and incorporating realistic emotions. We even moved on, past what we had rehearsed during the week, just going through the rest of the script. It was really great to hear the words out aloud again, it brings the script to life!

 

This week was a really good session. We set in stone the first half of the play, with basic blocking of scenes 2, 4, 5 and 6. We worked on the timing of lines, the movement of actors, the tension between actors and how certain lines should be delivered. This means that our play is coming along quite nicely! It is progressing from its first stages, and moving into having more meaning and purpose. The actors are also coming into their characters well.

 

One thing I learnt (which I also learnt at avalon) was that directing can be challenging! Actors want to be told what to do, but not too much! We have to find the balance between giving advice and allowing own interpretation. The lines of actors are coming along nicely too, especially Maddie and I’s. Can’t wait til we have scripts down, it will be so much more realistic and exciting!!

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IP Journal…

21/5

Today we went through scene 5, we found that it worked really well. First off we just read through the script and worked on saying the lines, we then got up and tried to work though the blocking of the scene. Eventually we added in some movement to my character, this meant that it created tension Jack was asked not to ever look at me. This made the seperation between us two even more.

 

22/5

I directred today, this was an interesting workshop. We went through the letter scene. Decided to have ruby stage left, this made a clear cut between the living (surroudned by plants) the dead (stage right) and Mike, who is stuck in limbo This was a really good idea, tying into that I wanted nature to be sybolic for life. This is why we decided that Isbaelle would be a florist, and that Jill would be interested in gardening( as a hobby.) This clear distinction between the raised stage left and mikes area will create a physical barrier between those who he is pushing away. This will be juxtaposed against the changes within act two, where mike will transcend his barriers and move into this higher area, hopefully we will be able to put the plants behind his area of th stage as well to be symbolic of his growing happiness.

 

After these two lunchtime sessions these are my new goals for my independent project:

• Colour as symbolism in costume
  • How can colour communicate something about the character, even if it be subtle?
  • Also how costume can communicate things about characters non verbally, from first viewing we can tell a lot about a character.
• Nature as a symbol of life, happiness and love
  • The polarized stage allows for this to be communicated
  • Isabelle’s occupation and Jill’s hobby.
  • Everyone on stage left is associated with life, therefore higher and with nature. These people are at peace.
• Music as a means of expression
  • How can music be incorporated in to add additional meaning and insights
    • Characterisation of my character, and Mike and my history as well as learning a lot about the past
  • Communicating the overall message of the play
  • The message of the play is meant to have the same outcome as Theatre of the Oppressed

It encourages change among the audience, instead of encouraging overthrowing an oppressor, instead for the audience to realise that it is up to them to make a difference during hard times. TO make them all see that yes, death happens and its horrible, but you can’t be sad forever, moving on is vital to wellbeing.

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IP Character Development

Maddie and I were talking about the fact that before I create the concrete costumes and before the actors can really develop their characters in the true Stanislavski way.

This is the brief Character Development that we did on the 12th May:

Mike:

Occupation: tour guide/ boat trips/ a job with people/ local councilor.

35 years old

Angry at injustice of life

Ruby:

Dancer

Works at a bakery

Casual dresser, a bit alternative

cheeky towards mike

Lucy:

Lucy and Mike together since 20, married at 28, married for 2 years. She died when they were both 30.

Occupation: paramedic

Died: trying to stop a man from hurting a woman, and then he hit her in the head, falls and hits her head. The guy was never caught, the girl he hit fails to testify against him/ reveal who is is therefore this frustrates Mike because he is helpless.

Isabelle:

Business woman: she owns her own florist

Natural

Friendly

Not fake/bitchy

 

Jill:

Likes gardening

Good cook

Very friendly and compassionate, a motherly figure

In the past she really loved someone, but it did not work out.

But she is an example of the way that people can live happily even when bad things of happen, contrast between her and mike.

 

Nurse:

Blunt, just trying to get her job done

 

Doctor:

Quiet

Awkward

Goes home and watches Star Trek type of man

But is nonetheless kind.

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4/5

After school in our session Maddie and I discussed how we could ensure our script/IP would change the world/theatre. We then moved on to the staging, because as a result of the VCE production our ‘dream space/stage’ would not necessarily be achievable. With this in mind we had a look at their stage and discussed how we could use it to our advantage, how we could modify it. We now have another idea for a stage, which could bring the audience closer to the actors, and will create a barrier in between the characters (lucy and mike.)

This new set means that we will have to (after the VCE production is done) reset the lighting. We’ll need to decide whether we want to paint the set a different colour. The different levels in this set will allow contrast between other characters and that of Mike.

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