Wednesday, 9 October 2013
END OF ASSIGNMENT
This is the end of all my year 12 AS work. I will be starting all of my year 13 A2 work above.
Monday, 10 June 2013
Evaluation
On the day of my audition I was invited into a room with the panel containing the director of the drama school who I was keen to impress as it would decide if I would get a role in the classic Shakespeare production at the drama school.
When I entered the audition, and during the whole audition, I feel that I presented myself well and feel I held a professional manor. I did this by being polite to the audition panel asking how they were and listened to the instructions I was being given. I feel this was very important because I wanted the director to see my personality so they feel that I am easy to work with, and also to enhance my characterisation. It will be enhanced because the panel will be able to see how different my personality is compared to my character of the fairy.
I feel that my performance went very well. I feel that I portrayed my character well and set the surroundings of a fantasy world as best as possible. I did this by miming some of he things like the 'cowslips' as I was talking about them and miming the action spoken. For example "And hang a perl on every cowslips ear." I went to one side of the room and gently picked up a 'perl' and went to hang it on a 'cowslips ear.' I did this to allow the panel to visualise the word that I was creating in the monologue.
I feel that I used my movement very well in my monologue by trying to make it reflect what was being said. I found out through the script analysis that the start of my monologue was very fast pace and understood that the fairy was talking about how she ran a long and hard journey to get to where she was, using the modern translation. For example, when I was saying these lines, "over hills, over, dales" I ran around the room and spoke at a fast pace. This showed the panel that I understood the mood, tone and pace of the monologue as well as showing how I can use my physical and vocal skills. It also shows that I can apply my research and understanding to my performance. This may help me get the part in a play and is a good thing to show off in an audition because it means that you have done research and are dedicated to understanding the performance.
After I had finished my performance, the director asked me if I could re perform my monologue in a specific mood. I did this to the best of my ability by showing a more arrogant personality rather than a passionate personality. I did this by using my facial expressions which i screwed up to show discussed. I also made my body language more dramatic and bolder to show that I was the centre of attention. It was very important that I did this to the best of my ability. One to show the director that I am wiling to take direction and will perform it with little fuss or questioning. It also helps show that I can perform in different moods, feelings, emotions etc this will help the panel to see if there is more than one role that I could play with the production.
I feel the performance went well and I was happy with my efforts. I am confident that I performed to the best of my ability and portrayed a believable character.
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Suitability
As I started to analyse and rehearse this monologue I noticed that this monologue was very appropriate for me.
The first reason why it is appropriate for me is because it is from a play that I am very familiar with. I have studied the play 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' in previous subjects at school. This was a big advantage because it meant that I already had an understanding of both the play and the characters. This is an advantage because it meant that I spent less time researching to try to understand the plot of the ply and the character relationships and more time rehearsing, learning my lines, building my character and applying my movement and vocal skills accordingly.
The second reason why this monologue was suitable for me was because of the passionate personality that the character had. During the monologue she was speaking about her role in the fantasy world and her job to serve the fairy Queen. She was very proud of her job and carried out tasks with enthusiasm. When speaking to Puck, a spirit of a lower status, she spoke of her Queen with passion and pride. I can relate to this as the situation that I was in, performing a piece of drama, I felt very proud and passionate about. This allowed me to portray her specific emotions and characteristics by being the her situation.
The first reason why it is appropriate for me is because it is from a play that I am very familiar with. I have studied the play 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' in previous subjects at school. This was a big advantage because it meant that I already had an understanding of both the play and the characters. This is an advantage because it meant that I spent less time researching to try to understand the plot of the ply and the character relationships and more time rehearsing, learning my lines, building my character and applying my movement and vocal skills accordingly.
The second reason why this monologue was suitable for me was because of the passionate personality that the character had. During the monologue she was speaking about her role in the fantasy world and her job to serve the fairy Queen. She was very proud of her job and carried out tasks with enthusiasm. When speaking to Puck, a spirit of a lower status, she spoke of her Queen with passion and pride. I can relate to this as the situation that I was in, performing a piece of drama, I felt very proud and passionate about. This allowed me to portray her specific emotions and characteristics by being the her situation.
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Script Analysis
I used two different techniques to analyse the script in order to cut it down to understand both the context and the feelings delivered in each induvidual line of the monologue.
Punctuation Analysis
One of the first techniques I did to analysis the script was walked around the room at a steady pace reading the monologue out loud. Every time I came to a bit of punctuation in the script I did a sharp 90 degree turn. This helped me see what the pace of the monologue was, I found that the more punctuation marks there were the faster the pace. I helped me understand the difference between the statement in the monologue and the bits that explain more. For example in my monologue the first section I found have lots of punctuation and short snappy sentences showing it was a quick pace.
"Over hill, over dale, over park, over pale."
This amount of punctuation reduces throughout the monologue and by the end it has little making the pace more slow.
"Our queen and all our elves come here anon."
No only did this help me to understand the pace of the monologue but how to perform it. I decided that I would use my physical movement to reflect the pace by literally moving around with high energy and at a fast pace and slowly reduced this pace and energy in my movement as the pace of the monologue slowed down.
Iambic Pentameter
Another technique I used to help analyse the script was Iambic Pentameter. The term describes the particular rhythm that the words establish in that line, in a traditional verse and drama verse. We looked at the rules and tried it out with my script. I noticed that in my script there was not a regular occurance of the typical 10 sylibals. I found this a bit of a hindrance because it made me unsure of which words to enthisise as it didn't follow the usual ABAB patteren. This made me read the script in more detail so I could work out what was beign said and waht was trying to be put across. This allowed me to make a decision for myself of which words would be enthisised. However the last two lines of my monologue did follow the rules of Iambic Pentameter containing 10 sylibals. Every other word was to be enthisised which made it clear to me of which words were trying to be put across which allowed me to add this to my performance. It helped me understand the objectives of the character and what they are working towards.
"Fairwell, thaugh lob of sprit, I'll be gone
Our queen and all our elves come here anon."
Punctuation Analysis
One of the first techniques I did to analysis the script was walked around the room at a steady pace reading the monologue out loud. Every time I came to a bit of punctuation in the script I did a sharp 90 degree turn. This helped me see what the pace of the monologue was, I found that the more punctuation marks there were the faster the pace. I helped me understand the difference between the statement in the monologue and the bits that explain more. For example in my monologue the first section I found have lots of punctuation and short snappy sentences showing it was a quick pace.
"Over hill, over dale, over park, over pale."
This amount of punctuation reduces throughout the monologue and by the end it has little making the pace more slow.
"Our queen and all our elves come here anon."
No only did this help me to understand the pace of the monologue but how to perform it. I decided that I would use my physical movement to reflect the pace by literally moving around with high energy and at a fast pace and slowly reduced this pace and energy in my movement as the pace of the monologue slowed down.
Iambic Pentameter
Another technique I used to help analyse the script was Iambic Pentameter. The term describes the particular rhythm that the words establish in that line, in a traditional verse and drama verse. We looked at the rules and tried it out with my script. I noticed that in my script there was not a regular occurance of the typical 10 sylibals. I found this a bit of a hindrance because it made me unsure of which words to enthisise as it didn't follow the usual ABAB patteren. This made me read the script in more detail so I could work out what was beign said and waht was trying to be put across. This allowed me to make a decision for myself of which words would be enthisised. However the last two lines of my monologue did follow the rules of Iambic Pentameter containing 10 sylibals. Every other word was to be enthisised which made it clear to me of which words were trying to be put across which allowed me to add this to my performance. It helped me understand the objectives of the character and what they are working towards.
"Fairwell, thaugh lob of sprit, I'll be gone
Our queen and all our elves come here anon."
Monday, 20 May 2013
The Monologue (Modern Translation)
I go over hills and valleys, through bushes and thorns, over parks and fenced-in spaces, through water and fire. I wander everywhere faster than the moon revolves around the Earth. I work for Titania, the Fairy Queen, and organise fairy dances for her in the grass. The cowslip flowers are her bodyguards/ You'll see that their petals have spots on them- those re rubies, fairy gifts. Their sweet smells come from those little freckles. Now I have to go find some drewdrops and hang a pearl earring on every cowslip flower. Goodbye, you dumb old spirit. I've got to go. The Queen and her elves will be here soon.
How It Helped
I found it very helpful to see a modern translation of the monologue as one of the things I was finding difficult about the monologue was trying to understand the classic language that Shakespeare used. By seeing this translation it helped me understand what was being said in the monologue which helped me to understand and create a personality to my character. It also helped me to understand the mood that the character was in which helped me to create the situation that my character is in.
How It Helped
I found it very helpful to see a modern translation of the monologue as one of the things I was finding difficult about the monologue was trying to understand the classic language that Shakespeare used. By seeing this translation it helped me understand what was being said in the monologue which helped me to understand and create a personality to my character. It also helped me to understand the mood that the character was in which helped me to create the situation that my character is in.
Friday, 17 May 2013
The Monologue (Classical Version)
Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over, pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire.
I do wander everywhere
Swifter than the moon's sphere.
And I serve the fairy queen
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be.
In their gold coats spots you see.
Those be rubies, fairy favors.
In those freckles live their favors.
I must go seek some drewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslop's ear.
Farewell, thou lob of spirits. I'll be gone.
Our queen and all our elves come here anon.
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over, pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire.
I do wander everywhere
Swifter than the moon's sphere.
And I serve the fairy queen
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be.
In their gold coats spots you see.
Those be rubies, fairy favors.
In those freckles live their favors.
I must go seek some drewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslop's ear.
Farewell, thou lob of spirits. I'll be gone.
Our queen and all our elves come here anon.
Thursday, 16 May 2013
'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Research
The classical monologue that I have chosen to perform in my audition is from the play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Athens and it is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596.
Synopsis
The play represents the theme of dark love and portrays the events that surround the marriage of the Duke of Athens. It sees the adventures of four young lovers, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helena, and a group of armature actors. Most of the play is set a forest inhabited by fairies that are controlling the behavioure of these groups through the use of a magical juice called 'love-in-idleness' that makes the victims fall in love with the first person thet see.
Fairy
In the monologue I will be playing the part of one of the fairies that live in the forest. The fairies live to serve the fairy Queen Tatiana. My character is very proud in what she does. She is very hard working and is willing to do all that she can in order to forefill the needs of the Queen. Although there is no specific age or name of my character she is somewhat of a lower status as she is as we would see as a servent who works for the Queen. Fairies are typically known to be very pretty and dainty with soft voices and elegent movement.She is very well spoken and speaks with disire.
My Monologue
In the monologue that I am going to perform in my audition is spoken to Puck, a mischievous fairy. The fairy that I am playing has travilled a long way to this forest where she is incharge of prepairing in order for it to be fit for the Queen Tatiana. She is informing Puck on her journy and what will need to be done in order for prepair for her Queens arivel. The monologue is spoken with a high amount of passion and desire for what her job contains.
Synopsis
The play represents the theme of dark love and portrays the events that surround the marriage of the Duke of Athens. It sees the adventures of four young lovers, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helena, and a group of armature actors. Most of the play is set a forest inhabited by fairies that are controlling the behavioure of these groups through the use of a magical juice called 'love-in-idleness' that makes the victims fall in love with the first person thet see.
Fairy
In the monologue I will be playing the part of one of the fairies that live in the forest. The fairies live to serve the fairy Queen Tatiana. My character is very proud in what she does. She is very hard working and is willing to do all that she can in order to forefill the needs of the Queen. Although there is no specific age or name of my character she is somewhat of a lower status as she is as we would see as a servent who works for the Queen. Fairies are typically known to be very pretty and dainty with soft voices and elegent movement.She is very well spoken and speaks with disire.
My Monologue
In the monologue that I am going to perform in my audition is spoken to Puck, a mischievous fairy. The fairy that I am playing has travilled a long way to this forest where she is incharge of prepairing in order for it to be fit for the Queen Tatiana. She is informing Puck on her journy and what will need to be done in order for prepair for her Queens arivel. The monologue is spoken with a high amount of passion and desire for what her job contains.
Performance Breif
We were given our breif of what the audition was. We were in our second year of Drama school and they school is doing a classical performance. We have to attend the audition with a prepaired Shakespeare monolgoue showing our understanding and knowlage of both the traditional play and the monologue. Because of this I was keen to choose a monologue from a Shakespeare play that I was fermiliiar with already. This is how I came to the decision to choose one from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' I known this play well from studying it in lower school and I also feel exited by this play as it has a comic story line and has obscure characters.
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Evaluation Angela'a Monologue
When I performed Angela's monologue from the play 'Like a Virgin' I feel I made a very believable character through the uses of my vocal skills. I showed this by putting on a Northern accent to represent that I the character was from Middlesbrough which is where the character is from. This showed that I have versatility in my vocal skills which is very important for an audition for a drama school because it is showing you could play a variety of characters. I also feel I used my vocal skills to reflect the mood of that character. There are points in the monologue where she is expressing her anger though provocative language. I reflected by really emphasizing these words and phrases by using a harsh and deep voice. I also use my body language to show my anger by standing up bold to come across as quite intimidating to Maxine, who I am meant to be talking to in the monologue.
I feel that this monologue was a great example of showing how I can control myself both physically and vocally. There is a point in the monologue where in a split second Angela goes from angry and high tempered to calm and understanding. The lines are 'They can all just fuck off. Sometime I feel like I should have some dignity...' To make my change from boisterous and aggressive to calm and collective I used a softer tone to my voice. I also backed away from where Maxine was positioned to show I was backing down. I also took the tension out of my my shoulders and relaxed my facial expression from frowning in my forehead to almost neutral.
I feel that this monologue was a great example of showing how I can control myself both physically and vocally. There is a point in the monologue where in a split second Angela goes from angry and high tempered to calm and understanding. The lines are 'They can all just fuck off. Sometime I feel like I should have some dignity...' To make my change from boisterous and aggressive to calm and collective I used a softer tone to my voice. I also backed away from where Maxine was positioned to show I was backing down. I also took the tension out of my my shoulders and relaxed my facial expression from frowning in my forehead to almost neutral.
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Evaluation Rosie's Monologue
When I performed Rosie's monologue from 'My Mother Said I Never Should' I feel I portraied many aspect of it very well. I feel I protraid the age of Rosie very well even though I found it challenging. I tried to make my physical appreance more like an eight year old by tying my hair up in bunchies. This was approreate for an audition because it was a simple appearence and took little time to change but made it very effective to my performance because I looked younger so my character was more beleiveable. Not only did I use appearance to show my age, I also used my vocial skills to help show my age. I didn't pronounce my words as well as I natually do for example already. I didn't pronounce the 'D' in the word. I also used a stroppy tone to my voice which not only showed the age of the character but it also reflected the mood she was in. She was unhappy because her birthday wasn't going well. I feel aswell as my voice, my physical appearence showed both the mood and the age of the character during the monologue. At the start of the monologue I stamped my foot to the floor and through my arm down to show I was in a strop, this is a steriotypical action for an upset child.
During the monologue I was talking to a dolly however I was miming it. I showed that I was talking to a dolly by holding my arms in a position of how a dolly would be held. To help me do this, in some of my reahersals I used a dolly so I could get a feel for how it would be held, thrown and lifted. Doing this helped me a lot because I feel it came across in my performance that I was holding a doll.
I used my physical movement to show my age by sitting on the floor for most of the monologue. This is often a symbol of youth, it also helps show that I was useing different levels as at the begining of the monologue and end I was stood up but during the middle I was on the floor. I also fidgeted and changed positions a lot to show my flexability like young children have. Children are also known for fidgeting.
I feel that I used my physical and vocial movement very effectivly in my performance and i feel that I portraid the age and mood of my character in the way I planned.
During the monologue I was talking to a dolly however I was miming it. I showed that I was talking to a dolly by holding my arms in a position of how a dolly would be held. To help me do this, in some of my reahersals I used a dolly so I could get a feel for how it would be held, thrown and lifted. Doing this helped me a lot because I feel it came across in my performance that I was holding a doll.
I used my physical movement to show my age by sitting on the floor for most of the monologue. This is often a symbol of youth, it also helps show that I was useing different levels as at the begining of the monologue and end I was stood up but during the middle I was on the floor. I also fidgeted and changed positions a lot to show my flexability like young children have. Children are also known for fidgeting.
I feel that I used my physical and vocial movement very effectivly in my performance and i feel that I portraid the age and mood of my character in the way I planned.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Like a Virgin:
The second monologue that I am going to perform is from the play 'Like a Virgin' by Gorden Steel.
the play was inspired by Modonna's hit 'Like a Virgin' and sees the lives of two 16 year old girls from Middlesbrough who are obsessed with being famous like so many other teens in the 80's.
The character that I am playing is Angela and during the play she descovered that she has Lukeamia and she is going to die from it.
Leading up to the monologue her best friend, Maxine, had just confronted her with a question asking her if she wanted to go out a group of boys.
Angela is a troubled teen not only having to deal with her terminal illness but also has to deal with the horrific break up of her parents.
the play was inspired by Modonna's hit 'Like a Virgin' and sees the lives of two 16 year old girls from Middlesbrough who are obsessed with being famous like so many other teens in the 80's.
The character that I am playing is Angela and during the play she descovered that she has Lukeamia and she is going to die from it.
Leading up to the monologue her best friend, Maxine, had just confronted her with a question asking her if she wanted to go out a group of boys.
Angela is a troubled teen not only having to deal with her terminal illness but also has to deal with the horrific break up of her parents.
My Mother Said I Never Should:
The first monologue I am going to be performing is from the play 'My Mother Said I Never Should' by Charlotte Keatly, written in 1985.
The play see four generations of women addressing the issues of relationships, motherhood and teenage pregnancy. The character that I am playing is Rosie and in the monologue it is her 8th birthday. To the eye Rosie is the daughter of 48 year old Margret. However the rest of the play reveiles that Rosie was taken off of her true monther Jackie when at 19 years of age she descovered she was too young to care for a baby.
The play skips between the different generations showing different stages in the womens lives. Just before my monologue is a scene between Margret and her mother Doris when Rosie is a baby.
The play see four generations of women addressing the issues of relationships, motherhood and teenage pregnancy. The character that I am playing is Rosie and in the monologue it is her 8th birthday. To the eye Rosie is the daughter of 48 year old Margret. However the rest of the play reveiles that Rosie was taken off of her true monther Jackie when at 19 years of age she descovered she was too young to care for a baby.
The play skips between the different generations showing different stages in the womens lives. Just before my monologue is a scene between Margret and her mother Doris when Rosie is a baby.
Audition Preperation
To prepare for our auditon we did a series of things involving what would happen on thre day of the audition. This partly links in with prepareing for improvisaion. When the audition starts you are expected to give an introduction to your two monologues and talk about, the writer, time period, basic synopsis, your character and a lead up to the monologue. No only dos this show that you are confident but it also shows the audition panal that you are well prepard and you have put the effort in to take time to read and research the play. This will give a good impression from the start.
We spent some time writing and preareing an opening to intorduce our two monologues. We wrote a short paragraph displaying our research and our knowlage of the play. This made me feel confident that I was able to do an intoduction before I went into the monologues because I knew that this would help settle my nerves, control my breathing and feel comfortable in the unusual surroundings before starting my monologues.
We spent some time writing and preareing an opening to intorduce our two monologues. We wrote a short paragraph displaying our research and our knowlage of the play. This made me feel confident that I was able to do an intoduction before I went into the monologues because I knew that this would help settle my nerves, control my breathing and feel comfortable in the unusual surroundings before starting my monologues.
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Improvisation
From research and from being informed by our teacher that in auditions often it is required to do a bit of improvisation after the monologues have been performed. We had to make sure that we were prepared for this in case we were required to do a piece of improvisation in our auditions.
How it Works
In the audition after you have performed your monologues, a member of the panel will usually say that they want to see an expansion on one of the monologues. Then they will give you a time, place and situation. Then another member of the audition panel will appear on stage with you where you have 1 minuet to set up your improvised piece that matches the location and situation given to you. You and the member of the audition panel will then have 1-3 minutes to improvise a scene.
How we Prepared
How we Prepared
To prepare and practice this we got into pairs in our class. One member from the pair gave a character to the other explaining the situation, place and time of the scene in 1 minute. The pair then had to improvise the scene, after giving feedback to one another on how well the other did.
For example, I was paired up with Emily. We improvised a piece from her play 'Star Spangled Girl' where she was trying to leave to run away from a guy who was in love with her. I was playing the part of another man who was in the play to try to convince her to stay as I truly loved her.
This helped us practice simple improvisation techniques such as open questioning and avoiding blocking. It also gave us confidence in knowing that we are capable of improvising. It also allowed us to get a feel for how it might be in the audition making it not so scary when being faced with it.
For example, I was paired up with Emily. We improvised a piece from her play 'Star Spangled Girl' where she was trying to leave to run away from a guy who was in love with her. I was playing the part of another man who was in the play to try to convince her to stay as I truly loved her.
This helped us practice simple improvisation techniques such as open questioning and avoiding blocking. It also gave us confidence in knowing that we are capable of improvising. It also allowed us to get a feel for how it might be in the audition making it not so scary when being faced with it.
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Forum Theatre
Once we had understood our character a bit more we did some forum theatre. This is an old style of theatre where the audience could question the actor which may challenge or suggest improvements. We used this in our rehearsal so that we could learn from each other and gain feedback and improve our performance through other members of the class.
When it was my turn to perform I did Rosie's monologue from the play 'My Mother Said I Never Should.' I did this because it was the one that was finding the most challenging due to the age of the character.
After I performed it I was given a series of praise such as, they liked how I had mapped the space out and was referring behind me when I was talking about my Mother showing where she would be positioned if she was on stage. The main thing I got out of the forum theatre was a challenge from Sophie who said 'I would like to know more about your relationship with your dolly.'
This really got me thinking about how the dolly is actually quite important to in my monologue as I was meant to be talking to it. This piece of reflection inspired me to thing about how I could bring this dolly to life. It made me think about how I could practice to hold it, react to it and speak to it and from this I decided that when I rehearsed this monologue I would use a real dolly so I could get a feel for exactly how it would be held and spoken to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_theatre
When it was my turn to perform I did Rosie's monologue from the play 'My Mother Said I Never Should.' I did this because it was the one that was finding the most challenging due to the age of the character.
After I performed it I was given a series of praise such as, they liked how I had mapped the space out and was referring behind me when I was talking about my Mother showing where she would be positioned if she was on stage. The main thing I got out of the forum theatre was a challenge from Sophie who said 'I would like to know more about your relationship with your dolly.'
This really got me thinking about how the dolly is actually quite important to in my monologue as I was meant to be talking to it. This piece of reflection inspired me to thing about how I could bring this dolly to life. It made me think about how I could practice to hold it, react to it and speak to it and from this I decided that when I rehearsed this monologue I would use a real dolly so I could get a feel for exactly how it would be held and spoken to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_theatre
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Character Building
We did a practical exercise that enabled us to annotate out scrip. the exercise involved us walking around the room with our scripts and doing a sharp 90 degree turn when we came to a bit of punctuation. This helped me to understand the pace of the monologue and how punctuation can show the mood of the character. I did this exercise with Angela's monologue.
From doing this exercise I learnt that Angela is quite snappy at the start of the monologue. There is lots of punctuation showing she is getting to the point. She is also speaking about her dying which may imply that she is trying to get to the point because she doesn't really want to say it and wants to get it out the way before it makes her upset. As the monologue goes on the punctuation decreases rapidly. This is when she is starting to explain to Maxine about how other people react to her and when she speak about wanting to have some dignity. This is less snappy and to the point as it is more explanatory.
This was a really useful exercise because it allows me to understand the character and how she is feeling at different parts of the monologue which is important because naturally our emissions change so often so by understanding how her mood changes and adding this into my performance will allow me to create a more believable character. As I was focusing on the lines one by one, it allowed me to understand what the character was saying and allowed me to appreciate exactly what she was saying which made me connect with her more. Once I had connected with her it meant I could portray the emission better as I understood her personality. I thought how I would feel in her situation and how I would feel in the hope I would make a believable character.
From doing this exercise I learnt that Angela is quite snappy at the start of the monologue. There is lots of punctuation showing she is getting to the point. She is also speaking about her dying which may imply that she is trying to get to the point because she doesn't really want to say it and wants to get it out the way before it makes her upset. As the monologue goes on the punctuation decreases rapidly. This is when she is starting to explain to Maxine about how other people react to her and when she speak about wanting to have some dignity. This is less snappy and to the point as it is more explanatory.
This was a really useful exercise because it allows me to understand the character and how she is feeling at different parts of the monologue which is important because naturally our emissions change so often so by understanding how her mood changes and adding this into my performance will allow me to create a more believable character. As I was focusing on the lines one by one, it allowed me to understand what the character was saying and allowed me to appreciate exactly what she was saying which made me connect with her more. Once I had connected with her it meant I could portray the emission better as I understood her personality. I thought how I would feel in her situation and how I would feel in the hope I would make a believable character.
Monday, 29 April 2013
Physical Movment
We had a lesson were we focused on improving and controling our physical movement to help us with portraying our character. Movent helps portray a character because you get a lot from the way character, stand, walk and sit.
We chose one monolgoue to focus on and improve the physical movmenet of that character. I chose the character form 'Like a Virgin,' Angela.
Tension StateWe focued on the movement of our bodies and where should hold tension. The exercise we did involved walking arounf the room the room in a nutral status and slowly changing into the mood of the character that they are feeling during the monologue. Whilst doing this exercise we had to focus on where we were feeling tension and what body part was naturally leading. In the case of Angela she was leading with her head because she was in an angry mood and had a point that she wanted to prove. She was focusing with her eyes on what was infront of her and had a large amout of tension in her upper body to she her anger and agression.
This helped me in my monogloe becuase it made me awair that i should focus on one spot when directing talking to Maxine to show I was talking to someone. This exersie also helped me to hold my body during my monologue and hold tension in my shoulders. This helped me to control my physical movement.
We chose one monolgoue to focus on and improve the physical movmenet of that character. I chose the character form 'Like a Virgin,' Angela.
Tension StateWe focued on the movement of our bodies and where should hold tension. The exercise we did involved walking arounf the room the room in a nutral status and slowly changing into the mood of the character that they are feeling during the monologue. Whilst doing this exercise we had to focus on where we were feeling tension and what body part was naturally leading. In the case of Angela she was leading with her head because she was in an angry mood and had a point that she wanted to prove. She was focusing with her eyes on what was infront of her and had a large amout of tension in her upper body to she her anger and agression.
This helped me in my monogloe becuase it made me awair that i should focus on one spot when directing talking to Maxine to show I was talking to someone. This exersie also helped me to hold my body during my monologue and hold tension in my shoulders. This helped me to control my physical movement.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Warming Up
In our rehearsal process we have been doing a series of breathing exercises before each rehearsal to warm up our vocals. These sessions are clips made, recorded and published by the National Theatre.
Breathing
Breathing
The breathing exercises help to control our breathing whilst on stage performing. It also helps to extend the capacity of the breath as well as help to get a scenes of deep breathing all the way through the body. This has helped me in my acting because I find it easier to day longer sentences without having to take pauses to breath. It has also helped to stretch out my body and muscles were I should be breathing, such as my lungs and lower tummy.
It is very important that an actor has control over the body. The breathing is known to be one of the hardest things to control. This is why this video clip is very useful because if done on a daily basis then it can improve control over the breathing. It is especially useful in an audition because the panel will be looking for control and this will help show you have control over every part of your body. Being able to control your breathing will also help when in a situation were you may get nervous, like an audition. When people get nervous often the breathing gets deeper, louder and faster. Being able to control the breathing will help cover your nerves which again is essential for an audition.
It is very important that an actor has control over the body. The breathing is known to be one of the hardest things to control. This is why this video clip is very useful because if done on a daily basis then it can improve control over the breathing. It is especially useful in an audition because the panel will be looking for control and this will help show you have control over every part of your body. Being able to control your breathing will also help when in a situation were you may get nervous, like an audition. When people get nervous often the breathing gets deeper, louder and faster. Being able to control the breathing will help cover your nerves which again is essential for an audition.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Suitability
The reason why I have chosen these two monogloues is because I feel I can relate to aspects of both of the characters which makes them highly suitable for me.
Rosie
I feel like I can relate to the character of Rosie. I can remember what it was like being eight years old and growig up with older siblings in a community where I was playing with other children up to 10 years older than me. I was very much like Rosie in the fact that I always wanted to be like the older children and always pretended I was older than my actual age.
Also, like Rosie, I was very much in love with dollys. I always used to play with them and talk to them which helps me understand the relationship and the way Rosie would be acting towards the dolly in the monologue.
This monolgoue exites me becase I think that it desplays a very typical eight year old who's birthday is going all wrong, stroppy, upset and angry. This exites me because it gives me the opportunity to use facial expressions to display how I am feeling.
Angela
I feel like I can understand the character of Angela making the part suitable for me. I am ony 17 years old so Angela is of a very similar aged to me at 16 so I have the physical appearence of a 16 year old. I also know what it is like to be that age, as it was only a year ago. Some may argue that this is not a suitable monologue for me because Angela has Lukeamia and I have not been through anythng like that in my life or nessaccerelly known someone who has . However in a previuos peice of work we deviced a perfomance about a little girl with Lukeamia. This involved carrying out a lot of research into what it was like to have it and all of the mental effects that it has on the patiants and their families.
This monologue exites me because it could be interpreted in so many different ways. When people are diegnosed with terminal illnesses they have very different reactions. This allowed me to take my own unique edge onto the monologue and perform it in what ever way I like expressing what ever emmosion that I want to. I have chosen to take an angery approch which is very similar to ym personallity. It also exites me because I have the opportunity to perform using a Northern accent which will help show my versitility in my vocal skills.
Rosie
I feel like I can relate to the character of Rosie. I can remember what it was like being eight years old and growig up with older siblings in a community where I was playing with other children up to 10 years older than me. I was very much like Rosie in the fact that I always wanted to be like the older children and always pretended I was older than my actual age.
Also, like Rosie, I was very much in love with dollys. I always used to play with them and talk to them which helps me understand the relationship and the way Rosie would be acting towards the dolly in the monologue.
This monolgoue exites me becase I think that it desplays a very typical eight year old who's birthday is going all wrong, stroppy, upset and angry. This exites me because it gives me the opportunity to use facial expressions to display how I am feeling.
Angela
I feel like I can understand the character of Angela making the part suitable for me. I am ony 17 years old so Angela is of a very similar aged to me at 16 so I have the physical appearence of a 16 year old. I also know what it is like to be that age, as it was only a year ago. Some may argue that this is not a suitable monologue for me because Angela has Lukeamia and I have not been through anythng like that in my life or nessaccerelly known someone who has . However in a previuos peice of work we deviced a perfomance about a little girl with Lukeamia. This involved carrying out a lot of research into what it was like to have it and all of the mental effects that it has on the patiants and their families.
This monologue exites me because it could be interpreted in so many different ways. When people are diegnosed with terminal illnesses they have very different reactions. This allowed me to take my own unique edge onto the monologue and perform it in what ever way I like expressing what ever emmosion that I want to. I have chosen to take an angery approch which is very similar to ym personallity. It also exites me because I have the opportunity to perform using a Northern accent which will help show my versitility in my vocal skills.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Contrast
Contrast
To fit the criteria of an Audition for an actor I chose the two monologues, Angela from 'Like a Virgin' and Rosie from 'My Mother Said I Never Should,' because they are very contrasting.There are three main ways how these two monologues contrast and that is through style, age of characters and character accent.
Style
I feel that these two monologues contrast in style as one is more comical containing an archetypal character and the other is of a more serious style.
My monologue from 'My Mother Said I Never Should' shows my character, an eight year old girl, toughing a tantrum because her birthday is going badly. To start this is a very typical thing for an eight year old to do. When your young your birthday is the best event ever and you feel on top of the world and children are not happy if it goes wrong.
It is also very amusing to the audience to watch because in the monologue, Rosie, is burying her dolly because she states that she is too old for them. However even though she is convincing herself and the doll that she is too old, she is talking to the doll and hearing responses from it. For example, in the monologue, Rosie says, "Mummies give there babies away sometimes...They do." This shows she is hearing responses form the doll and reacts to it like children do, displaying to the audience that she clearly is not to old to play with her dollies.
My monologue from 'My Mother Said I Never Should' shows my character, an eight year old girl, toughing a tantrum because her birthday is going badly. To start this is a very typical thing for an eight year old to do. When your young your birthday is the best event ever and you feel on top of the world and children are not happy if it goes wrong.
It is also very amusing to the audience to watch because in the monologue, Rosie, is burying her dolly because she states that she is too old for them. However even though she is convincing herself and the doll that she is too old, she is talking to the doll and hearing responses from it. For example, in the monologue, Rosie says, "Mummies give there babies away sometimes...They do." This shows she is hearing responses form the doll and reacts to it like children do, displaying to the audience that she clearly is not to old to play with her dollies.
My monologue from 'Like a Virgin' address very serious issues. Angela talks to her friend about her condition, Lukeamia, and how it is killing her. She talks angrely about how people react when she tells them she only has 4 weeks to live. This is not a laughable situation or issue creating the contrast between the two monologues.
Age
This is one of the biggest contrasts between the two monologues. Rosie is 8 and Angela is 16 which is a large age gap and in this time you grow from a child to a woman showing different, physical, mental and vocal differences. To show this I am going to use mainly my body and facial expressions. I will use my body as Rosie as being low to the floor because children often sit on the floor, I will fidget and show flexibility in my legs.
For Angela I will stand for much of it, use a broader and more harsh voice. I will also pronounce my words better to show my age difference vocally.
For Angela I will stand for much of it, use a broader and more harsh voice. I will also pronounce my words better to show my age difference vocally.
Accent
This is the more obvious contrast. Rosie is from South-London as where Angela is from Middlesbrough. I will perform my monologues in the two difference accents. This will help show a big contrast in my two characters that I will be performing but will also show off to the audition panel my versatility of vocal skills.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Rosie's Monologue
This is the monologue that I am going to be performing in my audition from the play 'My Mother Said I Never Should.'
It's my birthday and it's all gone wrong already... I'm going to bury you, Suky, eight is too old for dolls. I want a Sex Pistols t-shirt. Some hope. Unless, Jackie, brings me one. I would have buried you ages and ages ago, Suky, if you hadn't been Mums. I couldn't care less if she sees me doing this. Suky. Stupid name. Even cutting your hair off didn't make you go punk...I bet Mum cuddled you and stuff didn't she.. Well I only hug people when I want to. And not when its visitors. When I want to, I can hug harder than anyone, in the world... I'm saving it. I was going to give you away to a toy collection at school, did you know that? Mummies give their babies away sometime. They do! Shut up crying... I'm putting you in this urn, see. People get buried in urns. Jackie will be here soon. She never cry's. No one else at school has a sister who's a grown-up. I could easily run away and live with her. Then you'd be sorry, Suky. So would Mum... I'm going to paint the cherry tree now, for Jackie.
It's my birthday and it's all gone wrong already... I'm going to bury you, Suky, eight is too old for dolls. I want a Sex Pistols t-shirt. Some hope. Unless, Jackie, brings me one. I would have buried you ages and ages ago, Suky, if you hadn't been Mums. I couldn't care less if she sees me doing this. Suky. Stupid name. Even cutting your hair off didn't make you go punk...I bet Mum cuddled you and stuff didn't she.. Well I only hug people when I want to. And not when its visitors. When I want to, I can hug harder than anyone, in the world... I'm saving it. I was going to give you away to a toy collection at school, did you know that? Mummies give their babies away sometime. They do! Shut up crying... I'm putting you in this urn, see. People get buried in urns. Jackie will be here soon. She never cry's. No one else at school has a sister who's a grown-up. I could easily run away and live with her. Then you'd be sorry, Suky. So would Mum... I'm going to paint the cherry tree now, for Jackie.
Angela's Monologue
This is the Monologue that I will be performing in my audition from the play 'Like a Virgin.'
No, you go. I don't feel up to it... I've got to live a bit. Maxine, I'm dying. I don't know why but I am. I don't know why I've been picked to have such a shit-awful life. What have I done that's so bloody wrong?
So you can piss off with your, 'Let's be jolly,' routine. With you, 'Lets pretend everything's alright and we'll have a laugh like we used to in the old day's.'... Do you know something? I've never had sex. I'm a virgin. Yeah I know what I said, what we said, but...well, they were just stories full of me, us trying to be gorwn-up. But I'm never gonna grow up. I'll never grow up and be a woman and have children. Why me? Why the fucking hell does it have to be me? It's not fair. How would you like it if someone told you that you were gonna die? Come on, it's not easy is it? YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. You have got four weeks to live. What are you going to do? It's not easy is it, is it, and people are so full of understanding... so full of shit. 'I'd go on holiday, I'd travel.' What is the point in spending your time in spending your time in strange lands with strange people? S you'll have lots of happy memories and photographs to look back on. When? I haven't got time, I'm dying. What's the point in laying on the beach getting a tan? So I'll look good in coffin. So people will be able to gork into my coffin with...with..tear-stained eyes and say...'She looks really good'...'She's the best suntanned corpse I've ever seen'... Well, they can all fuck off. Sometimes I feel as though I should have some dignity and write poems and raise money for charity an' all that...Be a symbol for other people to look up to. But why should I? What has anyone ever done for me? Look at you, you're pathetic stood there not wanting to say anything in case you hurt my feelings. Making excuses for me. 'It's her condition... It's understandable... She's just a bit down.' Well don't patronise me. Tell me to fuck off. Slap me. Go on. Go on. Go on, do something.
No, you go. I don't feel up to it... I've got to live a bit. Maxine, I'm dying. I don't know why but I am. I don't know why I've been picked to have such a shit-awful life. What have I done that's so bloody wrong?
So you can piss off with your, 'Let's be jolly,' routine. With you, 'Lets pretend everything's alright and we'll have a laugh like we used to in the old day's.'... Do you know something? I've never had sex. I'm a virgin. Yeah I know what I said, what we said, but...well, they were just stories full of me, us trying to be gorwn-up. But I'm never gonna grow up. I'll never grow up and be a woman and have children. Why me? Why the fucking hell does it have to be me? It's not fair. How would you like it if someone told you that you were gonna die? Come on, it's not easy is it? YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. You have got four weeks to live. What are you going to do? It's not easy is it, is it, and people are so full of understanding... so full of shit. 'I'd go on holiday, I'd travel.' What is the point in spending your time in spending your time in strange lands with strange people? S you'll have lots of happy memories and photographs to look back on. When? I haven't got time, I'm dying. What's the point in laying on the beach getting a tan? So I'll look good in coffin. So people will be able to gork into my coffin with...with..tear-stained eyes and say...'She looks really good'...'She's the best suntanned corpse I've ever seen'... Well, they can all fuck off. Sometimes I feel as though I should have some dignity and write poems and raise money for charity an' all that...Be a symbol for other people to look up to. But why should I? What has anyone ever done for me? Look at you, you're pathetic stood there not wanting to say anything in case you hurt my feelings. Making excuses for me. 'It's her condition... It's understandable... She's just a bit down.' Well don't patronise me. Tell me to fuck off. Slap me. Go on. Go on. Go on, do something.
Sunday, 14 April 2013
'My Mother Said I Never Should' Research
Synopsis
My Mother Said I Never Should was a play written in 1985 by Charlotte Keatley, first performed in Manchester in 1987. The play explores the lives and relationships of four generations of women; Doris, Margaret, Jackie and Rosie. It shows the different relationships between these mothers and daughters exploring the themes of independence, growing-up and secrets.
RosieIn my monologue the character I will be playing is Rosie. Rosie has a complicated and secret background when she was born into the world by her blood mother and teenager, Jackie. Being born in 1971 the issue of teenage pregnancy was extremely frowned upon Margaret, Jackie's mother, took her baby Rosie to raise as her own. Rosie brought up with Jackie as a grown up sister and looks up to her making her often act older than she is.
My Monologue
The monologue I will be performing is set in Margaret's garden in 1979 on Rosie's 8th birthday. Rosie is in the garden with her dolly, Suky, that was passed down through the generations. During her monologue she is burying her dolly explaining to it that she is too old for dolls. This monologue has a slight comic effect on the audience as she is talking to her dolly like any young girl but is saying she is too old for them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Mother_Said_I_Never_Should
My Mother Said I Never Should was a play written in 1985 by Charlotte Keatley, first performed in Manchester in 1987. The play explores the lives and relationships of four generations of women; Doris, Margaret, Jackie and Rosie. It shows the different relationships between these mothers and daughters exploring the themes of independence, growing-up and secrets.
RosieIn my monologue the character I will be playing is Rosie. Rosie has a complicated and secret background when she was born into the world by her blood mother and teenager, Jackie. Being born in 1971 the issue of teenage pregnancy was extremely frowned upon Margaret, Jackie's mother, took her baby Rosie to raise as her own. Rosie brought up with Jackie as a grown up sister and looks up to her making her often act older than she is.
My Monologue
The monologue I will be performing is set in Margaret's garden in 1979 on Rosie's 8th birthday. Rosie is in the garden with her dolly, Suky, that was passed down through the generations. During her monologue she is burying her dolly explaining to it that she is too old for dolls. This monologue has a slight comic effect on the audience as she is talking to her dolly like any young girl but is saying she is too old for them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Mother_Said_I_Never_Should
Saturday, 13 April 2013
'Like a Virgin' Research
One of the monologues I will be performing in my audition is from the play 'Like a Virgin' written by Gordon Steel in 1998.
Synopsis
Inspired and written around Madonna's album 'Like a Virgin,' explores the lives of two best friends who are filled with all the teenage interests such as boys, parties, clothes and secret hand shakes. The two girls, Angela and Maxine are completely obsessed with Madonna, like many young girls in the 80's, and have dreams to be famous until Angela's path changes their feature forever.
Angela
The character I am playing during the monologue is Angela, a 16 year old girl who has dream to be famous. Angela appears to be a normal teenage girl growing up in the 1980 however she is dealing with much more than any other 16 year old. Angela has Leukaemia and during the monologue she has just been told that she has 4 weeks to live. From looking at reviews of the production it appears that Angela warms up slowly however rapidly changes from a go happy teenager to a young girl battling a deadly illness. On top of her illness she had also got to deal with the reality of her parents, Mum Viv and Dad Monkey, breakup. The family from Northern England have to deal with a great change from the separation of Viv and Monkey to the death of Angela.
My Monologue
The monologue I am performing is from Angela herself. She is in her bedroom with best friend Maxine reflecting on how society has reacted to the news of her life expectancy which Angela sees as very unrealistic and pathetic. She explains to Maxine how she finds it unfair that she is going to die and try's to explain what it is like to be told you will die. It is a very sensitive monologue that touches a lot of different emotions from sad to angry and from depressed to aggressive.
http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/2582.html
Synopsis
Inspired and written around Madonna's album 'Like a Virgin,' explores the lives of two best friends who are filled with all the teenage interests such as boys, parties, clothes and secret hand shakes. The two girls, Angela and Maxine are completely obsessed with Madonna, like many young girls in the 80's, and have dreams to be famous until Angela's path changes their feature forever.
Angela
The character I am playing during the monologue is Angela, a 16 year old girl who has dream to be famous. Angela appears to be a normal teenage girl growing up in the 1980 however she is dealing with much more than any other 16 year old. Angela has Leukaemia and during the monologue she has just been told that she has 4 weeks to live. From looking at reviews of the production it appears that Angela warms up slowly however rapidly changes from a go happy teenager to a young girl battling a deadly illness. On top of her illness she had also got to deal with the reality of her parents, Mum Viv and Dad Monkey, breakup. The family from Northern England have to deal with a great change from the separation of Viv and Monkey to the death of Angela.
My Monologue
The monologue I am performing is from Angela herself. She is in her bedroom with best friend Maxine reflecting on how society has reacted to the news of her life expectancy which Angela sees as very unrealistic and pathetic. She explains to Maxine how she finds it unfair that she is going to die and try's to explain what it is like to be told you will die. It is a very sensitive monologue that touches a lot of different emotions from sad to angry and from depressed to aggressive.
http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/2582.html
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Lamda Research
Drama School Research
As we are looking at audition for actor and specifically at drama schools, I did some research into a drama school across the UK to see what I could find out.
LAMDA
LAMDA is the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. It is an independent drama school offering vocational training in acting, stage management and technicians, directors and designers. This helps young people develop skills and high levels of creativity in order to produce the best opportunities in theatre, film, Radio and TV. Many applicants apply for to attend LAMDA at 18 years or above. Some are called for auditions and interviews which a panel will see before deciding on the usual 28 that are offered a place at the school each year.
Audition Process
They offer many different courses that LAMDA offers but for a standard three, two or one year acting course this is the requirements for the audition.
Applicants should present:
The school don't just have audition requirements for the material basis but physical requirements. they state that all applicants auditioning for acting courses come to the auditions wear comfortable clothing with suitable footwear.
After auditions, applicants usually have to wait 1-3 weeks to hear from the school again to find out if they make it through to the next stage of auditions.
LAMDA is on of the top drama schools in the UK and many people see this audition process as necessary in order to find the best theatrical students. LAMDA is a very successful school and that is partly down to their students so the audition process is vital for the future of the school.
http://www.lamda.org.uk/drama/auditions/auditionrequirements.htm
As we are looking at audition for actor and specifically at drama schools, I did some research into a drama school across the UK to see what I could find out.
LAMDA
LAMDA is the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. It is an independent drama school offering vocational training in acting, stage management and technicians, directors and designers. This helps young people develop skills and high levels of creativity in order to produce the best opportunities in theatre, film, Radio and TV. Many applicants apply for to attend LAMDA at 18 years or above. Some are called for auditions and interviews which a panel will see before deciding on the usual 28 that are offered a place at the school each year.
Audition Process
They offer many different courses that LAMDA offers but for a standard three, two or one year acting course this is the requirements for the audition.
Applicants should present:
- One monologue from an Elizabethan or Jacobean play.
- One monologue from a play written in the 20th or 21st centenary but not a piece written by yourself or an unknown or little known author.
The school don't just have audition requirements for the material basis but physical requirements. they state that all applicants auditioning for acting courses come to the auditions wear comfortable clothing with suitable footwear.
After auditions, applicants usually have to wait 1-3 weeks to hear from the school again to find out if they make it through to the next stage of auditions.
LAMDA is on of the top drama schools in the UK and many people see this audition process as necessary in order to find the best theatrical students. LAMDA is a very successful school and that is partly down to their students so the audition process is vital for the future of the school.
http://www.lamda.org.uk/drama/auditions/auditionrequirements.htm
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