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."

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.  

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.

'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.

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.   

END OF ASSIGNMENT

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.