Kids Reviews 2006
Kids Reviews
My other favourite part of the Children’s Theatre semester is the final activities I complete with my kids. Again, like their previous drawings, a progression of their skills can be noticed when you compare their work from last year, and the year before for that matter. As similar to last year, the reviews focus on specific areas, namely their favourite character, their favourite scene, who they thought were the good/ bad characters (how could you tell?) and what was the theme of the play. They were all refreshed with a reading of last year’s reviews to inspire them. To start with, here is Thomas’ review…
The Secret of the Snottygobbles: A Fairy Story
On Saturday I saw a play at Murdoch. My favourite character was Louisa the fly (Bluey’s daughter). My favourite scene was the battle between Titania and Oberon (because we had to look up). I thought the play was about sticking together and facing your fears. I thought the whole goblin tribe were the baddies and all the rest were the goodies and I knew this because of the way they dressed (the baddies were wearing black and red and the goodies wore multi coloured clothes).
To begin with, it was quite interesting to see how the kids skills develop from year to year. The reviews last year focused of the “Quotation” of certain lines, leading Thomas and Hayden to include a 66 and 99 throughout last year’s reviews. This year it is the brackets, obviously just recently learnt. What was quite interesting about Thomas’ review was the need to use the production’s program in order to complete the activity. Thomas wanted to name his favourite scene correctly, so he found the correct title and copied it. He asked why the actor who played Puck looked skinny, but is referred to as ‘Fatty’, and that took some explaining! Furthermore, Thomas liked the balcony scene the most because it was so different from the rest. The fact that Titania and Oberon where up on the balcony meant that Thomas’s focus shifted from the stage and he was fascinated by that aspect.
Thomas found it hard to focus on what he believed the theme was for the production, rather opting for the theme from last year’s review as it had just been read to him. Thomas’ differentiating between good and bad characters was clearly articulated as he not only made clear distinctions, but also backed them up with reasons. In his example, costumes connoted the character traits necessary for distinguishing different roles. Thomas drew a great picture of me, which focused on all different aspects of my costume. He also drew a picture of his favourite character, Louisa, which communicated similarities in costume with that of Bluey. Louisa was drawn with big wings, black shirt and hat, and a striped skirt, where Bluey’s wings were black and his costume also consisted of a cork hat. Thomas also drew the balcony, focusing on what aspects of its use he enjoyed the most (i.e. Puck abseiling). Next was Bella’s review…
Bella’s review was swift and to the point. As she is only just learning how to write, her communication through written work is limited. Bella’s pictures, however, included her favourite characters, Louisa the fly, and Caballus. For both drawings, Bella drew the actor dressed as the character, as well as emphasised vital elements of their costume. Louisa has been drawn in a long dress, with antennas on her head and big wings. Caballus is dressed in a long black coat, with splashes of red and is standing next to a very ‘cute’ Gudrun. The final picture Bella drew was of Pierrot, which included a white based costume, a white cap, and two tear drops under her eyes, similar to that of the actor on stage. Now to Hayden’s review…
On Saturday at Murdoch University I saw a play.
My Favourite scene was Battle, then celebration in the enchanted garden. It was about how we defeated Caballus and had a big celebration. Soap and water was the secret of the Snottygobbles, which was the cure to defeat Caballus
I think Caballus is the bad character because he said so. I think the circus, the insects, the fairies, the Australian fairies and Gudrun were the good characters because they defeated Caballus and his tribe.
My favourite characters were Louisa the fly and Lizzie the ladybird.
Like Thomas, Hayden’s review relied on the program to help spell character names and describe scenes correctly. He enjoyed the battle and celebration scene, and was able to articulate what the play was about. To a degree, he answered what he believed the ‘Secret of the Snottygobbles’ was, and therefore located the theme. Hayden defined differences in characters, both good and bad, based on costumes and their actions. I especially liked the fact that he believed that Caballus was bad, because he said he was; very simple, but a great interpretation of the presented dialogue.
Hayden also drew a picture of Louisa, and his other favourite character Lizzie. Both drawings were similar, with only variations in colours and patterns noted. His other drawing, however, focused on the circus creatures where Hayden has drawn all six characters differently from each other. Columbine is seen on stilts, and Papa Gorgonzola holds his whip, which makes a thundering ‘Quququ’ sound.
The final activity that I completed with the kids was a Story Retell of the Snottygobbles story. The kids were asked to retell the story using pictures of the play, thus making up the story in their own words. Using the pictures that Martina took at the final dress rehearsal, I culled them down to fifty, and the kids halved that amount for the final story design. As with an Arts Response activity, the kids were ‘guided’ through the construction of the story, and I continually emphasised a need to connect each picture. They decided that the forest, the lights, the ‘secret’ and the need to defeat Caballus were the most important elements to use in picture descriptions. The kids did a great job, and constructed a clever story with only minor differences from the original production.
Below is the final activity that I completed with my kids: To view the Snottygobbles Retell...
Click on... Act One: Part One and Part Two
Act Two: Part One and Part Two
Small variations in the script, and due to the activity, some minor storylines were missing. Again for this activity, the kids used the program in order to spell correctly, and help in the sequencing of events. The kids understood the importance of a program so well that they recreated their own production of the Snottygobbles play, and recreated their own program. They introduced a clear narrative, differences in characters, costumes, and they even turned of the lights in the lounge room (or auditorium) to connote the loss of light in the forest. The kids also bowed, demonstrating basic, yet important aspects of presenting a show. It was a funny, clever and very interesting play, but more importantly, their idea to put it on. The kids have enjoyed many of these Children’s Theatre activities so, during the holidays, we plan to create another story retell based on their own ideas. They are sincerely interested in the drama process, just like me!
View Andrew's 'Integrating Drama and the Outcomes and Standards Framework' journal entries...
Week One - Week Two Week Three - Week Four Study Break One - Week Five
Week Six - Week Seven Study Break Two - Week Eight Week Nine - Week Ten
Week Eleven - Week Twelve Week Thirteen Week Fourteen Kids Reviews Lesson Plans and References
..or view other journals... Integrating Drama and the Outcomes and Standards Framework (2006)
Semiotics and Performance: The role of the Actor (2005) Performing Shakespeare in the Classroom (2005)
Drama and The Curriculum (Summer, 2005) Children's Theatre (2004) Acting (2004)
... or view... Photo Gallery and Lesson Plans
...or view other individual lesson plans, draft checklists or completed activities...
Family Photos - Lesson Plan Picture Story - Lesson Plan Arts Response Draft Checklists
Warming Up - Lesson Plan Defining Drama - Lesson Plan Arts Ideas Draft Checklists
Poetic Performance - Lesson Plan Seasonal Grouping - Lesson Plan Arts Skills and Processes Draft Checklists
Prop Me Up - Lesson Plan Commedia dell 'Arte - Lesson Plan Arts in Society Draft Checklists
Snottygobbles Retell One Snottygobbles Retell Two Snottygobbles Retell Three Snottygobbles Retell Four
Go to Children's Theatre: My Journal History Notice Board Your Work
Contact Andrew @ thechaseison@optusnet.com.au
This page last updated: 30th June 2006