Glynis' Children's Theatre Journal (2006)

 Study Break One - Week Ten

 22/3/06

 I wasn’t actually sure if there was a workshop today but had said I would attend the costume meeting at 9.30 am in the Refractory. As I arrived I bumped into Selina who said she wasn’t sure about the workshop either but had bumped into Jenny the day before and been told there definitely was a workshop. This is something that needs to be made much clearer next time as other people missed a very valuable workshop.

As I couldn’t see anyone at the ref I walked down to the workshop and put in my apologies before going back to the Ref. There I found two other people and discussed some ideas. Unfortunately though we didn’t find the other members of the group (a circumstance that shouldn’t have occurred) and we went down to the workshop where I felt I really needed to join the actors in the read through of the first act. I’d really like to do costumes as well as acting but I think the reality is that I can’t so I will focus on acting and just be on call for costumes if needed. I had one great success with the costume design though because when Jenny arrived I showed her the bubble skirt sample I had made for the Snottygobble costume. She loved it but suggested it come from the neck and has a cloak attached for hiding the arms in. We took our suggestions to Jenny de Reuck and she loved the idea but with cloaks only for some. Jenny is actually going to make up a sample costume. It was a good example of working together to achieve the best result.

For the second part of the workshop Darren took the fairies and some other people not needed for blocking act 1 out on the grass to do some characterisation.

. My problem with characterisation is that whatever I decide first I always want to improve upon and change. I found Darren’s method of talking us through ideas very helpful. The following improvisation activities were great. The idea of staying in character in a variety of different settings was very useful as was working with different people. I think though that I need to be a bit more assertive when actually performing as some people seem to dominate the action.

These activities would be good to do with children at school especially changing groups to allow different people to shine.

30/3/06

 Yesterday was a bit of a mixed day as far as I’m concerned. I loved the warm ups which I will list here as I want to remember them:

Stretching exercises

Vocal exercises counting, humming, ahhing

Stage positions game

Movement activities, fairies, goblins

I was however somewhat put out at having to listen to a lecture on attendance that really only applied to a small percentage of people who were there. I felt this to be a bit like keeping the whole class in because one person was talking. While I appreciate the necessity of reminding people that attendance is compulsory I felt this was a negative start to what should have been a positive workshop.

The characterisation exercise with Ilona would have been more helpful if we had had a bit more to work with. This was not anyone’s fault simply that we hadn’t got scripts and really weren’t sure where we were meant to be heading. These sorts of activities along with improvisation I find very difficult having no experience in this area and lacking the necessary imagination and assertiveness to show off.

 I enjoyed the blocking of my scenes and hope I get more to do. I will watch the Disney movies to see the fairy godmothers in action. I find I am beginning to look more carefully at actors in movies and think how I would have played the part or played a role. I am becoming a less passive audience.

5/4/06

 An interesting workshop today. I particularly enjoyed the read through and thought placing people who work together in scenes was very effective. I also enjoyed the act 2 blocking process. I feel however that the fairies in the enchanted garden need something to bring them together as most have only a few lines on which to try and build characters and relationships. Maybe a dance or some dramatic action could be included. I understand the time constraints and therefore the necessity of small roles but feel it does make it difficult to get into character.

I watched the film Cinderella and understand what I need to portray but am still finding this difficult. Hopefully as blocking finishes and rehearsals begin in earnest we will feel more comfortable in our roles.

12/4/06

 A really good mornings work, we finished blocking act 2.  It is actually surprising how long it can take even to block a fairly simple scene. I have great admiration for Jenny for writing the script and knowing exactly what she wants and then trying to get us all to pull it together on stage. I am sure if it was me I’d be tearing my hair out already. As a teacher doing this course it has made me aware of just how hard it is for the children not actively involved and vow in future to always provide them with something fun and quiet to be doing while they are waiting.

 The music that Joe and the others have put together so far is absolutely amazing as is what I have seen the costume people come up with, so many groups working independently towards the same end. This is a skill I would like to teach children.

 What I found most helpful today was the work we did with Darren in the squash court. He has a way of getting the best out of people. His acting skills mean that he is able to demonstrate what he wants in a way we can understand and emulate. His enthusiasm and positiveness help get the best from us.

I am really looking forward to the time when we can get into Nexus and start to really rehearse.

2/5/06

 This is very bad I haven’t written for nearly two weeks but with trying to get assignments finished and move house time seems to have slipped away. In this last two weeks I’ve also watched “The Happiness War” based on the novelette Farenheight 451 by Ray Bradbury and a Puppet play for kids called “Muttaburrasaurus. The first was performed by the production class and I thought they did an excellent job. The sets were well done particularly using just one overall setting to represent four different places. Muttaburrasaurus was interesting and imaginative and my two young nephews enjoyed it immensely. It was performed by just tow people one actor/puppeteer and one puppeteer. This required a huge amount of energy and stamina. Again it was just a single setting, this time a large globe in the centre of the stage which rotated to give the impression of time travel. I felt the storyline for this production was a bit loose and could have included a bit more in the way of accurate knowledge that the kids could pick up.

As for our workshops they have continued to progress well with Darren working very hard on the scenes for the “Enchanted Garden” He is working us very hard but seems to be happy with the results. I think he has done a marvellous job getting the best out of all of us and can really see the magic beginning to flow between the characters. In a way we really begin to see ourselves as the characters we are portraying. We all still need to work on our voice projection which is actually quite hard when working in a squash courts. Hopefully when we move into Nexus someone will stand at the back so we have something to aim for.

4/5/06

Paul and Melissa ran the usual physical and vocal warm-ups this week which ran pretty smoothly as we are pretty well used to them by now. I’m not sure we’ll ever be loud enough for Melissa but I’m sure she’ll keep us trying. I find the section where we walk around saying our favourite line a bit inhibiting it might be easier if I had something a bit more demanding to say but I’m not sure. I really don’t think I’m extroverted enough to be a great actor but I’ve certainly enjoyed the journey of this course and think I’ve learnt a lot. I enjoyed today’s run through especially the right through from beginning to end without direction interruptions, as although there was lots of prompting it was great to see the play as a whole rather than just individual scenes. I think the kids are going to love it. I was pleased that Jenny is happy with where we are.

We got to here some more of the music today Joe has created some great music for us particularly the Snottygobble theme. I would actually like to know how some of the other backstage work is going. So many people are all working away in their groups guided by Jenny to get this production to work. I hate to think what Jenny’s stress levels must be.

11/06/06

 Yesterday was the dance workshop and boy what a workshop. By 12.30 I was absolutely exhausted. Salmia really worked us hard during the first hour of workshop; it definitely wasn’t planned for someone my age although Salmia is not so young herself. I loved the dancing even if it was hard going but I was rather disappointed at the attitude of some people who didn’t seem to want to take it seriously. I realise that dance is not everyone’s cup of tea but would have thought that any activity that could help to improve an actors versatility would be an opportunity to grab. Some of these young people need to understand that even if you have two left feet you can still gain a lot from improving your grace and flexibility.

 Later as Salmia was working with us in a small group I found her suggestions well worthwhile in improving our movement as fairies especially talking about us caring for the plants and flowers in the enchanted garden. She was working really hard with us to try and get a more floating kind of movement.

Trying on of costumes was very exciting with some absolutely splendid costumes have been found and made. I would really have liked to have been more involved in this aspect of production as I love costume design but then having had a daughter who dances I have plenty of experience at making costumes and really felt I’d get more out of being an actor which I certainly have. It has been a tremendous learning experience I have learnt so much I can take back into the classroom. I have also really enjoyed the interaction with a whole heap of people I would never have known otherwise.

 Well next week a jump into Nexus and the next stage begins.

View other Glynis' Journal entries...     Week One - Week Four     Study Break One - Week Ten     Week Eleven - Week Fourteen

...or view other 'Your Work' entries...     2006 Ed Pack     Julian's Journal

Lauren Boon's Movement in Education   Nicole Pfeiffer's Theatre Production in the Classroom

...or view other 2005 Your Work entries...     Val's Journal      Jodie's Journal

...or view the...     2005 Ed Pack

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Contact Andrew @ thechaseison@optusnet.com.au

This page last updated: 30th June 2006