Week Five - Week Six
Week Five
Captain
Quokka's
Provisional Cast List
Sol the Seagull - Kate Reid
The
Islanders
Captain Quokka, a reformed Pirate - Paul Grabovac
Miss Severity, a Lobster - Alexa Taylor
Desiree Dugong, an Adventuress - Ilona Bartsch
Colonel Cucumber, a Sea Lion - Stephen Pearce
Priscilla Penguin - Caris McGabe
Prunella Penguin - Ng May Yen (May)
Theresa, a Sea Turtle
- Melissa Merchant
The
Dutch
Katzenellenbogen, a mercenary Spice Trader - Andrew Kocsis
Marilda, his daughter, a playful Kitten
- Bree Hartley
Van Dyk, an inadequate Artist - John Jarzabek
Jan Pierawiet, a heroic young Mouse - Daniel Stone
The
Pie-Rats
Bluebeard, the villainous Captain - Steven Knoth
Clarissa, a retired Actress - Lauren Boon
Nell, her Handmaid - Rohan Macdougall
Smart, the First Mate - Jane Woodroof
Sneer, a Pirate in Training - Brittany Barnes
Smee, a drunken Pirate
- Alex Olivares
The Undersea Creatures
Crustacean Chorus:
Calypso - Michelle Brown
Chloe - Jodie Firman
Cordelia - Carol Li-an Chia
Caprice - Erica Hedstrom
Octavia, a Blue-Ringed Octopus
- Shola Monger
Harlequin, a mystic, her familiar - Sophie Fryer-Smith
Sequin, a shy Sea-Horse
- Ai
Sharkbait
(the band)
Al CaPrawn - Nick Choo
Bugs Abalone - Paula Calleja
Don GioManta - Giulio Rosa
Corlione the Claw - Brendan Jones
(Meet the new Miss Severity and Captain Quokka; Alexa and Paul)
By now you should all know who and what your
characters are. Some will be thrilled, others probably less so. One
of the most important things to remember . . . a character is only as good as
you make it. If you give nothing, then yeah your character will suck, but
if you make the effort you can steal the show with a single scene.
All actors will approach the creation of a character differently, I can only
tell you how I go about it. First, research, Children's Theatre makes it
easy, you get given a character which is an animal, so already you have a lead.
Study that animal, last year I was a quoll, so naturally the first thing I had
to do was find out what the heck a quoll was. The play is set in the
1700's, learn about the era, the spice trade. Look into Rottnest Island,
it's history, it's inhabitants. Research anything and everything you think
might help you understand your animal, your era and your location. The bonus is
you can put it all in your journal and look like you've done heaps of work :)
From this research comes the physical aspects of the character, how do they
walk, talk etc. This is something we'll be covering next week, so it would
be good if you have given it some thought before hand.
This is of course incredibly simplified, so much goes on when creating a
character, but hopefully this will help you on your way.
We need people to sweep the theatre before use on Wednesday mornings, set up for tea and coffee, and clean up and put things away at the end of the session. Can you please let me know if you would prefer to start early, or stay back 5 minutes at the end. I will then sort out a roster and let you know your days. We probably only need four people in total each week, so you should only need to do one week. If you have a preference, please let me know - early volunteers get their choice more easily.
Valerie O'Neill
(The whole class reads through the first act of Captain Quokka)
At this point of the unit, we have held auditions and cast the
show and are ready to begin doing the hard work known as blocking and
characterisation. I will be looking more at the characterisation side of things
(Jenny is the blocking master - why would I want to interrupt perfection) and
working with the cast members in regards to how we need their characters to
develop and, by extension, how they can utilise their sense of character to
enhance their performance. As I said in an earlier posting, an actor has three
main tools available to them - their body, their voice and their mind. Actors
need to create a character with these three tools in order to give it
believability and depth. The body gives a physical representation of who the character is - as shown by
the example of the frog I gave earlier. The voice creates a verbal image of the
character by engaging the audience on an aural level as well. The mind makes the
character a real person. My job is to work with all the actors and to help them
utilise these tools. I will discuss the ways we can use voice and mind in more
detail at a later date.
Having begun the blocking, it is nice to see that the casting was very
effective. Any director will tell you that there are countless ways to cast a
show - and that is never more true than in EGL213. For this show, most of the
actors could have played any number of parts - our job was to put together the
correct people in their character groups in order to create the most effective
ensemble feel. If Captain Quokka, Ms Severity and Desiree Dugong didn't have the
right group energy, we would be compromising the show. It is also great to see
the beginnings of characterisation already. Every actor has already (with only
one rehearsal) begun the arduous process of making their character 'real'. Over
the next 10 weeks this will develop far beyond where they are now, but starting
to 'build the character' at this early stage can only help to broaden the depth
and 'reality' of the performances.
Darren Bilston
Week Six
Attached is the script to date - there are a few scenes to go (next week for sure) but meanwhile, hope this works... It's still a draft - so expect some changes yet!
Jenny de Reuck
Click here... DRAFT to view the draft
Just a reminder that if you are going to be late, or are sick and won't be in tomorrow, please text 0404 075 853 or email me. Production meeting starts as usual at 0830.
Valerie O'Neill
(The second production meeting occurred early Wednesday morning)
Hello everyone. My name is Nicole Pfeiffer and I'm doing the Ed Pack this year. So I was wondering if anyone has any info that they think would be useful or any suggestions please come and see me! I welcome all of the help I can get. Thanks.
Nicole Pfeiffer
If you can help with any suggestions, e-mail Nicole @nicolepickle_2001@yahoo.ca
(Bradley Glorie's sketches of the possible windmill set piece)
I drew 2 designs for the windmill because I wanted to get other people's reactions on what they think it should look like. Whether it has large or small blades compared to the size of the tower, and what the blades should look like, be it realistic (design 1) or in an basic X shape (design 2). It was decided to go with X shape, with the blades being enlarged in comparison to the size of the tower.
Bradley Glorie
(First sketches of the 'waves' to be used the production)
Originally there were two designs for the waves - there was the pointy waves (which we are going to be using) and curvy waves. They will be painted 2 colours, light blue and dark blue, to make it look like the water gets darker the further you look out. The other thing we have to factor in is that they have to pop-up from the stage, like a pop-up book. We are still working on how to do that.
Bradley Glorie
Friday of Week Seven, April 8th, marks the
first date you can get a hearty serving of fine music and food. Nexus Theatre is
Murdoch University's major performance art venue and is located next to the Kim
E Beazley Lecture Theatre on Bush Court. As part of the Semester One
season this year, Nexus Theatre presents - Edible Music.
Edible Music is lunchtime performance - by students, for students.
For a minimal cost (around $5), audiences will be treated to an afternoon of
singing by solo artists and bands - and will also be given lunch! Included in
the ticket price will be a mug of vegetarian soup and a bread roll entertainment
and food, always a good combination!!!
Over a number of hours on Friday lunchtime of Week Seven, a number of different
musicians will take to the stage to entertain and inspire.
Edible Music starts at 12.30pm of Week Seven April 8th!!
Brien Keys
If
you wish to participate contact Brien @ B.Keys@murdoch.edu.au
View other Notice Board entries... Week One - Week Two Week Three - Week Four
Week Five - Week Six Week Seven - Study Break: Week One Study Break: Week Two - Week Eight
Week Nine - Week Ten Week Eleven - Week Twelve Week Thirteen Week Fourteen
View other 'Quokka' production extras... Draft Music - Act One Music - Act Two
Script and Music - Act One Script and Music - Act Two Photo Gallery Production Wrap-up Cast and Crew Party
Go to Children's Theatre: My Journal History Notice Board Your Work
Contact Andrew @ thechaseison@optusnet.com.au
This page last updated: 22nd December 2005