Please read and view the items linked below and be ready to discuss on Tuesday, May 22. Which design/interpretation of Beckett's play would you most have liked to see? Why? What questions would you most want to ask the designers/directors?
First of all, read Peter Hall's Production History -- http://www.samuel-beckett.net/Penelope/production_history.html This will give you a sense of the world into which this play 'was born'.
Chan's New Orleans Godot 'event': http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/arts/design/02cott.html?pagewanted=all
The National Theatre - Czech Republic, 2010 http://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/Default.aspx?jz=en&dk=predstaveni.aspx&sb=2&ic=5458
State Theatre of South Australia, 2006 --read Victoria Lamb's design notes, view all the photos and the design process as well, please. http://www.victorialamb.com/stage/Godotdesign.html
And finally, what do you think of the staging below? What is its significance? If you are able to find the name of the designer and the production, please let me know so I can properly credit it! The biggest question in my mind: does the platform actually teeter-totter?
ADA 4M0
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead - May 2 - 4 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosencrantz_and_Guildenstern_Are_Dead
This 1966 Tom Stoppard play follows two minor characters from Hamlet. We will be watching the 1990 film version written and directed by Tom Stoppard himself. If you miss a class, arrange with me to view whichever portion of the film you need to see during lunch.
Notes and reader reviews of the published play.
We are watching this with the Grade 11 class. Please go on to read this on-line http://www.samuel-beckett.net/AbsurdEsslin.html, as we will be watching Beckett's Waiting for Godot in another week or so. The language and concepts will be challenging for you, so your task is to select five passages from this piece of text to bring to a discussion on May 14, 2012.
This 1966 Tom Stoppard play follows two minor characters from Hamlet. We will be watching the 1990 film version written and directed by Tom Stoppard himself. If you miss a class, arrange with me to view whichever portion of the film you need to see during lunch.
Notes and reader reviews of the published play.
We are watching this with the Grade 11 class. Please go on to read this on-line http://www.samuel-beckett.net/AbsurdEsslin.html, as we will be watching Beckett's Waiting for Godot in another week or so. The language and concepts will be challenging for you, so your task is to select five passages from this piece of text to bring to a discussion on May 14, 2012.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Have a great Easter
We will resume scene studies/direction after Easter, so you will be splitting your attention between a polishing of your Shakespearean monologues and a new scene.
In the meantime, consider the elevation of a simple thing like water on the floor of a mine to a symbol of life and death, as portrayed in the portion of Gumboots we watched with the Gr.11's at the end of today.
In the meantime, consider the elevation of a simple thing like water on the floor of a mine to a symbol of life and death, as portrayed in the portion of Gumboots we watched with the Gr.11's at the end of today.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Assignment: Shakespearean Monologue
You are continuing to work on your Shakespearean monologue.
This includes:
a) memorizing it so that you can recite it effortlessly (and meaninglessly, LOL) like the alphabet;
b) 'translating' it in writing into the language of a current resident of Dryden, Ontario
c) rehearsing it with the 'punctuation walk' exercise you were shown in class on Monday
d) choosing a specific setting (place and time) for your 'production' and costuming yourself
e) establishing your staging of the monologue
Your performance will be on Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
We will develop the rubric together on Wednesday, March 28, in class.
This includes:
a) memorizing it so that you can recite it effortlessly (and meaninglessly, LOL) like the alphabet;
b) 'translating' it in writing into the language of a current resident of Dryden, Ontario
c) rehearsing it with the 'punctuation walk' exercise you were shown in class on Monday
d) choosing a specific setting (place and time) for your 'production' and costuming yourself
e) establishing your staging of the monologue
Your performance will be on Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
We will develop the rubric together on Wednesday, March 28, in class.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Scene Studies #1
This semester you will each have an opportunity to direct two of your classmates in a scene. Our first scenes are contemporary two-character scenes, due on Thursday, March 1st.
Group 1: Director: Michael, with Jess and Meagan
Group 2: Director: Rachel, with Cassie and Neil
Evaluation:
Group 1: Director: Michael, with Jess and Meagan
Group 2: Director: Rachel, with Cassie and Neil
Evaluation:
Criteria
|
Level 4
|
Level 3
|
Below Standard—what you need to do next:
|
Prepared (Actors)
· Knowing your lines
· Knowing the script
|
Authentic interaction between two people in a specific situation at a specific time; confidant, no hesitation in movement/blocking
may need one prompt;
able to cover for partner if something goes wrong
|
Interaction between two characters in a specific situation, at a specific time; exhibits confidance, little hesitation in movement/blocking
2 – 3 errors
May require a script on stage for occasional prompting
| |
Vocal (Actors)
|
Audience experiences authentic voice of the character being portrayed in this specific situation at this specific time
|
Appropriate volume, pitch, rate, pace, tone
Correct pronunciation
Holds for laughs if necessary
| |
Physical (Actors)
|
Audience experiences authentic physical communication of the character being portrayed in this specific situation at this specific time
|
Appropriate use of gesture, facial expression, stance, movement to convey content (message) to audience
|
Application:
Prepared 4 3 2 1
Vocal 4 3 2 1
Physical 4 3 2 1
Blocking
(Director)
|
The planned movements and use of set add authenticity to the scene
|
The planned movements and use of set help to communicate/convey the scene/its message to their audience
| |
Character Portrayal
(Director)
|
The actors portray authentic characters true to the nature of the scene
|
The actors have a good sense of what is going on in the scene and use their voice and physicality to portray a definite character
| |
Set/Staging/
Costumes
(Director)
|
All elements combine to create a superior theatrical experience for the audience
(set/staging/costuming/ music/sound effects)
|
Most of the elements combine to establish a good theatrical experience for the audience
|
Application:
Blocking 4 3 2 1
Character Portrayal 4 3 2 1
Set/Staging/Costumes 4 3 2 1
Reflection Questions (Thinking/Inquiry Level 1 2 3 4 – degree/quality of thought/insight)
(Communication Level 1 2 3 4 – use of proper terms; clarity of message
for purpose/audience)
If you were an actor, complete A. If you were the director, complete B.
A.
1. In two to three sentences, summarize this scene from your character’s viewpoint.
2. Explain how your director cast this scene. (Note: if it was determined by gender, say so. J)
3. Did you get the role you preferred? (Note: if it was determined by gender, say so and move on to question 4.) If the role was NOT determined by gender, which of the two roles would you have preferred? Why?
4. What was the most challenging aspect of portraying this character?
5. In what way(s) did you draw upon your own personal experiences to portray this character?
6. In drama classes, you are often thrown into a group to create and perform a scene, or given a script to work on with others. How did this experience of having an official director change the way you worked?
7. What did you like about having a director? What did you NOT like about having a director? Based on this experience, how do you plan to approach the role of director when it is your turn?
8. As a drama student, what was the most challenging part of this task? (working with others, memorizing, coming to class…. J) Why? How did you overcome it?
Reflection Questions (Thinking/Inquiry Level 1 2 3 4 – degree/quality of thought/insight)
(Communication Level 1 2 3 4 – use of proper terms; clarity of message
for purpose/audience)
If you were an actor, complete A. If you were the director, complete B.
B.
1. In two to three sentences, summarize this scene.
2. Explain how you cast this scene. (Note: if it was determined by gender, say so. J)
3. Did your cast fulfill your expectations? Explain.
4. What was the most challenging aspect of directing your actors in portraying their characters? If you could only pick one of these two people to work with again, which of the two would you prefer? Why?
5. In what way(s) did you draw upon your own personal experiences as you directed these actors in this scene?
6. What did you like about being a director? What did you NOT like about being a director? Based on this experience, how do you plan to approach the role of actor when it is your turn?
7. As a drama student, what was the most challenging part of this task? (working with others, conveying your vision, coming to class…. J) Why? How did you overcome it?
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Presentations: Greek Theatre and Medieval Mystery
Today you had the full class time to make certain your work was complete and to either a) prepare your oral presentation and/or b) prepare your oral presentation and then observe the ADA 3M's Commedia dell'arte presentations.
I am expecting great and wonderful things from you, since both groups chose to prepare for the entire 75 minutes.
Please take a few minutes to review the tips that I gave to the ADA 3M's on their blog regarding future presentations.
I am expecting great and wonderful things from you, since both groups chose to prepare for the entire 75 minutes.
Please take a few minutes to review the tips that I gave to the ADA 3M's on their blog regarding future presentations.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Yike! My bus was cancelled....
You will have time to organize yourselves at the beginning of class, as the ADA 3M students organize and then present their commedia work.
If your group is 'good to go', then you can watch the 3M's. Otherwise, be ready when they are done.
If your group is 'good to go', then you can watch the 3M's. Otherwise, be ready when they are done.
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