Websites
- http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/cherryorchard/context.html
- http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/cherryorchard/themes.html
- http://www.shmoop.com/cherry-orchard/characters.html
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Images from websites
- http://www.bawds.org/kathy_wholley1.htm
- http://orion.neiu.edu/~stagectr/CherryOrchard/CherryOrchard.html
- http://www.gradesaver.com/the-cherry-orchard/study-guide/character-list
These are the sources I used for my research that have helped me with my blog. Also these images are references to those who have performed the character Chalotta and this has helped me with my character choices.
Thursday, 19 November 2015
The Cherry Orchard Evaluation
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov was a difficult play to perform and I played the part of Charlotta Ivonana. The themes were about loss, memory, old Russia and how had changed. My character in each performance really showed the way I saw than the way Chekhov saw her. I feel I didn't capture her in the same way he did. Through my evaluation, I will also talk about the strengths and weaknesses to how each performance developed.
In a short space of time the play proved to be more difficult. Not knowing our lines also led to awkward silences. We were under rehearsed because we had short allotted amount of time to properly rehearse and punctuality was an issue.
Characterization
I found it difficult to keep my character because I felt like I was acting like myself at times, letting the characterization slipped away. Most of the characters managed to keep completely in character. Personally, I think my character on the first was too soft and I didn't reveal the outer shell of this character but, revealed what was hidden underneath her. A character like Charlotta you need to be a strong woman, someone who has lived but, experiences things that the other characters haven't. She could be a different woman if she wasn't a governess but, the character needed to be a strong individual.
Someone who really had great characterization was Jack's character, Simeon. He kept the clumsiness and really changed the character. It was nothing like himself. In a way, he helped me out to get back on track after I performed my monologue at sat down. Also the emotional memory helped to think of past experiences where you'd have to be the stronger woman. It raised the energy and helped me continue my character.
Also I improved in my next two performance, developing gestures that were obvious for my character and remember my physicality of what I did last time. The confidence grew with my character, especially when the ideas this time was not to reveal my soft side. The difficulty was I felt like I revealed myself a lot rather than character.
Stylistically
The style of the piece showed that all the time it may have been realistic but, I felt the costume for my character was unclear to show what status I was. I would of thought the Victorian type of lace top and trousers was an idea. In a way, I felt like I was a servant from the outfit and it didn't show my class.
However, from the (picture to the right) I was basing it Kathy Wholley's idea look as I didn't want to make it the clothing choice to feminine as it would not suit the character. Relating it to the idea about the way she presented herself and the way I presented the way my character looked way good because even if I looked lower class it showed that it didn't seem like something a governess would wear in my eyes.
Was it a naturalistic performance?
I believe we did perform and give a naturalistic performance. The set setted the scene with the type of chairs and furniture at the time. We did three simple gestures that would show that the character did these things normally.
Conclusion
I still have a lot of developments I can make to those weakness and strengths. It has depicted on each performance that my vocal tone and they way it was mostly a middle range a lot of the time. I could of experimented and explored the character creatively but, I didn't use much imagination as I focused to much on the information that I was given than exploring. Professionally I need to know the things I need to improve on which are my vocal tone, physicality and creative which are key things that I lack in my performances. To be professional to reach my career aims, I need to break barriers and be more creative and in depth of the character that was a weakness to me.
Basics
In a short space of time the play proved to be more difficult. Not knowing our lines also led to awkward silences. We were under rehearsed because we had short allotted amount of time to properly rehearse and punctuality was an issue.
Characterization
I found it difficult to keep my character because I felt like I was acting like myself at times, letting the characterization slipped away. Most of the characters managed to keep completely in character. Personally, I think my character on the first was too soft and I didn't reveal the outer shell of this character but, revealed what was hidden underneath her. A character like Charlotta you need to be a strong woman, someone who has lived but, experiences things that the other characters haven't. She could be a different woman if she wasn't a governess but, the character needed to be a strong individual.
Someone who really had great characterization was Jack's character, Simeon. He kept the clumsiness and really changed the character. It was nothing like himself. In a way, he helped me out to get back on track after I performed my monologue at sat down. Also the emotional memory helped to think of past experiences where you'd have to be the stronger woman. It raised the energy and helped me continue my character.
Also I improved in my next two performance, developing gestures that were obvious for my character and remember my physicality of what I did last time. The confidence grew with my character, especially when the ideas this time was not to reveal my soft side. The difficulty was I felt like I revealed myself a lot rather than character.
Stylistically
 |
However, from the (picture to the right) I was basing it Kathy Wholley's idea look as I didn't want to make it the clothing choice to feminine as it would not suit the character. Relating it to the idea about the way she presented herself and the way I presented the way my character looked way good because even if I looked lower class it showed that it didn't seem like something a governess would wear in my eyes.
Was it a naturalistic performance?
I believe we did perform and give a naturalistic performance. The set setted the scene with the type of chairs and furniture at the time. We did three simple gestures that would show that the character did these things normally.
Conclusion
I still have a lot of developments I can make to those weakness and strengths. It has depicted on each performance that my vocal tone and they way it was mostly a middle range a lot of the time. I could of experimented and explored the character creatively but, I didn't use much imagination as I focused to much on the information that I was given than exploring. Professionally I need to know the things I need to improve on which are my vocal tone, physicality and creative which are key things that I lack in my performances. To be professional to reach my career aims, I need to break barriers and be more creative and in depth of the character that was a weakness to me.
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
Character Study - Charlotta
Who am I? She is Anya's governess. She is a in late thirties / earlier forties.
Name: Charlotta Ivanovna. The Russian meaning of Charlotta means masculine or a "free man." I think it's quite an appropriate name for the character. I think this could relate to what she's like as a person.
Where am I? The house she lives in is the estate next to an cherry orchard in Russia with Lyubov, her family and other household.
When is it? The Cherry Orchard is set in 19th Century Russia. It's between May and October. The weather is cold when they arrive back to Russia after being 5 years since they were last here.
What do I want? She'd do anything to have company or wants to have have something to love. I also feel like she wants someone to except her for who she is.
Why do I want it? Charlotta feels that she's alone. She's the only one who's a different class (middle class) to the others. What Charlotta wants is to have children of her own, the cot moment conveys that when she sings she remembers the times when she looked after Anya. She wants to be loved and have a family. She is the very opposite of Lyubov however, they both want a soul mate.
How will I get it? Whenever she has the chance to flirt or talk sense with the other men in the household, she will try to see if she can persuade them to like her for who she is. The difficulty is for those men to understand what she means.
What must I overcome? She's a hard and a strong person on the outside but, underneath she is soft and loving person. The cradle moment in the play revealed her gentle side and shows her attachment in the way she speaks in her motherly tone. It's a complete opposite of the way she is towards the other members of the household. Charlotta needs to overcome the barrier that she won't let anyone see her sensitive weak side because maybe people can see her in a different light.
Past life: She's a single governess who doesn't really fit in. She follows in the footsteps of her parents performing magic tricks but, Anya (Lyubov's daughter) does complain about it. Ivanovna is an orphan, her parents were travelling performers and when they died a German lady took care of her. Also she has no home and no strong identification about the past. She travelled with Anya to find Lyubov and accompany them back to the estate.
Present day: As the estate and the cherry orchard is going to be auctioned to pay the bank their debt, it's difficult for Charlotta to find work as Anya doesn't need a governess any more. She's a strong and independent woman, Ivanovna is still lonely.
Charlotta's objective is to support the family and look after them when they get back to the estate.
Charlotta's super-objective is to find love and find someone who understands. That means at times to try to break down the barrier to show others that she can be different and show the person she used to be before becoming a governess.
Summary
This character is lonely but, Lyubov was the one who has been kind to her since that's who gave her the job. She has been looking after Anya for a long time now. The memories that Charlotta has is missing the times when she looked after Anya and raising her as her own. Part of her wishes she could find love and have a family but, she's quite a deep person.
This character is a real challenge to portray.
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| Charlotta's cucumber moment in her monologue |
Where am I? The house she lives in is the estate next to an cherry orchard in Russia with Lyubov, her family and other household.
When is it? The Cherry Orchard is set in 19th Century Russia. It's between May and October. The weather is cold when they arrive back to Russia after being 5 years since they were last here.
What do I want? She'd do anything to have company or wants to have have something to love. I also feel like she wants someone to except her for who she is.
Why do I want it? Charlotta feels that she's alone. She's the only one who's a different class (middle class) to the others. What Charlotta wants is to have children of her own, the cot moment conveys that when she sings she remembers the times when she looked after Anya. She wants to be loved and have a family. She is the very opposite of Lyubov however, they both want a soul mate.
How will I get it? Whenever she has the chance to flirt or talk sense with the other men in the household, she will try to see if she can persuade them to like her for who she is. The difficulty is for those men to understand what she means.
What must I overcome? She's a hard and a strong person on the outside but, underneath she is soft and loving person. The cradle moment in the play revealed her gentle side and shows her attachment in the way she speaks in her motherly tone. It's a complete opposite of the way she is towards the other members of the household. Charlotta needs to overcome the barrier that she won't let anyone see her sensitive weak side because maybe people can see her in a different light.
Present day: As the estate and the cherry orchard is going to be auctioned to pay the bank their debt, it's difficult for Charlotta to find work as Anya doesn't need a governess any more. She's a strong and independent woman, Ivanovna is still lonely.
Charlotta's objective is to support the family and look after them when they get back to the estate.
Charlotta's super-objective is to find love and find someone who understands. That means at times to try to break down the barrier to show others that she can be different and show the person she used to be before becoming a governess.
Summary
This character is lonely but, Lyubov was the one who has been kind to her since that's who gave her the job. She has been looking after Anya for a long time now. The memories that Charlotta has is missing the times when she looked after Anya and raising her as her own. Part of her wishes she could find love and have a family but, she's quite a deep person.
This character is a real challenge to portray.
The Cherry Orchard
Introduction
The Cherry Orchard is our second play that we were given as a class. It was the last play Anton Chekhov wrote before he died in 1904. Chekhov was a Doctor and started writing to see him through medical school. He's someone who has seen a lot but, thought of people differently through status, affection and manner. The play does relate to his experiences and the way he thinks about Russia but, he learnt about with people who have different experiences.
What do I know about Naturalism so far?
Chekhov and Stanislavski are two Russian playwrights who we have explored but, are both followers of Naturalism.
Chekhov
Chekhov is one of the leaders in naturalistic drama writing. Before he pursed a career in journalism and writing short stories, he trained but, briefly worked as a Doctor.
His plays include naturalism which mirror real life and actually events that happened. The pause was vital in his plays as this device revealed a truth in the pause. An event can change nothing but, the characters in the play are effected "You must trust and believe in people or life becomes impossible." ( Brainquote.com ) For example in The Cherry Orchard Lyubov isn't sure about putting her trust and belief into Alexander hands about the estate. As a result, Alexander decides to save her debt but, manages to loose her trust life becomes impossible because she can't save the orchard either. Things become impossible when you don't trust others then becomes worth of how to trust yourself.
Relating it to the play "It's funny how sometimes the people you'd take a bullet for, are the one's behind the trigger." Alexander for a fact was defiantly the one behind the trigger and Lyubov would take a bullet for her family and household but, everyone would be effected in this event. When something is taken away from you, it's difficult to let go especially when the person who made the decision is the one you and everyone else trusted but, had a planning to ruin her.
Chekhov's plays related to his life. The Cherry Orchard was written from early 1901 to late 1903 and it was one of the last two plays he wrote. Since he has been diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1898, he had special care of seeing a Doctor regularly and was on the Mediterranean Island of Yalta. This was in order to spare his lungs.
Stanislavski
Stanislavski was different to Chekhov. Stanislavski didn't graduate as he continued to self-educate while travelling in Several European countries. He studied in museums and libraries, he's the leading practitioner of The System.
The System includes:
The Magic If - Stanislavski said that the character should ask the question "What should I do in this situation?" This means that the actor then puts themselves into the character's situation. This helps to motivate the character to play the role.
The Cherry Orchard is our second play that we were given as a class. It was the last play Anton Chekhov wrote before he died in 1904. Chekhov was a Doctor and started writing to see him through medical school. He's someone who has seen a lot but, thought of people differently through status, affection and manner. The play does relate to his experiences and the way he thinks about Russia but, he learnt about with people who have different experiences.
What do I know about Naturalism so far?
Chekhov and Stanislavski are two Russian playwrights who we have explored but, are both followers of Naturalism.
ChekhovChekhov is one of the leaders in naturalistic drama writing. Before he pursed a career in journalism and writing short stories, he trained but, briefly worked as a Doctor.
His plays include naturalism which mirror real life and actually events that happened. The pause was vital in his plays as this device revealed a truth in the pause. An event can change nothing but, the characters in the play are effected "You must trust and believe in people or life becomes impossible." ( Brainquote.com ) For example in The Cherry Orchard Lyubov isn't sure about putting her trust and belief into Alexander hands about the estate. As a result, Alexander decides to save her debt but, manages to loose her trust life becomes impossible because she can't save the orchard either. Things become impossible when you don't trust others then becomes worth of how to trust yourself.
Relating it to the play "It's funny how sometimes the people you'd take a bullet for, are the one's behind the trigger." Alexander for a fact was defiantly the one behind the trigger and Lyubov would take a bullet for her family and household but, everyone would be effected in this event. When something is taken away from you, it's difficult to let go especially when the person who made the decision is the one you and everyone else trusted but, had a planning to ruin her.
Chekhov's plays related to his life. The Cherry Orchard was written from early 1901 to late 1903 and it was one of the last two plays he wrote. Since he has been diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1898, he had special care of seeing a Doctor regularly and was on the Mediterranean Island of Yalta. This was in order to spare his lungs.
Stanislavski
Stanislavski was different to Chekhov. Stanislavski didn't graduate as he continued to self-educate while travelling in Several European countries. He studied in museums and libraries, he's the leading practitioner of The System.
The System includes:
The Magic If - Stanislavski said that the character should ask the question "What should I do in this situation?" This means that the actor then puts themselves into the character's situation. This helps to motivate the character to play the role.
Imagination
Emotional memory - They actor finds a similar past experience that they could relate it with their character. The feelings can be "borrowed" to bring the character's feelings to life.
Actions - They could either be actions or gestures from what how the character should show themselves to be like.
Objectives - When the actor needs to achieve that target that was set for them.
These different techniques in The System is used to help train actors and actresses to draw believable and realistic emotions throughout their performances.
Exploring The Cherry Orchard play
As a class we had a read-through for everyone to all learn about before we got the characters. I thought it was helpful so we could discuss about the play with my other peers as I did understand the play but, wanted to get a better understanding. So, I did some research about the context, the characters and play The Cherry Orchard by using www.sparknotes.com which helped me to learn about the play better and it was broken down easier than a site like Wikipedia. This play is very difficult to not only perform but, the style I found was difficult to think about.
After we got given the scripts of which scenes we would do, we when then told our characters. I found out the character I was given is the governess called Charlotta. Next we got into groups of which act we were in however, I was put in Act 1 for the moment even if I had one line but, Karen decided to add the servant scene to Act 1 in so I would have a bit more to say and a chance to perform her monologue in the way Chekhov sees Charlotta to be like.
I have struggled this character a lot. It's difficult to see what she's like but, after researching her it turns out that she is a lonely character that doesn't really fit in. I also found out she's an orphan but, her parents were both travelling performers
Plantonov
Karen took us to see Plantonov which was one of the 4 part plays at the Chichester Festival Theatre. This was because if we watched a play performed it would help us the way the actors use naturalism and how Chekhov's plays work, We were told to look out to see if any of the characters could relate to the character in the Cherry Orchard. I couldn't see anyone or relate to anyone from the characters in the play. I didn't feel that my character was in anyway like them at all.
The pauses were good like the time Plantonov was sitting outside his house alone thinking. It was effective and realistic because it was something that someone would naturally do when they are alone. Some people are looking to escape from where they are, Plantonov was trying to escape from lots of different woman and work out what he would need work out to achieve his objective at the end of the play. However, a powerful pause would be after something dramatic happens e.g. when Plantonov is shot. The silence may be deafening but, it can give an intense imagery and reveal a deeper meaning to the play.
I loved the lighting and scenery. The way that that by the lighting you could tell by what time of day it was whether it was the evening, the morning or the afternoon. The detail that the lighting designer, director and stage manager not just thought about the whole picture but, also thought about the individual pictures to make it realistic.
The similarities were that both plays introduced us to a female landowner who owned the estate. Also the characters relate to Chekhov when he lost the estate. However, Lyubov relates to him more as she also planted a cherry tree like Chekhov did so, the memories were powerful and it was difficult to erase the pain when it was cut down.
The idea I pictured of what our play was going to look like with furniture I imagined with wooden furniture and we could add the lighting dimming or brightening to show the time of day it was than have the same light throughout the play. Lightening can be a key to show how we can show the light to be a realistic part of this play.
These different techniques in The System is used to help train actors and actresses to draw believable and realistic emotions throughout their performances.
Exploring The Cherry Orchard play
As a class we had a read-through for everyone to all learn about before we got the characters. I thought it was helpful so we could discuss about the play with my other peers as I did understand the play but, wanted to get a better understanding. So, I did some research about the context, the characters and play The Cherry Orchard by using www.sparknotes.com which helped me to learn about the play better and it was broken down easier than a site like Wikipedia. This play is very difficult to not only perform but, the style I found was difficult to think about.
After we got given the scripts of which scenes we would do, we when then told our characters. I found out the character I was given is the governess called Charlotta. Next we got into groups of which act we were in however, I was put in Act 1 for the moment even if I had one line but, Karen decided to add the servant scene to Act 1 in so I would have a bit more to say and a chance to perform her monologue in the way Chekhov sees Charlotta to be like.
I have struggled this character a lot. It's difficult to see what she's like but, after researching her it turns out that she is a lonely character that doesn't really fit in. I also found out she's an orphan but, her parents were both travelling performers
Plantonov
Karen took us to see Plantonov which was one of the 4 part plays at the Chichester Festival Theatre. This was because if we watched a play performed it would help us the way the actors use naturalism and how Chekhov's plays work, We were told to look out to see if any of the characters could relate to the character in the Cherry Orchard. I couldn't see anyone or relate to anyone from the characters in the play. I didn't feel that my character was in anyway like them at all.
The pauses were good like the time Plantonov was sitting outside his house alone thinking. It was effective and realistic because it was something that someone would naturally do when they are alone. Some people are looking to escape from where they are, Plantonov was trying to escape from lots of different woman and work out what he would need work out to achieve his objective at the end of the play. However, a powerful pause would be after something dramatic happens e.g. when Plantonov is shot. The silence may be deafening but, it can give an intense imagery and reveal a deeper meaning to the play.
I loved the lighting and scenery. The way that that by the lighting you could tell by what time of day it was whether it was the evening, the morning or the afternoon. The detail that the lighting designer, director and stage manager not just thought about the whole picture but, also thought about the individual pictures to make it realistic.
The similarities were that both plays introduced us to a female landowner who owned the estate. Also the characters relate to Chekhov when he lost the estate. However, Lyubov relates to him more as she also planted a cherry tree like Chekhov did so, the memories were powerful and it was difficult to erase the pain when it was cut down.
The idea I pictured of what our play was going to look like with furniture I imagined with wooden furniture and we could add the lighting dimming or brightening to show the time of day it was than have the same light throughout the play. Lightening can be a key to show how we can show the light to be a realistic part of this play.
What is The Cherry Orchard about? What's the significance of The Cherry Orchard?
The Cherry Orchard symbolises different thoughts from each character in the play. For example, it reminds Lyubov of her memories from her youth when she says "I feel like a little girl again." She doesn't want to loose it because it's something precious to her so, cutting it down would not just kill the cherry orchard but, part of her heart would break too. However, her friend Alexander wants to cut down the cherry orchard to make a fortune and doesn't understand how much this orchard is worth to Lyubov.
Chekhov's past relates to this because he knew about cherry trees and planted a cherry tree on an estate in Melikhovo and had purchased it in 1982. However, not long later he lost the estate and the new owner cut down the cherry trees. So you can see where he got the idea of the play that is related to his experiences.
The Cherry Orchard is a paradise that Lyubov never wants to be lost. Convincing him is difficult because all Alexander's cares about is the money that he'll get than the beauty of this orchard. His difficult childhood pushes him to the direction of killing this wonderful creation.
The difficulties of both characters relate to memory and loss which is two of the themes in this play.
19th Century Russia
19th Century Russia was a time of great change.
Music
The choice of music that could have been used to introduce our play could be something sound sad but, something with meaning of life to being with. The old Russian song "Why are you so sad, Maria?" The song sounds like a good way to open the play. I could imagine it relating to The Cherry Orchard and the way it could reflect on the memory but, also the character's who have lost something precious to them. It feels like this song represents the pain, memory and the way each character reflects on who they really are. It could also work as the music for the end of the play to be like a reflection of the past but, a way that life still carries on. I think this music may be a good thing to use if we ever going to do another Russian play but, I feel that it is quite sad for the beginning of the play.
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| The blossom on the cherry trees |
The Cherry Orchard is set in 19th Century Russia when a family return to the estate to find out that they don't have long to find a way to owe the bank their debt. It leads to only one solution which is to auction the estate. However, The Cherry Orchard is shown to be the most valuable and precious memorable thing that it's struggle for Lyubov the household owner to let go. It's going to be a complicated and difficult decision to make especially when the Cherry Orchard holds so many memories. Something's our precious back in the past but, not always precious in the future.
Chekhov's past relates to this because he knew about cherry trees and planted a cherry tree on an estate in Melikhovo and had purchased it in 1982. However, not long later he lost the estate and the new owner cut down the cherry trees. So you can see where he got the idea of the play that is related to his experiences.
The Cherry Orchard is a paradise that Lyubov never wants to be lost. Convincing him is difficult because all Alexander's cares about is the money that he'll get than the beauty of this orchard. His difficult childhood pushes him to the direction of killing this wonderful creation.
The difficulties of both characters relate to memory and loss which is two of the themes in this play.
19th Century Russia
19th Century Russia was a time of great change.
Music
The choice of music that could have been used to introduce our play could be something sound sad but, something with meaning of life to being with. The old Russian song "Why are you so sad, Maria?" The song sounds like a good way to open the play. I could imagine it relating to The Cherry Orchard and the way it could reflect on the memory but, also the character's who have lost something precious to them. It feels like this song represents the pain, memory and the way each character reflects on who they really are. It could also work as the music for the end of the play to be like a reflection of the past but, a way that life still carries on. I think this music may be a good thing to use if we ever going to do another Russian play but, I feel that it is quite sad for the beginning of the play.
Sunday, 18 October 2015
The Wardrobe Evaluation
From the first to my third and last performance of The
Wardrobe play by Sam Holcroft, I still think that each performance has room for
improvement. I have many strengths and
weakness that reflect on my performance.
One of my weaknesses was my time management, this includes
remembering the lines I had to say for the performance, well enough for the
deadline on the Tuesday in September. Through
my first performance, I was so focused on the props and having energy for the
performance that I basically forgot my lines, I blanked at times because I
struggled to remember them. Next time, I
need to learn my lines by finding other ways to rehearse and learn them. Also I need to meet my deadlines better instead
of me getting stressed and worrying during the performance which is the reason
that I blanked. I need to practise more
and this will help me make sure that I don’t panic during my lines at any point
in the performance and that it goes more smoothly next time.
Another weakness is my aim for my performances. In them, I
was meant to relive Narnia for the character Lucy, but I am not sure whether
the audience got the feel of the character or whether I portrayed the fact that
she was ill as I wasn't caring enough towards her in my first performance. I
could have shown the fact that she was ill better than I did for example the
action of a simple hug or rubbing her back whilst looking at her as I said “come
on please.”
However, the second performance one audience member asked “Was
I Lucy’s mother or sister?” They also said about how I captured the mother and
sister character. This became a positive and strength for the aim and actor skill of characterisation. Through each gesture, action and word I could lead people to think my character is
responsible, sensible and someone that Lucy looks up to as either a mother or as a sister.
Entering and exciting
the wardrobe is also a strength of mine for scene 11. When I opened the door, I
entered as a cheerful, happy girl but on the other hand I was slightly clumsy
which I showed through my actions when putting the props down and throughout
the scene. This improved my performance
from blanking a bit when I was speaking my lines and not showing the right
level of care towards Lucy.
The support from the other character in the play helped me to slowly remember them again and get back on track. The play was able to
carry on being performed, this shows my team playing skills and using support either from another character or props in the performance helped myself get back on track at the point I went blank.
I feel that despite my weaknesses, I carried out my part in
the play well and my strengths meant I was able to keep focused than become confused and lost, I managed to carry on using the support I mentioned earlier and so my
performance, which on one hand could have been better, was good and I can build
on my strengths more. Also I need to work on my weaknesses by next time, as I mentioned,
practising and rehearsing more and also by being more organised, this will mean
that I can perform to the best of my abilities to carry out my part in the
play as well as I can do.
Sunday, 11 October 2015
The System
Naturalism to me is to be yourself and be realistic when performing either in a play or performing alone. However, discussing about Naturalism and what I knew I had heard of Method Acting but, wasn't quite sure what it meant. However, it's really difficult to understand the terms because I feel like I get confused with naturalism and realism.
The diagram below are some of things that Naturalism include. The two Russian practitioner's we looked at were Anton Chekhov and Stanislavski. Chekhov is one of the leaders in naturalistic drama writing. However, he trained and briefly worked as a Doctor. Then he pursed a career in journalism and writing short stories. Chekhov's plays include naturalism which mirror real life including real people and actually events that happened. However, another well known Russian playwright Stanislaski was different to Chekhov. Stanislavski didn't graduate as he continued self-education while travelling in Several European countries. He also studied in libraries and museums too. Stanislavski is the leading practitioner of The System.
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| Naturalism diagram - collective answers as a class in lesson |
What is the difference between naturalism and realism?
Naturalism is a mirror of life on the stage and seeks to be the exact same example of how life would occur. This can be viewed as "an extreme form of Realism where all characters were the product of their environment." Actors in this case would act as "they would" not as "they could" meaning that the actor would act as exactly as they would in real life depending on the circumstance they were faced with. You could be performing with your back to the audience or perhaps speaking with your mouth open as that is the way you would normally act in real life. A realist scene would in this case represent life and the actors would make they way they act more accessible to the audience.
Naturalism is based on evolution and the importance of the environment because it has more scientific source and actions are drawn from scientific reasons. Meanwhile, realism is only influenced but, not by much. The only part it takes is what is real and then manipulates it for it's own needs of this term.
These terms are both similar only by the way the actor is portraying a real character on stage. Realism and naturalism both needs to show the character how believable it is to the audience. On the other hand, they are different in this manner as naturalism is as it "must happen" and the events must lead up to the scenario.
For example, in class if you were given a circumstances to break so bad news you would just let them know straight away it would be quite difficult.
We were given different scenarios in class to see how we would show to break the news. It normally occurred that we would break the news quicker than usual. Now thinking about the scenario I was given about not having long to live I feel like it would have been very different to the way I did perform it.
I must admit I did rush and broke the bad news quite quickly. If I was in this given circumstances, I would be looking around the room and slowly walking around maybe sat in a corner alone feeling quite down. This would be difficult to tell someone else and would take me a little while before my emotions got the better to me then let it out.
Each person would break news in different ways but, I didn't do it naturally even the body language certainly felt I was in someone else's shoes.
Realistic plots could happen but, depending on the circumstances that weren't anything to do with the circumstance but, could be influenced on questionable external factors that can still become believable to an audience.
The System
This term is the methods used by Stanislavski to raise a good performance in his actors. The main ones that we looked at was actions, objectives, the magic if, the relaxed actor and imagination.
Sources used: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zxn4mp3/revision/3
Naturalism is a mirror of life on the stage and seeks to be the exact same example of how life would occur. This can be viewed as "an extreme form of Realism where all characters were the product of their environment." Actors in this case would act as "they would" not as "they could" meaning that the actor would act as exactly as they would in real life depending on the circumstance they were faced with. You could be performing with your back to the audience or perhaps speaking with your mouth open as that is the way you would normally act in real life. A realist scene would in this case represent life and the actors would make they way they act more accessible to the audience.
Naturalism is based on evolution and the importance of the environment because it has more scientific source and actions are drawn from scientific reasons. Meanwhile, realism is only influenced but, not by much. The only part it takes is what is real and then manipulates it for it's own needs of this term.
These terms are both similar only by the way the actor is portraying a real character on stage. Realism and naturalism both needs to show the character how believable it is to the audience. On the other hand, they are different in this manner as naturalism is as it "must happen" and the events must lead up to the scenario.
For example, in class if you were given a circumstances to break so bad news you would just let them know straight away it would be quite difficult.We were given different scenarios in class to see how we would show to break the news. It normally occurred that we would break the news quicker than usual. Now thinking about the scenario I was given about not having long to live I feel like it would have been very different to the way I did perform it.
I must admit I did rush and broke the bad news quite quickly. If I was in this given circumstances, I would be looking around the room and slowly walking around maybe sat in a corner alone feeling quite down. This would be difficult to tell someone else and would take me a little while before my emotions got the better to me then let it out.
Each person would break news in different ways but, I didn't do it naturally even the body language certainly felt I was in someone else's shoes.
Realistic plots could happen but, depending on the circumstances that weren't anything to do with the circumstance but, could be influenced on questionable external factors that can still become believable to an audience.
The System
This term is the methods used by Stanislavski to raise a good performance in his actors. The main ones that we looked at was actions, objectives, the magic if, the relaxed actor and imagination.
Sources used: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zxn4mp3/revision/3
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Character Profile
Character Study
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| Susan when she enters The Wardrobe with her siblings in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe |
Name: Susan Pevensie (A)
Since we could decide on what to call our characters I decided that because we are reading the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Lucy's sister Susan the storyteller in this case who's a caring and like a mother character towards Lucy (B) who has not long to live. By re-creating the Narnia scene, Susan suits the role of the storyteller well.
Age:
She's 17 years old and is the second oldest but, Susan is the oldest sister out of the Pensive children.
Relationships:
Her mother was called Helen Pevensie who was related to one of the eldest Scrubbs. Susan's mother may have explored Narnia when she was a young girl as she was named Helen after the name of the first Queen of Narnia. In this fist draft, Professor Kirke was a relative of her mother's but, I have decided that is the real reason why her siblings and her are staying there when they were evacuated from the war. Her father Mr Pevensie (his first name is unknown) and he's the head of the Pevensie family.
Susan has a cousin called Eustace Scrubb, he was jealous of the Pevensies sibling bond since he was a only child and had no friends. The Pevensies and The Scrubbs family's relationship isn't so clear as I am unsure of how often they saw or met often. It seems that the families didn't clearly get along with each other.
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| Susan with her siblings in Narnia |
Class:
Middle Class / Upper Class - Susan is wealthy and lives with The Professor along with her siblings. The wardrobe has been through different time periods e.g. Tudor times this means that it's very expensive in value. Also that the wardrobe has a lot of history and there was always a story to tell. This Wardrobe in particular was an importance to The Pevensies
Likes: She likes archery and is a very talented archer. She also likes to travel and has been on a trip with her mother and father to America during the summer of 1942.
Education:
In 1937, at the age of 9 she began attending a boarding school. Susan is intelligent and has been well educated, she can read and write really.
Experiences:
Susan was the last person to believe in Aslan and Narnia because she struggle to believe right from the start. She's more serious than her younger sister Lucy and also after leaving Narnia she believed that Narnia was "just a game." This just felt like a fantasy that she was interested in for a bit with her siblings but, she forgot about the fact Susan is still a child.
In scene 11, she stepped out of her serious, grown up self and became a kind but, creative and imaginative person to re-create Narnia for the last time. I wanted to show Susan's kind and mothering side of her than her being stubborn but, serious because I needed to show the way she really was when she visited Narnia. Her imagination changed and through scene 11 I need to complete Lucy's dream.
Lives:
She lived in London, England then evacuated to Dorset and stays in a house but, her home is also Narnia when she enters The Wardrobe that both of her younger siblings have already explored.
Time period:
It's 1954, the time of the Post War. The idea was that we would set scene 11 a few years after the book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The book was published in 1950 and a few years after it became a popular book for children.
Her main objective is to re-create Narnia once again before Lucy her sister dies. I want Lucy to experience the happier time in the past when she discovered Narnia. The idea is for Lucy to escape from reality and not think of the circumstances of Cancer. I'm transporting her through an adventure back to an experience that she never wants to forget.My character is not just a sister but, also a mother figure. Being in Narnia, she could become the child she used to be and living with her sister who has a terminal illness it's difficult to become detached at times from that person. Without Susan, Lucy felt like life wouldn't be the same and the imagination she would bring to create Narnia by using household props e.g. sieve, teddy or icing sugar. If you do one little favour for someone it can mean a lot towards that person.
The inner obstacle for Susan was her imagination and her childhood memories to not be game. The difficult thing for Susan was that she needed to look past this for Lucy. Narnia wasn't a game or a joke or just a story in Lucy's head it was a real experience. However, her outer obstacle was to be happy and escape from the truth from what was really going to happen Lucy. She would need to put a brave face on and give her the truth of this fairytale to show that she was just normal young girl. Susan is her light in the darkness and like any mother would is to care but, to make their daughter / son get the happiness they deserve in troubled, difficult times e.g. cancer.
The relationship between Lucy and Susan is not just a sister bond but, a mother and daughter bond. Since her parents died in a train accident, Susan is doing the best she can too look after Lucy like a worried and caring mother would. Her tears can become quiet difficult to hide towards the end of the scene when Lucy starts to crying remember Narnia but, Susan feels like the truth is too powerful and leaves her nervous what the future holds.
Sources used: http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/Susan_Pevensie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Pevensie#The_Lion.2C_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe
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