CATS 24th April

Today we ran through the whole of CATS with the year 13s. For the opening song, we had previously planned to all be offstage whilst singing. However it didn't sound right, so some of us went at the back of the stage to even out and create a more wholesome sound.

In the 'Yes Oh Ho Hi' song, we have changed our roles from waiters to calm paps so that we can keep our cameras with us for the following song, 'Pekes and Pollicles' where we become very chaotic.

I need to work on my spatial awareness as it is a tighter and busier (props and performers) space than the dance stutdio. I will improve this by observing my classmates' solo routines so I can avoid and go aroundd them when performing mine

Variety Performance 20th April

Today we continued to add on more movement to our dances. We need to work on having more of a continuous flow of movement as we have been concentrating on poses and held positions which often are emphasised on a strong beat of the music (Direct Correlation). We also have been using Music Visualisation, where certain lyrics in the songs are visually presented in our actions. For example, part of the lyrics say 'Show a little leg....shimmy your chest', so we accompany this with obvious actions to fit. We need to organise more rehearsals outside of these weekly lessons as there's usually no space to rehearse in the dance studio (where we need the mirrors), so it's our responsibility to sort out more times where we can fully practice rather than just marking to have an idea of the spacing for the actual show.

Lesson Analysis (Cats rehearsal) 21st April

Today we focused entirely on CATS, as we learnt and refined more movement for each songs our class were participating in. As well as performing dances/movement etc., we're also required to join in with some of the songs, as gives a stronger atmosphere and a wholesome sound. This also helps some sections where the year 13's have to dance and sing simultaneously, in which we can support them with our vocals in the background. Over the next few days we need to fully learn the specific songs such as 'Jellicats' so we can be confident for the show. For next rehearsal, I want to improve the accuracy of my movement I'm reproducing.

Easter rehearsal 8th April

Today we had an all-day rehearsal so we had a chance to run through the Acts deeply, mostly on Act One as this is the most challenging. We didn't run with the sound as we were focusing on tech another day, but we figured out the certain songs that were going to be used, so that those members of the cast could rehearse in their own time. This includes the songs 'Who'll Hold Your Paw When You Die', 'What's An Hour' and the 'Ceremonial Song'.

Me and Livvie also practised with the tricycle we are using for Jane, as it is quite difficult to pedal due to the child size of it. We need to remember the specific cues of when to start riding around the space as we usually start too early, meaning we become more tired from being on it longer. I think this scene is going to be very comedic because of the ridiculousness of it, so I feel more confident that if something with the trike goes wrong it will still come off as part of the act.

Furthermore, we did some last minute changes to some of the blocking/movement in scenes, largely to do with the lighting and where we can be exposed better. The Britney scene was still the most demanding for us based on the lines/cues. As a lot of the lines are very similar, some even repeated, it can be hard for some of the characters to recall where exactly parts go. For my character Ticket, I still want to shower a stronger contrast between this and the Mungaree, so I need to show bolder vocals and facial expressions to show leadership of the Dissocians. We kept going over this scene to ensure and grow our confidence.

We then began timing each scene to determine what the length of the whole play should be. After a run through, Each of these times were then cut down by a few minutes because of stopping and prompting if really necessary. It was helpful to do this because it brought us back to the importance of pace, reminding us that there needs to be a constant medium/high pace for Act One, as opposed to the slow, delayed pace of Act Two.

After this rehearsal I'm feeling much more prepared for the show lines and cues-wise, but I'm still slightly worried about how smooth parts of the Jane scene will run, But I'm usually more nervous about things that could possibly go wrong until the day of the show, when I switch into simply enjoying it. Plus, the other cast have their show first on the Wednesday which luckily gives me a chance to observe what it's like beforehand and how problems, if any, are overcome or quickly avoided.

Singing with Kim 17th April

Tech run 16th April

Today we did a tech run before our show later on. Although we mainly focused on lighting and sound, we still ran through the scenes which went fairly smooth. After Wednesday's performance, there were a few alterations that needed to be made including queues for sound and lighting. This gave us an advantage of performing second as we got a chance to evaluate any problems that may have ocurred which we could resolve for our performance. I also practiced my quick costume change from the end of the Jane scene to the Britney scene, where Livvie will be helping me in the show to swap into my next attire. This made me more at ease knowing there was someone there to assist me in case I have any problems.

Lesson Analysis 14th April

Today we used this lesson to do a technical run, as this was the first time we would be rehearsing with sound and last minute changes to lighting. For sound, I guided the people who would be controlling this by giving cues in the script for each individual sound clip/song. Some of the lighting was also used to emphasise this, such as when bombs are exploding causing a flash of red.

Some sounds were taken out due to being over complex, or changed to live sounds such as Jane and the Goat's offstage screams of the attack. We are also now using horn taped to the tricycle so Jane can manually toot whenever needed. The song 'What's An Hour' has also been removed as the two Lisa characters would prefer to sing unaccompanied. This can actually support the naturalism of the character as she's just an ordinary everyday person compared to the others in Act One. 

This tech run was the first time doing a run through in our different costumes. This gave a chance to estimate how long I would have between each of the scenes I'm in to get changed. Me and my double cast Livvie both found we couldn't get changed quick enough for the transition between the Jane scene and the Britney scene, which follows straight after. So, we decided on coming on a bit later than the rest of the characters, entering with the act of searching for my lost ticket. This gives the impression Ticket was wandering around for a while trying to track it down, which was a smoother way of coming on without looking late. 

I found this lesson useful as the play had finally been rehearsed with all the elements (sound, lighting, props, costume) which got us into the mood and atmosphere. 

 

Show evaluation 16th April

Our show went extremely well, and I am proud of my performance as well as everyone else's. I feel when it's the actual day of the production, we all pull ourselves together and get in a set frame of mind, where all previous concerns seem to fade away quickly and the amount of effort put into it increases massively. Some of my late concerns that day before the show included the use of the bike in the Jane scene and whether I would be able to keep up the pace of it (as it needs a lot of stamina), my quick costume change from the end of the Jane scene to the Britney scene, and the actual Britney scene, which we had been struggling for throughout the rehearsal process. 

ACT ONE

In every scene, the audience reacted the way we expected and wanted them to. I found the laughter and other sound reactions actually comforting to me on stage as we were successfully delivering our roles and the moods of the different scenes. In the oathtaker scene, there was a short moment of silence where we were waiting for one of the guards to say the next line. However this was then filled in with improvised comments and subtle but helpful hints to the guard character that got us back on track. This gave me more experience in knowing how to handle a situations like this, by improvising and continuing if any lines go wrong. We learnt this in the last couple of weeks coming up to the show by not being allowed to be prompted for lines. 

In the Jane scene, my attitude had changed from nervous to enthusiastic as I felt entirely comfortable with my lines and the persona I had to put across. However there was slightly less laughter from the audience in this scene, which was perfectly understandable to them but to me and the rest of us we had grown over time to get used to this subject and how it was treated in this scenario. But I feel my consistency with my characterisation (voice style and movement) helped the audience understand my type of character, and that it was a dark humour. After the Polar Bear scene, I made last minute decisions to the way I re enter the stage, such as stumbling on trying to fit on my shoe, with my hair more ruffled, showing Jane rapidly attempting to switch back to what she was like 10 minutes prior (to her professional state). I was  really happy with my performance and nothing obvious went wrong (missing odd lines) as me and Holly worked together and supported each other. 

In the britney scene, it was the best performance for this we had done. No one forgot their lines and I felt we were all encouraging each other through the large amount of energy we projected. This was where the audience were at the peak of their laughs, and it was just as enjoyable for us on stage. I was really impressed with some of my cast such as Max as the character Biffer, as he added a lot of his own humorous input there and then which we hadn't seen in rehearsals as much. I think he fed off the positive reaction he was getting, so carried on further. I felt this influenced the rest of us to also exaggerate our characters, as there really was no limit to the bizarre world of 'Dissocia'. 

ACT TWO

After watching Wednesday's show and being able to watch Act 2 in the changed set design/seating, I felt completely exposed when they used the harsh bright lighting and there were long silences and pauses. The audience were now forced to observe everyone ad everything they could see, mostly because there wasn't a constant flow of things happening so everyone was finding somewhere for there eyes to set on, until the next character entered. It was as if people were actually breathing more slower and quieter to avoid attention to themselves. In our show, I felt this tension when entering for my scene, and could feel all eyes glaring on really the only active object. This, however helped me to remember how this is a naturalistic play, and how I should act like the audience aren't even present. I find switching from characters of Act One to characters of Act Two easy because the acts are so contrasting to each other, from a funny, crazy fantasy, to a simplistic, solemn reality. We also decided to count up to a certain a number before entering the room to ensure we kept the slow pace. 

 

Overall I am pleased with mine and everyone's performances and I've gained a lot of skills from this production due to factors like having a double cast. With this person we were able to support each other and share ideas that would develop our characters. This production was fantastic to study and was a great opportunity to reproduce, as it pulled me especially out of my comfort zone and challenged me to take on a big role.   

Lesson Analysis 13th April

Today we had a run through of Act Two in Lena's lesson, where Katie took down notes and gave us feedback at the end. A main point we still needed to do was to slow down the pace more, and also be tighter on our queues/lines. I found this helpful as we were then able to go over it again and develop our performance after being given constructive criticism. We also watched our double cast which could give tips on how I perform my character. As it's only a few days to the show I'm feeling very confident in all my lines and I'm more excited than nervous, probably because I really enjoy the difference of the play to others that i've seen/been in, and the blend of comedy and drama.
Me and Livvie also have all the sound effects/clips/songs ready for the production.

Homework Task set by Rachel 24th February

Importance of Pace

The pace of scenes in a play is important as it can influence the understanding of the mood, style etc. A scene that has a face pace, can suggest the scene is being rushed, with the sense of urgency. A scene that has a slow pace, can suggest the scene it is dragging for emphasis, with a more relaxed atmosphere. However these can mean mayn things, which is why pace is a significant aspect as it needs to be right for that situation to give the right message. If pace isn't controlled well, a scene/play may be misinterpreted by the audience as they won't be able to connect/lose connection with the performance.

For example, in our production WWOD, in Act Two the scenes are all of a slow, delaying speed. This is because it is trying to portray the long length of time Lisa spent in the hospital ward, and the dullness of it. However in Act One, the Britney scene needs to be fast paced to show the chaotic characters and atmosphere.

Singing with Kim 27th March

This lesson, we combined our singing session with Kim, also working with some of the Year 13's when rehearsing the songs and dance routines and movement.

Firstly, we learnt the opening number 'Jellicle Cats', which we would be singing offstage as we were simply filling and building the voices to help give a powerful introduction to the musical. We were then split into harmonies to add to the original melody. I chose to be in the higher harmony group as I felt this would help improve my range and breath control as it is a lively paced song. Although the lyrics aren't difficult in the sense that you're repeating the pattern of most verses, they can be easily mixed up as there are slight differences with the words. I need to practise this so I can confidently sing them without thinking of the next verse.

Then, we practised the song 'Pekes and Pollicles' ensuring what parts to join in on. This mostly consisted of repeating he 'bark' phrase as both our sides (Paparazzi's & Journalists) would throw this word back and forth in conflict as we tried to grab the models' attention. We needed to make sure we projected this well with emphasis to portray how determined they are. Although we are basically just shouting at each other, there are individual notes that scale down per bark that as a group we need to work on. I also need to go over the lines for the sailor-style section, which is where we begin marching and soon break out into our solos.

Lesson Analysis 5th March

Today we ran through the Britney scene to develop our blocking and go through the lines. I find this character harder to understand, but see how Laughter, Ticket Argument and Inhibitions all link; they've all lost e.g Argument always loses their fight. There's also the character Biffer, which supposedly the thing he could've lost was his ability to speak, as he talks in complete jibberish that has to be translated by us Dissocians. Me and Jess also created short movements for our Mungarees introduction, to emphasise our significance. I think we all still need to work on the pace of this scene as it over-drags even though it's a long scene. We also need to work on the ceremonial song as we haven't practiced it much, as well as fully learnt the lines. This song is supposed to be quite cheesy as we are begging her to protect us from the BDK, in which we all huddle together and sing the song which doesn't hold much of a tune.