Week 21: Back from Break and Moving on

Monday- Mr. Fearnehough introduced us to improvisation. He conducted an exercise that divided us into two teams. The first exercise he gave us a starting line, in the second he gave us a prop, and in the final one he gave us a scene. While we did not do very well in this activity, it did teach us a lot about improvisation   

Do...

1. Build on what the other person says
2. Be supportive and willing to go with whatever others say
3. React to each other and to the audience
4. Mime props
5. Create fake names, relationships, etc. for the characters
6. Trust your teammates and work to help them out (don't leave them hanging)
7. Use movement and volume change to increase the interest level
8.  Listen to each other, if you do not then it impossible to build on the others ideas

Don't...

1. Repeat the same line/action again and again... (this creates a rut)
2. Get stuck in the gym or a fight/chase scene (these should be avoided because they are difficult to escape)
3. Go too crazy. Normal things are easier to act and can be even more interesting
4. Shut down the other person. Even if the character you have picked is very closed off, if you continue to ignore or refuse to interact with the other characters nothing can be built up or grow (also the others will give up) see yes but game
5. Use real names (This removes the make believe element and pushes the person back towards acting like them self

Awesome Show with amazing improv.

I liked watching the others attempt improvisation and I even surprised myself by slightly enjoying parts of improvisation. I think that we learned a lot, but we were still slow on ideas, and maybe a little nervous letting go with each other. I liked that this game was similar to the show "Who's line is it Anyway?". I think that our group should work on being creative more spontaneously. Maybe with a written story, e.g. a short story/script that has to be written in a short time. This would take away the acting aspect and help creative juices flow, then maybe team stories/scripts for collaboration. 

Wednesday- We discussed our run-through of our commedia piece from our last lesson before the holiday. We focused on the bad things because we need to better the play.

Feedback on our First Commedia Run-Through 

• Add in more playfulness in improvisation (BUT still in mask)
• Struggle with spontaneity, is it easier in mask?
• Playing a character and not judging yourself
• Easier to have a base in character or story
• Figure out scene changes (BUT energy was good)

          -Could integrate into change like in Oh the Humanity
          -Know what to bring on BUT can mess it up in improv
          -Shorten some scenes: remember order on story (posters on the sides)

• Get audience involved with signs ( “Boo”, “Ahh”)
• Fix last scene, on the sofa
• The hoover scene dragged on, on reflection though it worked in rehearsal it didn’t make sense during the performance.
• Face the front (remember mask must face audience, no side-facing)
• Don’t slide  chairs on during scene change (squeaky sound)
• Guitar/love scene, more over the top, ridiculously melodramatic
• Louder voices (Zanni voices really energetic, project well)
• Maybe a little too long (cut back about 10 min, to 1 min) must keep PACE
• Pantalone face downstage (you are important character, have power downstage)
• Rose's Reaction (react to Mickey, energy x1000, really reject Mickey)
• Dragging=good for initial date, BUT not more dragging in the cinema scene
• Pantalone should have monologue to audience to tell story of Jack’s money, turn directly to audience (think Gollum)
• Use upstage arms and legs, keeps body open to audience, doesn’t block
• Hoover/scene does not work, not funny
• Meeting of lovers, must be lovey-dovey, over the top, need physical contact
• Jack stands like a girl (sorry everyone)
• “All you need is love!” shout at audience and get them involved
• Drop in movie and music quotes/lines (add in musical moments, “We are never ever getting back together” “What makes you beautiful”)
• Chairs in cinema…did it work
• “Mickey’s got the money” downstage and louder and center

We have a lot of things to work on, but that is expected. I think we are doing very good, and are getting more comfortable with one another. It is going to be difficult getting back into our piece after the break, but I know that we can do it! 

Thursday-Mr. Fearnehough was gone so we were left to work on our commedia work. We worked on finishing our masks and putting them into the display case. We discussed the ending of our commedia piece.