Year 2 acting blog : Rehearsal Process

Rehearsal Process

In rehearsals Sean and I have been breaking down our script and have been coming up with thoughts on how to portray our character. Breaking down our script has made everything much stronger now. Furthermore we have been working on our script allot since there is certain words we don’t know in Shakespeare, therefore we use our English translation script to help us which has been actually valuable.Our scene is open and passionate it includes a lot of communication and eye contact so Sean and I decided to stare at each other for as long as we can go for. I find it hard to keep in eye contact with people unless I am comfortable with them so it was quite challenge for me. But the excise was really good for me and Sean because it open us up and I’m starting to feel relaxed.

Sean and I used the meisner technique to help us with connecting with our lines. We kept on repeating “you disgust me, I disgust you” to each other until we exploded. It actually helped me with connecting with what I was saying. It was much interment and truthful. I started to like my words and there are certain words I find hard to say, however I keep repeating the word until it sound truthful.we used the meisner technique to help us with connecting with our lines. We kept on repeating “you disgust me, I disgust you” to each other until we exploded. It actually helped me with connecting with what I was saying. It was much interment and truthful. I started to like my words and there are certain words I find hard to say, however I keep repeating the word until it sound truthful.

Jackie’s voice lessons has helped me on exactly how to connect with my speech and also to allow my words to shock me. There was a huge change when I said my line the second time, the first time I said my line “thou hast thy father much offended” I was not emotionally attached however I then repeated my lines and whispered my lines and said the last words of my lines then I repeated my lines which was much powerful then the first time.Sean and I came up with an another idea on how to connect with our characters. we spent our rehearsal period telling each other as our character how we feel about each other. It was so helpful for the both of us because we connected so well with our character just by telling each other how we feel and it also helped not doing it in Shakespeare language because we wanted to focus on the relationship between the two not the language. I think without the relationship between the two characters our relationship would not be truthful.

On Wednesday we had 2 visitors who helped us with our Shakespeare. The re direction they gave Sean and I was really helpful. It gave me more thoughts on how to play with my character. The first time I said my line, I was sitting on the chair doing my makeup. The second time I got re directed to drink alcohol instead of doing my makeup which I found effective. At this part in the play my character is worried hence why I do not think she will be putting on makeup. It’s mostly likely she would be either drinking, smoking or not even doing anything at all. I also got told that my character has to be less tough and more sensitive. Queen Gertrude is very weak at this part in her life with her son Hamlet so I do think my character should be gentler with hamlet since hamlet is unhappy as much I am.Sean got re directed to be less heated but still have the irritation with in him. Which I believe was a good idea. I don't think Hamlet would be angry at all times even though he wants to upset his mother, He still finds a way to calm himself. This is an upsetting problem, I think at this moment in Hamlets life he is vulnerable I think Sean should let himself be vulnerable, free and connected. He also got told to work on his posture. His posture is not strong enough for the character that his playing. Sean is a very short guy he tends to slouch a lot when he walks. His aim is to start to think focusing on how his character carries himself.

Me and Sean need to work on our characters relationship we need to form a mother and son bond and take our time saying our lines to make it more effective and believable. Its important that we also work on our body language because that is the first step of creating your character. The queen walks with a straight back and moves her waist but not a much as I do. Furthermore In Shakespeare time actors would usually get ready and warm up on stage and we tried it out and Yusuf thought it was a good idea. I really like the idea because it gives us time to get into character and prepare. I think the audience would like what we are doing because its different and interesting. I like the idea to except where we prepare yourself in front of the audience because its different and it gives us more time to get into character however the disadvantage of this idea it might not work out because the audience might not understand what we are doing.

Much To Do About Nothing

I watched Sinteasha's and Shabils piece I thought it was really good. they were really emotionally connected to their characters and it was believable. You could tell that they have spent time working on their characters and also how to deliver there lines. I also think they understand what's happening in the scene and what the characters are saying to each other because there reactions are really natural. I like how they use the space wisely they only move if they feel its right to move which I think is good because I have a problem with moving with no purpose so I learned from their scene to move around only if there a purpose.

As You Like It

I really enjoy watching Esther’s, Yvonne and Bictions peace "as you like it" you can see the difference between all of their characters. I feel like the peace has potential to be a really good piece. I think Biction has really good stage presents and he has a good connection with his character and good control over his voice. Esther and Yvonne scene has lots of potential to be funny I think they should play with their characters more and let loose and stop being afraid of what others will think because as a whole it’s a really strong piece.

Macbeth

I love the way Stella portrayed Macbeth Its not complicated. I love the energy and how she stresses her words at the right time. With Shakespeare its important that you mean what you say if you don't pronounce or understand the word you are saying then the audience won't understand. therefore its important that you connect with your words and also know what you are saying which I think Stella understand what she is saying which makes it interesting to watch. I can tell that she has worked on her character constantly because she connects with her character so well and when I watch her perform I see her as Macbeth not as Stella.

Scene Summary

I start of the scene in my room brushing my hair I asked him to come into the room so I can confront him but instead he attacks me back. I get upset and I plan to leave “ nay then I’ll set those to you that can speak” but hamlet pushes me back down on the chair he wouldn't let me go he physically retrains me. He is pinning me on to the chair aggressively. He tells me angrily what I have done; it is new to queen Gertrude of Claudius being a murder and a villain. My reactions show that I am terrified of hamlet and I get even more scared when he kills Polonius because he just showed me what he is capable of doing. I get up from the seat and come towards the audience to show them the fear in my eyes. You can see who has higher statues between me and hamlet, he always stays grounded and I tend to move around the space allot because of how I feel.

Performance Day

Today’s performance was a real progress from last before and being it my first performance of the year it was astounding. So much passion that I never knew I had, it was a pleasure playing Ms Gertrude. Doing a Shakespeare project taught me so much about myself which I am thankful for. When it was my turn to do my piece my thoughts went blank I felt like I gave it my all. I felt so relaxed and exposed on stage, it was the best feeling I have ever felt in a long time. Delivering my lines with so much soul and control gave me nerves in my tummy.

I honestly think I have worked hard on my Shakespeare I put in so much work, time and effort into my work and it was shown in the performance since I got great feedback from the students and teachers. the fact that someone cried over my and Sean's performance left me speechless which humbled me to know that thought my character was amazing and they really believed in my character and also how connected I was to my character. Hard work pays off and I believe that I did my job. Even after the performance even though my mind was blank I was buzzing because I knew that I gave it my all.

Yesterday when we were rehearsing the ghost scene I was not really happy, I felt like it was not going to work out because it was a bit complicated for me. Because I have to react from what Sean is doing but I did not believe what Sean was doing so it was hard for me to react off him. It was frustrating me because we have worked so well and I felt like the ghost part would have been the downfall to our performance but due to the good feedback we go the ghost scene was brilliant so I am pleased and I realized that I was just nervous so I do think that I should just relax and trust and believe in myself because I have put in the work myself and I am grateful that I got the chance to work with Sean even though it was quite difficult to work with him at the start in the end with both started to work as a team.

I wouldn't change anything I have no regrets for my performance it what I excepted it to be I do. It was an amazing experience and I would gladly do it again. I am happy because Shakespeare is quite difficult to understand and I conquered it and I feel like if I can conquer Shakespeare by putting in the work I can do anything just the way I did in Shakespeare. It’s about believing in yourself and putting in the work you can’t do a good performance if you haven’t worked hard you have to work hard in order to get a good result. Therefore I am happy to I am proud of myself.

Setting

One Chair

Table

Lights

Costume&Props

Dagger

Brush

Night Gown

Before & After Performance