Unit 3: Romey & J (Blog 6) - Final Reflection

ROUGH DRAFT -  

        For my rough draft performance, I practised ad tried to memorize my lines but I only managed to memorize the first page of my act. (Which was act 2, scene 5- the Lady Capulet and Juliet scene about marriage) I think I prepared for my rough draft at an okay level, I could have done better, and I can improve on my time management and memorized my lines a lot better.  

       There are a few elements in my performance that needs work such as memorizing my lines, stuttering, speaking clearing and projection. I could have done a lot better on those things if I practised more. For my rough draft performance there was barely an audience, so I don't know if they understood what the scene I performed was about, but I think they understood the basic concept about the scene. (Marriage) 

        To improve for my final performance, I worked on my projection and articulation and I tried to memorize most of my lines. I also working on blocking my script and practised my lines with emotion. My character was Lady Capulet so I had to talk like a strict mother, so I had to practice that. 

FINAL DRAFT-

       I did feel like my final draft was an improvement from my rough draft because I felt like I knew what I was doing, even though I didn't memorize all my lines, but I did feel like I knew what I was supposed to do, I knew where to stand at specific times during my performance, I also felt like I improved my facial expressions.

        I was told to improve my transitions between emotions such as anger and happiness, I also needed to act like I had lots of authority and I had to be more convincing about having revenge on Romeo, I had to be a lot more "mother-like" because Lady Capulet was supposed to be comforting Juliet by telling her Romeo would be killed, and I was also told to memorize my lines.

       For my final draft, I worked on projection and articulation because speaking Shakespearean language is hard to pronounce and sometimes it is hard to understand- from an audience point of view. I think I did better this time for making it more clear that I was Lady Capulet because I tried to look like I had authority and I was Juliet's mother. I feel that I did meet the circumstances better than my rough draft, because this time I had improvements and feedback to look at. 

FINAL REFLECTION-

     During this unit of Romeo and Juliet, I feel like I understand the whole concept of "Tragic Love" a lot better, because I had the actors perspective when I had to perform a scene from Romeo and Juliet. I understand the characters and plot lines a lot more and it is easier to talk about Romeo and Juliet while acting out the scene when you actually understand what it is about. I do appreciate the actors/actresses that have to act out Romeo and Juliet, because it is really fun to recite Shakespearean language. Even though it is a lot of hard work and a lot of effort to put into memorizing lines, and blocking in scenes and staging, it is really fun in the end.

       There are a lot of acting skills that I have learned from this unit such as time management, learning lines, learning staging and blocking, taking rehearsals seriously, and performing really well. I think that using all those skills will really help in making a good performance, because you need preparation, managing your time well, and rehearsals to make a satisfactory performance. I also think researching the topic is a good skill to help with a performance, because you need to know what you are acting, and knowing the general plot line of the topic. 

Unit 3: Romey & J (Blog 4)

I would like to perform the balcony scene from Romeo And Juliet because it is such a nice scene. I really like the scene because the script and the poetry is really nice. I really like how Juliet longs for Romeo, and Romeo longs for Juliet, and how Romeo goes and finds Juliet and listens to her reciting poetry about him.

For the balcony scene I would use dim lighting because it's at night and it's more romantic. In the background of the scene, I would have soft, classical music playing. I would have followspots  on Romeo and Juliet as the scene is happening. I would rather keep the actual script as it is; original and not change anything. I would keep the costumes original; like clothing from the olden days.

I would give myself the role of the nurse or Juliet because Juliet's lines are romantic and slightly romantic, and the nurse's lines are funny. I would also cast Kheilah as Juliet because Kheilah has Juliet's "Sweet and innocent" look, and I think that Kheilah could pull off the whole "Juliet" look.

Romeo and Juliet blog entry 3

In class, we have watched the 2 videos of reduced Shakespeare. They were basically a shortened version of Romeo and Juliet. They were quite funny and were performed really well.

There were many elements involved in the 2 videos such as they were both performed on stage, as it was a stage performance and plays are usually performed on stage. Due to the fact that female actors were not allowed to perform in these Shakespearean plays, only male actors performed in both of the videos. The setting was very simple, which is common with plays as such, so there was not many bright lights, not many light and sound changes, and the script was the actors reciting Shakespeare.
The script was also quite modern, but they continued to recite Shakespeare's poetry on Romeo and Juliet.

All in all, the performances of both videos imitated Shakespeare's version of Romeo and Juliet very well. There were sufficient amount of "Shakespeare" in it, and the actors acted very well. 

Unit 3: Romey & J - Baz Luhrmann (Blog Entry 2)

I think that the Baz Luhrmann version of Romeo And Juliet is a lot different from the other versions. I think he wanted to modernize the whole concept of Romeo and Juliet. The movie is set in modern time. The characters used in the film was also very modern, but they still used some of Shakespeare's lines of poetry from the original. I think Shakespeare would have liked some parts of the movie, but most of the parts were really 'different' from the original. Although I do think the story line was somewhat similar, and I think Shakespeare would appreciate that. Even though they changed the script to fit the modern world, they still used sufficient amounts of Shakespeare's poetry. I think that some of the characters that they created were very different in a bad way such as Mercutio. I don't think Shakespeare would like Mercutio dressed up in a silver skirt and top with heels and red lipstick, but nevertheless I think that the concept of the modern day version of the star crossed lovers was well imitated.

Unit 3- Romey & J

Commedia:  

-In Commedia they use gromalot.

-Women were allowed to participate in the plays. 

-They used stock characters.

-Most of the scripts were improvised 

-Regularly wore masks. 

-Performed anywhere (found places) 

-The 16th century 

Shakespearean:

-In Shakespearean theater they spoke in English.

-No women in the play.

-Different characters for each play they performed

-Written scripts for play 

-Performed in the Globe Theater. 

-The 17th century 

-Usually performed tragedies.

Similarities: 

-Everyone was involved.

-Everyone of all class could afford and watch the plays.

-Were thought of as devil worshipers mainly by the church. 

-Performed during the day because they couldn't afford candles.

-Broke the fourth wall.

-They both performed in troops of paid actors.

Unit 2: (BLOG) Commedia dell'Arte Final Performance Task Rough Draft Reflection

Part 1: Evaluate your own performance using the language found on the performance rubric and Crit B descriptors. 
-What did you do well?  I think I that I used enough movement and language.
-What did feedback did you receive? What do you need to improve?  I think that I need to improve on eye contact with the audience and I think I need to improve more on not laughing and staying in character.
-What specific things will you do to improve before performance? I'll improve on keeping my character and maintaining eye contact with the audience. 

Part 2: Evaluate another group's rough draft (someone who didn't do as well as you) using the language found on the performance rubric and Crit B descriptors. 
-What did they do well? 
-What feedback would you give them? 
-What specific things could they do to improve before performance?

Part 3: Evaluate another group's rough draft (someone who you think performed better than you) using the language found on the performance rubric and Crit B descriptors. 
-What did they do well? 
-What feedback would you give them? 
-What specific things could they do to improve before performance?

Unit 2: Commedia dell'Arte Summative Performance Task 9-- Emotion & Language

In class, we were put into groups to experiment with the emotion, expression, and language of commedia dell'arte. I was grouped with Ayasha and kheilah because we chose contrasting characters. we came up with a few scenes to perform that had similar ideas but were slightly different. I was the first actress and Kheilah was my servant, and Ayasha was Brighella. we settled for a scene that showed all three aspects of Commedia Dell'Arte. In the scene the first actress gets engaged, the servant comes in and admires the ring, Brighella comes in and kisses the first actresses hand and steals the ring. The first actress faints and the servant is left to find the ring. Once the ring is found the scene ends.