post number 4

Hola!

since the last post, there has been several changes:

the possible removal of the hiking and shopping scene- reason: there is lack of energy and also i am unsure that the audience can grasp our message in this scenes. also, these scenes were particularly demanding in the physical context and i felt that we were not able to fully meet the criteria that the scene needs. the obvious answer would be to train harder but there is that limit, i felt. however, we will see if we can still place the scenes into the piece if we manage to improve our physicality and our control of muscles(yes, none of us are flexible). so, it might be scraped off!

however, there is a bright side when we have a newer scene:

box scene- to show that girls are stronger physically than guys, contrary to popular believe. so, the scene goes like this, guy finds box on floor, tries to move it aside, another guy comes along to help him. both are unable to push it aside. at the last part, two girl comes along and carries the box away effortlessly.

this scene, i believe, has a lot of potential to be comedic as well as train our movement. also, the story is simple and easily understandable to the audience.

so, with the DV in mind, i set out to see this scene unfold. we had the basics settled, but, the elements and more subtle actions in the scene needs to be choreographed. i had some problems, because, i left the actors move by themselves, i told them the situation and then i let them decide what they wanted to do and with their actions, i would comment or tell them the mistakes and better the movements. however, i realise, that at times, some of them just stood where they were, without initiative, waiting for me to tell them what to do. this gets a bit frustrating as i cannot concentrate on individual actors but rather, i prefer to look at the scene as a whole and from there, change the little details. 

another problem was the lack of energy from some of the actors, as though they cannot wait for rehearsal to end. but in the end, i think that we manage to cross the hurdle and bring our concentration level back up. 

i feel that i am sometimes focusing my directions to the scene to make it more funny than conveying the DV, so i need to take note of that little fact. 

most of the time, i find that the actors are on their feet and they are not lazy and can find actions to do on stage, just that i need to make sure that the energy in the sketches are not dispersed and that there actors who are in the scene are not just acting as props.

for the restaurant scene, i think that there needs to be better timing for the actors and that they need to take their moment to show the audience their intentions and their facial and body expression, this way, it would be more effective in placing the DV across.

i have the same comments for the house and box scenes, however, i think that physicality needs to be noted by the actors(especially me!) and cannot break out of character. i realise this. however, i think to perfect the timings, the most important thing to note is that the sound is not in yet and the real timing can only come in when the sound is finalised. this will be done next week.

as the set designer, i have had to make choices, especially in the case of props, and having made the decision to stay true to the minimalist and also pantomime aspect, i have taken away tables(restaurant and house scenes) and also, i do not recommend to have a real box on stage. i might be wrong, but i am hoping for feedback during the showcase and we will consider the comments given then.

as the lighting designer also, i have lit up the set to be bright enough for the acting space to be seen yet not too bright, accordingly to the needs of the different scenes. since the focus is not lights, i don't think this would be a problem, however, if there are comments to have more lighting effects, i will change and consider as need be.

i think that the group is doing okay in terms of chemistry but i feel that more commitment and energy is needed during rehearsals. we need to step up our game as we have not been meeting deadlines because of the many changes to the script but i want to be more efficient.

i am looking forward for the day when we can perform a really good piece of total theatre and mime.

GAMBATTE!