Roles
Rui Shan - Jamie (Child)
Stephanie - Sally (Child's Sibling)
Melvyn - Ronald (Child's Father)
Hamid - Ben (Child's Nerd Friend)
Chen Xing - Tim (Child's Good Friend)
We've decided to create a group blog so that we'll be more organized and clear of what we have done and want to achieve next.
After meeting the group for 3 times, we've decided on the script and completed Hot Seating. We also worked out the space we'll be using, finalized the sequence of events and the multimedia. Discussed about the mood and atmosphere for each scene, including the music and the quotes shown on the screen.
1. Inspirations/ Influences for storyline chosen
-Inspired by "A Doll's House" and "Romeo"
-We decided on a movement and multimedia piece.
-Wanted to present a physical piece with a child living in a pressurizing environment, trying to find her identity
-Our DV: We're all connected; One person's actions influences another
-Decided to use strings to visually show the connection between people - that explains our group name (the irony)
2. Performance traditions/theories related to acting+skill chosen
Expressionism. Physical Theatre.
Some of my findings:
-Stage is neither simulated reality nor suggested unreality. It existed in its own right as the platform from which direct statements could be made. Settings therefore tended to be abstract or highly subjective. Techniques of distortion and incongruous juxtaposition expressed either the ideological position of the director or dramatist or the state of mind of the protagonist, or both. In Expressionist plays the walls of houses might lean at sharp angles, threatening to crush the protagonist; windows might light up like eyes spying on the secret and intimate; trees might take on the shape of the skeleton signifying Death. In this way, instead of simply forming the milieu for the action, the setting became a dramatic force.
-episodic, no clear narrative. constructed out of violent visual images.
-total stage space has become a distinctive feature of contemporary set design and staging.
-casts of actors dressed in black jeans and sweaters sat on boxes on black-curtained stages.
-Expressionism contributed to the modern stage a range of techniques that have become the stock in trade of most directors and designers; though in most contemporary cases the influence of Expressionism has been mediated through Brecht.
3. Explanation of creative choices
In Doll's House, we were reminded of how we actually try to control people yet at the same time being controlled by others as well. This is how we bring in the theme of Politics of Identity whereby we're all unsure of what we ultimately want because of the people around us.
We thought of how we're all interlinked and drew up a human web (posted on our group blog).
In order to produce a visual piece, we decided to literally use strings to show our connection only at the end of the piece, whereby each character realizes that we affect each other in a way or another.
By using a main character (Child/Jamie) and the different people (father,sibling, 2 friends , society) around her, we can clearly show how she is being affected by each of them and what it causes her to become.
Please see the human web on the group blog!
I have decided to move towards a contemporary dance style to suit the Expressionist Theatre and it includes more dramatic movements.
4. Turning points
#1: We changed our style from Human Puppetry-esque actions to Contemporary Dance because that allowed for more movement and expression.
#2: Macbeth was intended to be a potential play to emulate, but that changed to Ibsen's A Doll's House.
#3: We changed the DV once. It was at first according to Macbeth's story line; DV was at first "One will try all means to reach his goal but when he finally reaches it, he realizes it isnt something he really want". Realized it's too weak!!! Not a strong message.
#4: We changed the web effect from a linear thing to a more web-like structure to really bring out the different connections that affect one another.
As the movement coach/choreographer, I have been researching on movement and exercises the physical actors should consistently do. I came out with a set of exercising stretches for them right at the start because flexibility and stamina isnt something we can train overnight.
I've searched for videos and made my group try some of the movements. Got most of my inspirations and ideas there.
Also, in order to make sure that their physicality is able to match up to the characters they're performing as, I came out with 3 different sets of routines of different styles for them to try.
I think the stretching exercises and 200 crunches are working! They seem to be more agile~
Have discussed much of the music with chen xing in order for my choreography to work as well :) Same idea and same goal~
