Wednesday Night - Friday Night

Ok as it was too late to come home and write up everything that happened each night after each performance im going to attempt to remember what happened each night. (Which will be hard!!!)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

From memory went really well even with our hiccupps we were able as a group to stick together and get through. I was feeling nervous (the most nervous i had felt all week). Wednesday felt more like the break through really, where people were seeing the play for the first time which was possably the reason behind why i felt so nervous. The warm up helped however i felt a bit scared as to whether i was in character or not haha. Umm on strenghts and weaknesses, i beleive that me, michael and leonie all brought our ensomble together fabulously haha and played to the audience really well.

THURSDAY NIGHT (Moderation)

ha well what can i say about moderation night, apart from the fact that i kind felt like i constantly felt like i needed to go to the toilet. I felt realyl nervous AGAIN at the begining however once the moderators actually spoke to us and explained that they are just hear to watch and enjoy and see that ms mace is marking with the state, it occured to me that if i focused and did the best i could do then that was good enough for me. That and rememberign all teh improvements ms mace suggested, i new that i would do well. With this thought process i didnt feel as nervous, more excited to give it my all.

I felt as though my first act was much more stronger than the second.

NOTE : Hard fairy floss is fowl and hard to eat with gloves. so lets hope it looked good!!

Other than that there were a few scenes that i was quite unsure about how i went however overall good effort.

OOO i just remembered our family circle. Geez i was being a sook hey lol I was quite emotional and i have no idea why. Maybe it was because it was coming to an end or maybe it was the nerves. Whatever it was it was annoying.

FRIDAY NIGHT

The fun night. Not that no other night was not fun. Just this one was the one with eh cool bow. LOVE THAT SONG. This night i was more comfortable with the play and new that it would go well as it had for the night before also. Not nervous at all. However emotionall afterwards lol

hmm well im pritty sure thats all i can remember for all the nights. Hope you guys all had fun. I had a blast working with you all and like leonie said we are all family. hehe Love you all. You all did so well, we should all be very proud as we were part of the BEST year 12 production EVER!!

WELL DONE!!!!

Sundays Rehearsul & Improvments Needed

WOW!! who would have thought that time would have flown by so fast that we are already within the week of performance. I must admit that i am fretting big time about moderation. So very nervous. Hopefully on the night i will be ok, but knowing me my heart will be pounding one hundred miles an hour haha. But i will just have to tell myself to have fun with it, and if im having fun and concentrating on being my character, making my ques and working well with Leonie and Michael, im sure i will do fine.

Anyways about sunday rehearsal, we really did pull it all together. I was surprisingly having so much fun. Just wanted to let you all know that im very happy and so excited to show everyone this amazing play. We have achieved so much as a group. And i know that everyone will love it!

Other than that, im just very nervous about thursday and the marking.

IMPROVMENTS

I need to focus more. (especially in holly's scene)

Re establish why my character is in each scene and show understanding

Wait for Leonie to say chocolate before moving back

Work on stage presence, especially with Leonie and Michael

Have lots of energy

Show injuries in tango scene

Work through some scene and choreography with Michael

AND

HAVE FUN!!!

xoxox

Intentions

The clowns intentions within the play Mirror Mirror are to .......

• Communicate with the audience
• Bring the mood and atmosphere back up after a serious scene
• To show the rediculousness of the media, society and popular culture

The contrast between the auguste clown and the white face clown shows the contrast from being to serious and not serious at all.

These three main points are the basis of why the clowns exist in the play and are demonstrated through each scene they are in.

AT HOME

Action: Mimicing the mum and the girl dancing.

Intention: Communicating with the audience

Action: Parade Enters

Intention: Communicating with the audience

FAIRYTALES

Action: *Old Dame Duck*

Intention: Communicate to the audience the ideas in the girls head.

Action: Bringing the frame on

Intention: Allows the girl to look at herself in the mirror during the speech about the wicked mirror.

Action: Mimicing the mothers speech

Intention: to mommunicate with the audience

IN THE PLAYGROUND

Action: Mimicing the girls

Intention: Showing the rediculousness that the society, media and popular culture play on young girls.

BALLET SCHOOL

Action: Mimicing madame

Intention: To bring the mood back up after the serious moment of the girl being told she was too curvey ( a moment when the girl begins to think she is fat)

DANCING PONIES

Action: Act as a dancing pony

Intention: to show the rediculousness of the media, society and popular culture

FIRST CHECK UP

Action: The scene between the clowns

Intention: to bring the mood up after the serious doctor moment.

ACT TWO

SIDESHOW ALLEY

Action: Moving mirrors around the girl

Intention: to show the rediculuosness of media, society and popular culture

Action: Laughing Clowns

Intention: to show the rediculousness of the media, society and popular culture & to communicate with the audience

HYPNOTIST

Action: Mirror Scene

Intention: to communicate with the audience

BACK TO THE GP

Action: the tango

Intention: to show the rediculousness of the media, society and popular culture

REFLECTIONS

Action: Circle around the voice and girl

Intention: ????

OTHER SCENES (dont know where they are, i tried to find them)

Action: Girl on the typrope, reaction to her falls

Intention: communicating with the audience

Action: looking at the girl whilst liking fairy floss

Intention: to show the rediculousness of the media, society and popular culture.

simon is envious of victoria's blogging talent ~ simons quote

White face clown costuming

<----------- ME & MICHAEL HAHAHAHA



Extending on the last blog.
Even with Allys wonderful suggestions (white top and knee his) i still feel as through this will not be enought to help me feel like my character in my costume.
I have decided to do some further reseach so i myself am aware of the costuming needed for the whiteface clown.
And to also gain other ideas to which i can contribute to my costume and character development. Enabeling me to achieve the best mark i possibly can.

Costume: The costume will fit well. Satins, sequins, rhinestones and theatrical fabrics (shiny, flashy, beaded, etc.) can be used. A one or two piece jumper worn with a ruff is the most common Whiteface costume. However, a two piece suit or tuxedo style is also acceptable. The costume including the accessories should be color coordinated. Shoes can be large or small but should be simple. Gloves should always be worn. in lieu of only the skull cap. The color of the wig is generally chosen to accent another color in the costume.

http://cheesecakeandfriends.com/c-types.htm#IV-A


Whiteface clowns (for more information see the Types of Clowns page)
Whiteface clowns are the clowns that have their entire face covered in a base of white makeup and then have their facial features highlighted by colors of makeup. Whiteface clowns are often the more serious of the clowns, they are often skilled in doing certain items, be it juggling. They take pride in showing up the auguste clowns and tramps. There are two types of whiteface clowns: Neat (Classic) Whiteface and Comic (Grotesque) Whiteface. One main key to whiteface clowns is that no skin should show through their makeup or costume, the effect of the overall look is of a doll come to life.

Neat (Classic) Whiteface
Neat whiteface clowns are often seen as the classic whiteface clowns with small features which only highlight the facial features and not exaggerate them, they also do not usually wear wigs, only having a skullcap to cover their hair. (The classic French Pierrot clown is a good example of this). Whiteface costumes are often very simple and regal looking and are well coordinated suits. These clowns are often very regal and proper in appearance and character. This character is traditionally very skilled (they can juggle, perform magic or play a musical instrument). Their characters are portrayed as being smart and tormenting to the auguste clowns.

Comedy (Grotesque) Whiteface
The comedy whiteface clown (like Rocky) is similar to the neat whiteface in only that the skin is covered entirely in a white base of makeup. However, their facial features are more exaggerated (broad wide mouths, bulbous noses) and they are often seen with a bright colorful shock of hair. The wardrobe of the comic whiteface is still fairly well coordinated but more exaggerated than the neat whiteface. These clowns think that they are as skilled as the neat whiteface, but often fail. Grotesque whiteface clowns are not as knockabout or as fallible as the augustes but are more exaggerated characters than the neat whiteface. Ronald McDonald and Bozo are good examples of comic whiteface clowns.

http://cheesecakeandfriends.com/c-faq.htm#Q2a

Whiteface
A Whiteface Clown covers all their flesh with either make up or clothing. They start by covering their face and neck with a coating of clown white greasepaint. Then they add features to that.

Often use skull cap to appear bald, and wears elaborate glitzy costumes. In Europe, a true European Whiteface clown accents their ears with red, uses their own hair or a black wig, and wears a specific style of spangled costume.

http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/types.htm


MAKEUP IDEAS
These images are so good!! (preferably the one on the left hehe)




more ideas to help me feel my character in costume

• White stockings with jiffy's.
• Pantaloon's with excess hemmed material around the elasticated parts with yellow ribbon
• Gloves.......??? i need to be fully covered.
• White long sleeve top
• Bow in hair.
• Yellow Wig.

What do you think people???

Any suggestions i can suggest for the dress part?

I was thinking.....

Well finally the tickets are on sale and completed. Thanks to anyone that helped me and holly get them ready for today, it was greatly appreciated. And on that note a big fat reminder that the show is not very long away. Although i do give everyone snaps on how far we have come. I believe that with this entire weeks to work on bits that are troubling us and run through we will be ok.

On another note, some of the costumes arrived today. I just wanted to say well done ally on the ballet school costumes and the ringmaster and assistants costume, they look really good. Also to maddy and adele who helped out with the sewing... it looks great.

Now dont take offense to this at all ally as this is not what i am intending to do, but i have been advised to write a blog on my first thoughts of my costumes as this is a pivotal thought process which is needed to produce a successful Group Analysis. In no way am i trying to offend you.

On first thoughts of seeing my costumes i thought that the pantaloons were good, and although the dress was too long (and adjustments needed to be made) i thought it was ok also. My main worry with my costume is that i will find it very hard to work as my character through the clothing. At the moment i feel like a blue blob.

I guess the only thing i can do is make suggestions to help me find my character easier through my costume. Once the dress has been hemmed there will be alot of material left over. I was thinking this could be used to make sleeves, pockets and a coller. Also some additions could include some frills around the edge of the color, sleeves and pockets and also make a half circle around my neck to wear buttons could also be added. Other additions could include as ive said buttons ribbons, frills and stripy socks. If you could get back to me ally about what you think about my additions i will be more than happy do these myself as these are additions that will help me more with my characters developments and i dont feel that it is your or maddy or adeles responsibilities.

Also today Ms Mace asked me how i feel my characters hair and makeup would be. I was imagining a teased ball of hair with a colour co-ordinated bow. I would do this by sectioning my hair into pony tails, teasing, hair spraying and adding the bow.

Please dont take offense to these suggestions ally, its not what i was intending to do, i just need some help in developing my character and using my costume to do that also.

Other than that good work people at todays rehearsal.
Keep it up
Love lots
Victoria
xoxox

Well today i realised that we are almost through act one. Which means it took us 3 weeks to get through it which means on thursday (tomorrow) we can go through all of act one, pritty much.

Anyways, on the note of todays rehearsal, incase anyone hasnt noticed, im finding it difficult to mimic madame. I dont have a clue what to do, however ive thought of some things....

• hitting michaels "flab" sorry michael
• shacking head in frustration
• walking up and down looking michael up and down
• saying a few lines like..... "Again. Again", " You, girl", "Extend, extend"
• Fixing and pulling at michaels arms

thats as far as my thoughts have gone really, like i said.. im having trouble with it.

So tonight i have decided to write out on word sheets of acts and scenes for the scenes we have already gone through telling me my lines (if any) ques and what i am to do in each scene. One i have done that they will be hanging around my room to remind me. Clever hey!!

anyways thats all for now

guess ill see you all tomorrow after school for run throughts of ACT ONE!!! YAY

only three weeks left.... im kinda scared.

much love people

xx

Rehearsals Have Begun!!

Well the new term has started and so has our rehearsals for Mirror.

The two rehearsals in the holidays I found very helpful as we were able to set foundations for our characters, which was great as I was able to find a particular work for the whiteface clown. I have found the whiteface clown to be quite snobby, which is hard when it comes time to have fun with the other clowns as I become confused as to whether I should embrace the fun or continue being snobby towards them, although this being the case the character development has will continue to unravel.

FAIRY TALES
During the first week back at school we began blocking the scene Fairy Tales and I was also able to take on another role, Old Dame Duck. I will be playing this character as a clown attempting to act as an old dame duck. The importance of the character old dame duck is to highlight the story of the ugly duckling and in particular highlight the line

"A women’s work is never done"

I believe the dame duck highlights that as a woman who wants to loose weight often they believe their work is never done, thus anorexics are produced. And even then they still believe their work is not done.

Also in this scene the two clowns enter carrying in a frame to hold in front of the girl. Imp not sure what the purpose of this is. This could perhaps nothing to do with the clowns but more so for the girl who picks and pulls at her face as she begins to believe she is like the ugly duckling.

The final part for the clowns in this scene is to act out the mother’s story. I believe the purpose of the clowns in this particular part of the scene is to provide comic relief and enable the audience to see the story on stage rather than visualizing which could become boring for the audience.

AT HOME
(Roll Up Roll Up)
As a part of the circus troops the clowns walk around the stage performing minor tricks. Purpose: to introduce the aspect of the circus within the disease anorexia.

It has helped me to talk about the purpose of the clowns for each scene blocked as of now. I'm looking forwards to finding out further purpose for my character and developing the clown character some more.

Holly and I have also decided to help with backstage with the tickets. This will be fun as we will be able to be creative with the cover of Mirror Mirror and help out wit the backstage aspect of the play.

Research on White Face Clown

There are three different types of White Face Clowns

• Straight White Face
• European Whiteface (Classic)
• Grotesque Whiteface (Comedy)

STRAIGHT WHITE FACE

An elegant clown, artistic, colourful, bright and cheery. Performance is highly skillful and artistic, but done with a comedic or dramatic flair. This clown will remain in charge setting up the routine, throwing rather than taking the pie. Although more comical than the European Clown is a bit reserved than the Auguste clown.

EUROPEAN WHITEFACE

An elegant clown, artistic, colourful, bright and cheery. Often comedic or dramatic flair.

GROTESQUE WHITEFACE

AKA Comedy Whiteface, the most common white face clown. Remain in charge, setting up the routine, throwing the pie, more comical than the Straight Whiteface, more reserved in comic.

• http://cheesecakeandfriends.com/c-types.htm

THE WHITE FACE CLOWN

The white face clown, a.k.a. the classic clown or the whitefaced clown, is the clown most people first think of when they hear the word ‘clown.’ Associated with the circus, the whiteface clown is the most intelligent of the clowns, and is typically at the top of the pecking order. The whiteface clown will typically be the ringleader, who will order around the other clowns.

The whiteface clown, however, shouldn’t need to feel constrained by this; as with any clown, he can be any personality (slow, fast, quick-witted, dull, quickly angered, coming to a slow burn, etc.) that would be funny.

• http://www.clown-ministry.com/index_1.php?/site/articles/clown_types_the_white_face_clown_the_whitefaced_clown

After our lesson today i was told to research the characteristics of a whiteface clown. One researching the role in which Whiteface clown's play in the circus i was able to grasp a better understand of what my character would need to be like. I hope not to get to ahead of myself as the clowns are possibly the most likely to be experimented with, however at least know i no that is expected.

Casting!!!

Well today we found out our roles for the play Mirror Mirror. I am very happy about being the white face clown, and also with the overall choices made for the cast. I cant wait to start character development and begin working with Michael and Leonie, I'm sure we will have lots of fun!!!

Overall the delivery of the casting wasn't as i expected and probably wasn't best, groups were devised which also lead to further group division amongst the group and the rise in tension levels.

i believe being able to have that time to ourselves once the casting was read was beneficial for us as a group. However I was fine with the choices made as i had received a role i was more than willing and excited to play!! I feel that once the beginning processes of this play commence people will grow confident and comfortable with the casting choices and within their own character.

Mirror Mirror Characters

Miss Mace told us today that she might have a cast list for us tomorrow, now although it is short notice to be writing the characters i wish to play down know, it is a part of the process which i must do. Which character?? That is the question.... which will be difficult for me to answer as i have left my Mirror Mirror book at school in my locker, but ill do my best.

I now that i would enjoy playing the clowns very much. They are lively and energetic and i believe i could do well in this role. (please note: the embarrassing photo on my blog, which i dont know how to make smaller but the clown is pretty cool hey hahahaha)

The Voice would also be a great role to play. Aside from the other main characters without he voice this play wouldn't be as great as it is, however this is not why i wish to play the voice, id just like the character and what it brings to the production.

Aside from these two roles i do now that i would rather the small, fun characters like showgirl, clowns, voice etc. rather than a deep main role like the girl.

Victoria

xoxoxo

Politely Savage

I thought id write a short blog about what i thought of Politely Savage as we talked about the play today in class.

When first arriving at the "theatre" on Sunday Night i was excited yet afraid that this play would be like many other plays i had seen...........boring and not captivating, however i was wrong.

The Play Politely Savage was really good, and i found it based mostly around movement, which was good to see as our group production is also mostly set around physical movement. It was great to feel first hand as an audience member how an audience would react to mainly movement in theatre.

From the first moments of interaction in the first scene the improvisation was captivating as well as the plot. At times i was disturbed by the puppets as they looked very realistic.

Overall i liked the play as i found the theatrical techniques interesting. I believe it will be easy to write a review on, and i am confident that it will be good!!!

Victoria

xoxox

Weeks One to Five

YAY finally i am able to talk about drama again, lets just say i've had some trouble with this thing they call blogger.com. Anyways turns out i haven't written in here for ages!!! so i'm going to try and recount all that has happened in drama in the first 5 weeks!!!

Week One

Throughout this week we began by performing group activities so that we as a group could grow comfortable working with the others in our class. I don't believe working together to accomplish our goals will be hard as i believe this group has the potential to work really well together. Our goals were also discussed.

Week Two

During Week Two we were asked to being and finish reading both Jack Davis' plays "Dreamers" and "Honey Spot". I found "Honey Spot" to be more interesting than "Dreamers", however this may be because the theatrical elements were not obvious to me, as i was soon to find out. We also continued with improvisation work which was a fun break from the reading.

Week 3

Week Three was a long and tenuous process as we were reading and acting out "Dreamers" all week. Making important notes on each aspect of the play which would help us when writing our essay on this topic.

Week Four

Began to wrap up "Dreamers" the play and focus more on our Group Production piece, ideas were suggested to us as a group and we were asked to research three potential plays

• Mirror Mirror
• Cloud Street
• Rhinoceroses

As a group we were all allowed to vote for which production we wished to perform. Once we had all voted on which production we thought best suited our group and our potential, Ms Mace announced that the play would be Mirror Mirror. This was very exciting as Mirror Mirror was the most interesting of the plays. All themes presented in the play relate to our lives today, and all revolve around a circus, could it get any cooler!!! with elements of fairy tales also.

Straight after the announcement we began improvisation games. We were informed that our audition was not to take place as Ms Mace would decide through our improvisation performances who will best suit each character found in Mirror Mirror. I believe that this is probably a better way of seeing each persons potential, as reading from an unfamiliar script can often be quite daunting and would not show how well you as a character could perform after studying the characters and the play for some time. Its a great choice as I find it makes the "auditioning" process alot easier.

Week Five

This week we visited Drama Day. A day allocated for all year 12 drama students to listen to fellow teachers and moderators talk about expectations of us as Year 12's. I found in particular the independent study and group production most entertaining, and also the review section very helpful.

Also this week we discovered that our group production piece was a play called Mirror Mirror (one of the three plays we were asked to vote on). Mirror Mirror seems like very energetic and out there production, which will be fun as i like over the top movement and acting, which brings me to an aspect of drama that we have been exploring this week. We have began by playing games such as Mirror (mirroring your partners movements), and moving with and without music. All tasks which have demonstrated how effective big elaborate movements can be if used with music (or without in theatre).

Promise i wont leave it this long to write again

Victoria xoxox

First Blog Ever!!!!!

hello fellow loser bloggers!!!!

if you are reading this you are either

a) some random with to much free time, let me to worn you this is bound to be boring

b) ms mace

c)other people in my class

anyways get this right as part of our assessment for year 12 drama trinity college have decided that in an attempt to be hip and cool we get with the times and write blogs rather than journals!!! AND it counts for part of our assessment, fun hey!!!!!!! omg SHOES!!!!!(HAHA holly) anyways as that random comment had no relevance to drama ms mace is bound to tell me off!!! hehe to be exact this blog is meant to include such things as feelings on lessons, feelings in general and anything related to drama really..... and this blog in particular is meant to tell you out there a bit about myself:

my name is Victoria, and i am currently studying year 12 drama. It pretty fun at the present however this is possibly because we haven't really started any work yet!!! But that's bound to change soon....

anyways thats enough from me,

Victoria xoxo