Journals delayed!

Grade 8's:  After all the speeches, choose the speech that made the most impression on you.  Explain why you liked it.

Grade 9's, 11's and 12's:  Write about what happened in the extended role play.  How did your character performance go?  What interactions did you have with other actors?

that perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart

We've had some pretty serious challenges health-wise in our family lately, but it feels like we're on the way in the right direction now, and it makes me think how important it is to take care of ourselves and try to live a healthy life.  I'm reading a book right now about the history of cancer called The Emperor of All Maladies and it's really fascinating how treatments for cancer have evolved over time.  Can you imagine having surgery without an anesthetic and without antibiotics to fight infection afterwards?  But people lived (or died) through that.  The part I'm reading now is about prevention, which is obviously the best route to go if you don't want to get sick in the first place.   Sometimes it seems as if everything causes cancer, but there are some really clear carcinogens.  As far as lung cancer goes, smoking is such a scourge.  I'm so glad that many of us have gotten that message -- there are fewer and fewer people smoking these days and so the rate of lung cancer has really dropped.  And you can never go wrong by eating good nutritious food and getting lots of exercise.

I hope I'll be back to school tomorrow, but if I'm not, here's what you will be doing.  Grades 11/12s -- you'll be working on your one act plays.  I would like to set a date to perform them and invite people to see them.  I hope we'll be able to do one evening, but that might not be possible with job action (not clear on that yet), so if we can't we'll do it during class time and invite other classes.  Make sure you are ready to perform your monologue as soon as possible.  The people who've already gone have set the bar pretty high.

Grade 9's -- you're going to start working on your tv scripts.  I have scenes from the YTV show, "Mr. Young" for you to work on.

Grade 8's -- you're going to start working on a myth from Uganda about the creation of the world.  The handout is on my desk.  Remember, it's always good to include what you've already learned - mime, tableau, choral speaking, attention to the stage picture, projecting your voice.  If I'm not there, those of you who have agreed to do your "show and tell" speeches can do them for the TOC.

I hope I'll see you all tomorrow.

Quiz on Shakespeare

Think you know your Shakespeare?  Try this little quiz thanks to "Canada Writes" on the CBC website.

http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/quiz-shakespeare/

All's well that ends well!

All is well, as the immortal bard would say.

I'm really enjoying reading your character blurbs.

Fun Day!

Thanks to our merry band of improvisers for their great show for the grade 7's.  You were great and I've heard that the grade 7's said it was a high point of their day.  There was a lot of variety and your efforts, energy and creative comedy chops were appreciated by me and all our guests.

Journals:

Grade 11/12's:  What would a blurb describing you look like, if you were being described as a character for the extended role play?  What are your thoughts on the character you've been given?  What do you plan to do?

Grade 9"s:  What is your favourite tv show?  Why do you like it?  Is it directed to a youth audience?  What might that mean?  (Shows like "Sam and Kat" are directed to a youth audience -- does that sort of thing appeal to you (you are "youth"!)

Grade 8's:  Our next big project is based on a myth called "The Creation of the World".  How do you think the world was created?  Could you make a play about it?  Explain why or why not.

Show and Tell

On May 29, the grade 8's will be presenting their "show and tell" public speaking speeches.  As I described to you today, I will expect you to prepare a two minute speech based on an item you can bring from home and show to the class.  The actual item isn't important -- it is your speech in which I'm interested.  Unlike the Shakespeare recitation, this is your own material and it is your responsibility to make it engaging for the audience.  Obviously, just describing an item that everyone can see is not particularly engaging, so you will be expected to tell a story about the object.  Perhaps describe how you acquired it or what you did to earn it or who gave it to you and what that person means to you.  You may use cue cards or a paper if you like but make sure you practice, so that you can look up and make eye contact with the audience.  This is not a case of "more is better".  Try to stick to two minutes.  Five minutes is too long and one minute is too short.

If you are unsure about what to choose, see me.  Obviously, you cannot bring a weapon or a pet to school, but you are welcome to bring a photograph or a drawing if that's what you want to speak about.
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One of the grade twelves directed me to an article he read called "Why Aren't Women Funny?" written by Christopher Hitchens.  It posits the idea that men have evolved to be funny in order to attract women, but that women don't need to be funny in order to attract men.  It also suggested that a woman's role in society is more serious than a man's and so women approach life more seriously.  I don't agree, but I have wondered why there are so many more male comedians than female and why there are so many more men doing improv than women.  What do you think?

You're the real MVP!

That's from Kevin Durant's MVP speech.  Of course, most of you know that I don't follow basketball at all and wouldn't be able to pick Kevin Durant out of a line up of seven foot tall men, but my sister (who also doesn't follow basketball at all) told me about his speech, so of course, I looked it up and it is very heartfelt.  He says his mom is actually the MVP because of all she did to help him when he was a little boy.  Make sure you thank your moms tomorrow.  Someone in Grade 8 said, "what if I don't have any money?" but I'm sure your moms would be just as happy if you wrote her a nice poem or did some chores or went out for a walk with her or something like that.  I know I would be happy with that.  The weather is supposed to be really nice, so no excuses for just staying in front of your computers all day.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

Since the grade 12's appear to be taking the day off tomorrow (an unfortunate "tradition" more honoured in the breach than the observance, as Hamlet would say), we will have our little 1812 get-together on Tuesday at lunch in the theatre.  See you all there!

Friday's journal!

Grade 8's:  Which fairy tale have you chosen to perform?  Why did you choose it?  What role will you be playing?  Explain what you will do to play your part (facial expressions, body language, actions, costume)  How is your group doing?  Describe your group's dynamics (who is leading, who is coming up with lots of ideas, is everyone cooperating, is it easy or difficult to get things done?  Explain your answers.)

Grade 9:  Which Shakespeare scene is your favourite?  Explain why you like it.  Who are you playing?  What does your character want?  What is keeping your character from getting what you want?  What are your thoughts on the movie?

Acting 11/12; Theatre Production 12:  Write about "RIP: A Winkle in Time".  Think of two positive things that you can describe and analyze.  Is there anything you didn't like?  Describe it.

If you weren't able to go to the play, think of another play you've seen.  Do the same analysis.

RIP: A Winkle in Time

The senior drama class got to see Axis Theatre Company's play today!  (Thanks to Ms. Cheema and Ms. Kwon for leading the Grade 8's and 9's in my absence.)  Axis Theatre Company is a great local story -- they used to be Axis Mime and their focus is on physical theatre and this show started with a bang with the moon climbing on a stack of chairs and balancing precariously on top.  We were all freaked out and amazed at that and wondered if the chairs were attached somehow, or if she really was balancing!  (I think she was.)  All of theatre is a balancing act and the actors did a great job in this -- I especially liked Lil, the barkeeper/actress -- she had a great way of swooning while being ultra modern.  And Simon Webb was very sweet as the older great great grandson of RIP, who had been frozen for a century and awakens to find the world ridden by selfies and selfish oil companies.  I liked all the current commentary and the beautiful dog puppet and how it jumped around.  We were stunned by the number of references to that great Canadian play, "The Wars of 1812"!!  Bigfoot, and the Big Dipper and even "you look a little the worse for wear".  It was very exciting to hear those coincidences.  Mark was shouting "push on, brave York volunteers!" by the end!  We did some exercises in class before we went to the play to remind ourselves to act as members of the audience and it paid off, because the actors and managing director of the show complimented us on our behavior.  I was SO PROUD of my students!

It was a lot of fun to see the play and go as a class and we will have more discussion about it tomorrow.

Remember, we will see Grade 9, 11 and 12 monologues tomorrow!

As tears go by

That's a line from an old Rolling Stones song.

I think it is finally dawning on me that I won't be working with some of you on any more plays.  I was emailing my sister this morning and telling her about our closing night and how terrific you all were and I confess I shed a few (maybe more than a few!) tears.  I think I've said this before, but I can never thank you enough for all of your hard work and devotion to your craft -- I wish we could just hold time back and do just a little bit more!  But you all have great plans and I know you will all be great successes at whatever you do.

I must tell you that Sylvie's speech and your recitation of "All the world's a stage" will be one of the supreme moments of my life as a teacher.  (Here come those silly tears again!)  It was absolutely the perfect way to remind me of what a privilege it is to be able to work with all of you and how great it has been to share the last five years with you.

Have a nice quiet weekend -- take it easy.  I am going to try not to talk at all -- just sit and read and look out at the rain.

A technical matter!

Why did the margins go all wonky on that last post?  I couldn't get it to look like it normally does!  I still have a lot to learn about technology . . . no, really?

Closing night

Our revels now are ended. These our actors, 
As I foretold you, were all spirits and 
Are melted into air, into thin air: 
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, 
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, 
The solemn temples, the great globe itself, 
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve 
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, 
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff 
As dreams are made on, and our little life 
Is rounded with a sleep. 

William Shakespeare 
From The Tempest, Act 4

Nobody says anything as well as Shakespeare.  I always think of this little passage

at the end of important things.  And it really expresses the feeling of loss at

the end of a production, I think. 

To the cast and crew of "The Wars of 1812":

I cannot tell you all how grateful I am for all your hard work on the play.

Your efforts have been rewarded by lots of appreciative responses to the show.

It was such fun to work with you all.  Thank you so much for the flowers.

They're so pretty. 

You know, as I drove away from the school, I stopped at the sign and took a picture of

"The Wars of 1812" announcement.  I had some doubts about the script, but you guys 

really sold it.  Great actors and production staff can really make a "silk purse out 

of a sow's ear". 

To all you wonderful Grade 12's:

We have had such a run together, haven't we?  Since "The Taming of the Shrew", we've

slugged it out and worked hard and I think we've done great things.  I am so proud of

each one of you.  I hope you will take a few lessons from our little band of theatre 

folk -- about working together, and trying new things, and trusting each other, and

working out problems, and being responsible and taking chances.  I have learned so

much from all of you.

I really appreciated your recitation of "All the world's a stage" together.  You 

sounded so beautiful together and it was so moving that you would think of that at

this point.  Whoever thought of it?

I'm also proud of how well we held it together for the audience.  We smiled bravely

and kept our speeches short and sweet and waited for the curtains to close to blubber!

I remember some of you saying that we shouldn't burden the closing night audience

with our grief and I think we kept to that.

Let's get together for lunch sometime next week.  We still have two months of school

left and I'm still in denial that you won't all audition for whatever we do next! 

Dynamite!

Journal Day tomorrow:

For all classes:  If you are able to see "The Wars of 1812", write about one specific aspect of the production and the effect it had on you.  You can write about one performance, or the music, or one scene, or one relationship, or even one speech.  I think I'd write about Damien's speech about how he struggles with his job.  From his perspective at that point in the play, it's a heart-wrenching struggle and he derives no joy from it at all.  But perhaps if you asked him after he and Vanessa worked on "Rose in Montreal", he might have had a different perspective.  I find that speech really expresses my struggles as a director.  I love working on a play and I love the theatre, but the nuts and bolts of putting a show together are really daunting.  There are so many tasks that are so difficult, from casting to organization to the technological parts to working with all the different personalities.  But in the end, if you're lucky enough to have a group like we have in the Steveston-London Drama Club, you finish with a feeling of true accomplishment and satisfaction.

If, for some reason, you aren't able to attend the play, write about another play you've seen.  Tell the name of the play and where you saw it, and then choose one aspect of it to write about.  I want you to be as specific as possible.  I would prefer that it be a school play.

If you are in the play,  you can write about it from your perspective, but I would still like you to choose something specific.  (Like what you do in a certain scene, or another performer you admire, or a scene you like).