Monologues for Grade 9/10

from the tv show “Seinfeld”)

Girls:

Mary:  Remember me?

Mary Contardi.  No?  Doesn’t ring a bell, Jerry?  We had a date, three years ago.  You took me to one of your shows.  Told me you had a great time!  Said you’d call me the next day.

Liar!  Liar!  You were never going to call me!  You thought you could waltz through the rest of your life and never bump into me again!  But you were wrong, Jerry!  You were wrong!  What do you think, I’m some sort of poor pathetic wretch?  Some person who could be dismissed and ignored?  Some insignificant piece of dust?  Some person who doesn’t deserve your respect and your attention?  You’re the one that doesn’t deserve my respect and my attention!  You’re the insignificant piece of dust!

Boys:

So, you remember I made the initial call on Sunday.  She doesn’t call back.  I call again Monday.  I leave another message.  I call Tuesday.  I get the machine again, “I know you’re there, I don’t know what your story is.”  Yesterday, I’m a volcano.  I try one more call, the machine comes on and I let fly like Mussonlini from the balcony.  “Where the hell do you get the nerve?  You invite me up for coffee and then you don’t call me back for four days?  I don’t like coffee!  I don’t have to come up!  I’d like to get one more shot at the coffee just so I can spit it in your face!” 

I lost it.

All:  I didn't know she had a pony.  How was I to know she had a pony?  Who figures an immigrant's going to have a pony?  Do you know what th odds are on that?  I mean in all the pictures I saw of immigrants on boats coming into New York harbor, I never saw one of them sitting on a pony.  Why would anybody come here if they had a pony?  Who leaves a country packed with ponies to come to a non-pony country?  It doesn't make sense . . . Am I wrong?

B/C Block accents

C Block:  On June 5, we will be doing accents of our own choice.  On June 6, we will be trying Indian accents (if you can't do one, look at Youtube -- they have great tutorials for all the accents!); on June 7, we will be trying Australian or British accents.  Do your best!  That's all anyone can ask.  It is helpful for an actor to be able to do a variety of accents and character voices.  That is why we are doing this activity.

B Block:  On June 5, we will do accents of our own choice (stay with the same accent for the whole block).  On June 6, we will do a "street" accent (I think if you listen to rappers, that might help, although Youtube probably has materials on "Learn to use a 'street' accent", since it seems to have everything!)  On June 7, we will try German accents.  Just try your best.  No one expects you to be an expert on either one.  Accents help us create interesting characters.

Winner Take All

I haven't watched much of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, but I am watching the Ottawa Senators in tough with the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7.  The winner gets to play against Nashville.  I like Crosby (he was an A student and his vice principal said he was a very kind person who treated everyone with respect, so I do like him) but of course, Ottawa is Canada's only representative in the playoffs so I would like to see them advance and beat Nashville, too.

Here are your journals for this week:

Grade 8:  How do you think the world was created?  Could you make a play about it?  Explain how.

How did you decide who would play the different characters in your "Creation of the World" play? Are you happy with your role?  What ideas do you have to make your character interesting and believable?  Are you happy with how things are going in your group?  Why or why not?

Grade 9/10 Drama (B Block):  How did your comedia del'arte play go?  Was it funny?  Explain why or why not.  What were you supposed to do as your character?  Were you successful?  Explain.  Rate the success of your play and explain why you rate it the way you do.

Which other play impressed you the most?  Explain why.

Theatre Production 11/12 (B Block):  How did your comedia del'arte play go?  Was it funny?  Explain why or why not.  What did you do (be specific) to put the play together?  Do you feel like you were successful?  Explain why or why not.  Which other play impressed you the most?  Explain why.

Make sure you hand in your concept for your sound and light show.  Include the names of actors you would like to use.

B Block:  If you would like to be the teacher in the extended role play, please let me know.  (I will explain this in class.)

Grade 9/10 Drama (C Block):  Describe what happens in each of your Shakespeare scenes.  In each scene, who did you play?  What did you do to create a character?  On a scale of 1-5, where would you rate yourself?  Explain why.

Which other actor impressed you?  Why?

Theatre Production 11/12:  Create a sketch of your set for your sound and light show.  If you are using the whole theatre, show what it will look like.  Include curtains, furniture and anything else which will help you set the scene.

C Block:  If you would like to be the teacher in the extended role play, make a note of that please.

the flood prevails, and then the wind

Kind of a wet day today.  Where do you get a good umbrella that won't fall apart after a couple of weeks?  Just asking.

Journals today:

Grade 8:  Comment on your fairy tale mime.  What went well?  What needed improvement?  Who provided leadership for your group?  Did anyone hinder the progress of your group?  Explain your answers.  Which other group's performance was the best?  Explain why.

Drama 9/10 (B Block):  What is each of your Shakespeare scenes about?  What is the mood of each scene?  Explain how you will make the audience feel the appropriate mood.

Theatre Production (B Block):  Give a description of your concept for your sound and light show.  Be as detailed as possible.

Drama 9/10 and Theatre Production 11/12 (C Block):  Comment on your commedia del'arte performance.  What went well?  What needed improvement?  Who provided leadership for your group?  Did anyone hinder the progress of your group?  Explain your answers.  Did your presentation succeed in being funny?  Actors:  What stock character did you play?  What was your lazzi?  Was it funny?  Theatre Production:  What did you do to help the entertainment value of the presentation?  Did it work?   Everyone:  Which other group's performance was most memorable?

Shakespeare for all!

Grades 9 and 10:  We will be working on Shakespeare scenes this week and here are the scenes:

M:  I have done the deed.  Didst thou not hear a noise?
LM:  I heard the owl scream and the cricket cry.
Did not you speak?
M:  When?
LM:  Now.
M:  As I descended?
LM:  Aye.
M:  Hark!  Who lies in the second chamber?
LM:  Donalbain.
M:  This is a sorry sight.
LM:  A foolish thought to say a sorry sight.

*****
A:  Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
S:  I do bite my thumb, sir.
A:  Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
S:  No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.  Do you quarrel, sir?
A:  Quarrel, sir!  No, Sir.
S:  If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.
A:  No better.
S:  Yes, better, sir.
A:  You lie.
S:  Draw, if you be men.

*************
B:  Who's there?
F:  Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.
B:  Long live the king!
F:  Bernardo?
B:  He.
F:  You come most carefully upon your hour.
B:  'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.
F:  For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.
B:  Have you had quiet guard?
F:  Not a mouse stirring.

**********
I:  My noble lord-
O:  What dost thou say, Iago?
I:  Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,
Know of your love?
O:  He did, from first to last.  Why dost thou ask?
I:  But for a satisfaction of my thought;
No further harm.
O:  Why of thy thought, Iago?
I:  I did not think he had been acquainted with her.
O:  O, yes, and went between us very oft.
I:  Indeed!
O:  Indeed! ay, indeed.  Discern't thou aught in that?
Is he not honest?
I:  Honest, my lord!
O:  Honest, ay, honest.
I:  My lord, for aught I know.

***************
O:  My lord, I have remembrances of yours,
That I have longed long to re-deliver;
I pray you, now receive them.
H:  No, not I;
I never gave you aught.
O:  My honoured lord, you know right well you did;
And, with words of so sweet breath composed
As made the things more rich.  Their perfume lost,
Take these again; for to the noble mind
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
There, my lord.
H:  Ha, ha!  Are you honest?
O:  My lord?
H:  Are you fair?
O:  What means your lordship?
H:  That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty . . .I did love you once.
O:  Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.
H:  You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it.  I loved you not.

********
C:  Charmian!
Ch:  Madam?
C:  Ha, ha!  Give me to drink mandragora!
Ch:  Why, madam?
C:  That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.
Ch:  You think of him too much.
C:  O, 'tis treason!
Ch:   Madam, I trust, not so.
C:  Did I, Charmian, ever love Caesar so?
Ch:  O that brave Caesar!
C:  Be choked with such another emphasis!
Ch:  The valiant Caesar!
C:  By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth,
If thou with Caesar paragon again
My man of men.
Ch:  By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
C:  My salad days,
When I was green in judgement, cold in blood
To say as I said then!



You need to concentrate on what the actors are talking about, what each line means, and the mood of each scene!  Do at least 3 scenes!

For those of you who are away, if you use your phone at all, take a look.

Our revels have ended . . . again!

Shakespeare always says it so well, doesn't he?  My mom always used to say that if you heard a really good quotation and you weren't sure who said it, if you guessed Shakespeare or the Bible you'd have a 50% chance of guessing correctly.  And there is some speculation that the King James version of the Bible (which is the one I grew up on) made use of the writing talents of the poets and playwrights of the time, which would include our friend, William Shakespeare.

I just wanted to congratulate you all on a terrific show.  I am so proud of each and every one of you and all your hard work and creative energy and determination.  Let's all give Janice a big pat on the back for jumping in and doing such a great job with the new role (to her) of Prudence on closing night!  Her bravery in taking on that task helped us make our last show just as fun and charming as all the others.

As you know, this play has special meaning for me because it is my baby and I love Shakespeare so much and am so grateful to him for all the joy and beauty he has brought to my life.  I was so gratified at how all of you took on your roles and acquitted yourselves so beautifully throughout the performances and it is always such fun for me to see the growth in the characters as you work through the run of the show.

We have a great history in the theatre at Steveston-London and it is always wonderful to see our "old kids" return and hear their news.  Our tradition of great theatre is set on their shoulders and continues to be carried on with pride by all of you.

It's not quite over, even though "For My Name is Will" has breathed its last (for now).  Grade 7 Fun Day is on May 17 and we will be entertaining our future freshmen with some improv in the theatre.  If you're interested in helping out, come to the theatre at lunch on Tuesday, May 9.  In addition to that, the Fine and Performing Arts Departments are planning a celebration of the arts on June 14.  If you are interested in putting something together for that, we'll discuss that on Tuesday as well.

And with that, "parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodbye till it be" . . .  Monday!  (I'm not a poet and I know it!)

For My Name is Will - journal

Everyone will be writing the same journal this week.  You had the chance to see the play produced by Steveston London's Drama Club and I hope you took advantage of the opportunity.  It is fun to see a play and this is so easy because it's right here and you don't have to pay very much!

If you weren't able to see the play, please explain why.  If you didn't, you will have to try to write about the set, with which you have lived for about a week!  You can look at a program to get an idea of what the play is about and write about that.

I hope most of you were able to see it.  If you did, these are your questions:

In two sentences, explain the plot of the play.  Which actor did the best job?  Explain why.

What did you like about it?  Explain why you liked it.  What is one suggestion for improvement?  (Remember that I worked very hard on the play, and so your comments should be sensitive to that.  I'm willing to listen to constructive criticism, but if you say the whole thing sucked and it was a complete waste of time, that will hurt my feelings.)

Describe one aspect of the production in detail.  (It can be a plot point, the costumes, lighting, music, a performance, or anything else you remember.)