Remember me? Mary Contardi?

Grade 9/10 Monologues

(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.

When you look annoyed all the time, people think you're busy.

That's a quote from Seinfeld.

Grade 9/10's:  Remember, we're going to see your Seinfeld monologues on Monday!  Make them angry and funny.

Two questions this week:

1.)  Which of the comedia del'arte plays was your favourite?  Why?  Which was your least favourite?  Why?

2.)  Which monologue have you chosen?  What is the person talking about?  (Write it in your own words.)

Extended studies:

Which of the comedia del'arte plays was your favourite?  Why?  Which was your least favourite?  Why?  Which actor's performance was the best (in your opinion)?  Explain why.

Grade 8's:

What have you chosen to speak about for "show and tell"?  What do you plan to say?  Why have you chosen the item you have?

Write about your Creation of the World performance.  What went well?  What would you have liked to improve on?

Journal for May 24 (my dad's birthday -- he would be 104!)

Grade 8:

In your own words, tell what the "Creation of the World" is about.  How would you say rehearsals are going?  Do you think anyone is leading the group?  What have they done to help move things along?  Is anyone hindering the progress of the group?  How are you trying to deal with that problem?

What do you think each person can do to make their life "worth living"?  (That's a big question, I know.)

Grade 9/10:

In comedy, is any subject "out of bounds"?  Explain your answer.  Predict how your comedia performance will go next Tuesday.  Try to give me details.

What would you do in these circumstances?
a)  someone in your group wanders off ALL THE TIME and then returns and demands a role;
b)  someone in your group bullies you (makes fun of you, orders you around, ignores your suggestions)
c)  someone in your group thinks they're funny but they're not at all
d)  someone in your group always wants the lead role

Extended studies:

Predict how each group will do when performing their comedia project.

Propose a final project for yourself!  Give a rationale that shows what you will learn from the project.

Instructions for Show and Tell

Grade 8's:  You should be preparing your "show and tell" speeches!  Practice your speech OUT LOUD and make sure you have two minutes of material!  This is very important.  It should not be more than two minutes (more is not better) and it should not be less than two minutes.

You will stand centre stage and not fidget!  You will appear to be confident.  You may use cue cards, or even have your whole speech written out, but you must make eye contact with the audience.  You must speak clearly and make sure I can hear you and understand you from the back of the theatre.  Think about communicating to the audience.  Tell them a story that features your item.  Showing the item is not enough!

You may speak about anything you like, but if it is not allowed at school, you will have to show a photo or picture of it.

You MUST not start the speech with "so" or end it with "yeah".  Think of a joke or a quotation or a question to start things out and then at the end come to a conclusion -- "this is what I learned", "this is why this thing is so important to me", "as you can see, it is important to 'look before you leap'.  Something like that.

Use something that inspires a story to tell.  Just describing the item will not engage your audience.  That's the basis of theatre - a good story.  We've talked at length about how the plot line works -- that will help you here.  If you are interested in the story, we will be, too, so choose something that inspires a good story.

This is a chance for you to demonstrate that you are a good public speaker!  Make sure you have TWO MINUTES of material.  Don't speak too fast!

Only mothers can think of the future -- because they give birth to it in their children. (Maxim Gorky)

Happy Mother's Day!

My mother was an enthusiastic, energetic, loving person and I am so blessed to have had her influence over me all my life.  She taught me so many things -- that every cloud has a silver lining, that I was worthy of love and care, that I had a responsibility to others, that what I did mattered, that the world is a beautiful, wondrous place and that we should treasure it.   She taught me to notice the songs of the birds and the amazing nature of the things around us.  She taught me to treat others the way I want to be treated.  She taught me to look forward, not back.  She taught me to think deeply about things and wonder and ask questions and feel strong.

Do something nice for your mom today.

Our revels now have ended (again) . . .

Last night was closing night of "Comedy Tonight".  The end of the spring play is always especially sad because we know that some of our merry band are not going to be with us in November or December when we present our next show.  And of course, we've been working so hard and investing so much of ourselves in the endeavour that I always find the end of any show sad.

But I must say I also feel very proud and happy of what we have accomplished.  As Sufiah says in her director's notes, it is a great thing to be able to make people laugh and tell them a story that makes them wonder or reflect on their own lives.

Here's a little bit of philosophy from a great playwright -- George Bernard Shaw -- (the one I always talk about when I show the "ghoti" trick):

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I believe that the theatre is a mighty purpose and I certainly think most of us are thoroughly worn out today and I thank you all for being forces of nature.  It is my great privilege and joy to be able to make theatre with such a great group of young artists.

Get a good rest this weekend!  Grade 7 Fun Day is next Thursday.  We have to put together a show by then.  Rehearsals at lunch and after school every day!

The Play's the Thing!

THIS JOURNAL IS FOR EVERYONE!

You had a chance to see some great theatre this week, right here at Steveston London.  Playwrights and SLSS students, Isaac Hoyland and Sufiah Azhar-Bowmar directed their own scripts in a laugh riot we called "Comedy Tonight".

Your journal is to write about what you thought of the play.  If you didn't see it, you still can!  Closing night is tonight at 7!  (If you absolutely cannot see it, you will have to write about another play you've seen.  If you have never seen a play, you should try to catch this one on Friday night.)  If you are in the play, write about the part you weren't in.

Give your journal a catchy title -- like "Strongtree Hotel Explores Human Weakness" or "Doozy for Diamonds Provides a Doozy of Laughs!"

Your first paragraph should introduce your general impression of the show.  You can discuss the format (2 one act plays with a musical intro).

The second paragraph should focus on something specific, like the plot, dialogue or one actor's performance or any particular part of the show you really liked.

You can describe things you didn't like in the third paragraph and suggest improvements or you can write about something else you liked.  (Remember, I was involved in it, so it's not a good idea to trash it completely -- it'll hurt my feelings and it's not justified, because both plays are quite good.)

Conclude with a summative comment.  (Like "overall, the show was very entertaining" or "clearly, the drama teacher in charge is completely insane!" {ha,ha})

"Comedy Tonight"

Our last play of 2018-2019 is opening on Tuesday night at 7.  It is called "Comedy Tonight" and features two one-act plays written by Sufiah Azhar-Bowmar and Isaac Hoyland.  "A Doozy for Diamonds" is Azhar-Bowmar's mystery spoof about missing diamonds and a wacky singing and dancing detective!  "Strongtree Hotel" is Hoyland's romantic comedy set in a struggling seaside hotel as its owners trying to stay financially afloat through a scheme involving a birthday party and a vlog.   Evening shows are at 7 on May 7, 8 and 10.  We are also doing a pay-what-you-can preview on Monday at 4.  Matinees are at 1:15 on May 8 and 9 -- ask your teachers to bring your class!  We still have seats available.

If you are in my A Block or D Block, you will be able to see the show on Wednesday afternoon (A) or Thursday afternoon (D).  Tickets are $5.  Bring your money before the show!  The proceeds go to the drama club to fund our next great show in November of 2019.

Journals for May 3!

Drama 8:

You are going to choose a fairy tale (or you have done already) to make a mime/tableau presentation. Which fairy tale did you (or would you) choose?  Explain why you select the fairy tale you chose.  What will your opening scene show?  What is the climax of the story?  Describe (or draw) what the tableau would look like to show the climax.  What is the "happily ever after"?  What will the actors do?

The presentation should show a small detailed mime and a large full body mime.  What will you choose for both?

Drama 9/10:

Write a brief scene which shows your group at work (like a play within a play).

What element of pop culture would you choose to make a spoof of?  Describe how you would spoof it.

Why does Ms. Kosar always pick your groups?

Extended studies:

How would you advertise for "Comedy Tonight"?  What would you do to get "bums in the seats"?  Write a blurb for the play that we could use on announcements.