The Good Doctor - notes from run

 Everyone:  Learn your lines.  Men (if you are playing a man) -- white shirts, necktie, dark pants (not jeans), dress shoes (black and not runners).

DICTION:  Don't try to talk too fast and really think about communicating to the audience (cheat to them!  do not turn your back on them), especially if you are wearing a mask.

PROJECT:  Even if you're telling a secret.

Carolyn:  when you say you might be "mad", that could be scary; that's why you say you're harmless (it means "don't worry")

Props: We need a ticket for Jenny to give Claire.

The Sneeze:  Keep it moving -- tighten it up.  The long silences kill the comedy.

Alicia:  overact and strike a dramatic pose.

Good variety in pitch, Jenny, but more whiny on "I just wanted to apologize"

Rudy:  Your last speech sounded like you were reading out loud.  It didn't sound like you were actually mad.

Governess:

Like the sidle, Angela.  Don't drop your voices.  Practice the centre-stage "hug".  It looks a bit messy.

Surgery:

"open your mouth so I can examine you" -- get closer to him

Get closer when you blow on the tooth.  Check your lines.  Both hands on face, Ethan, for masking.  We need a profile!

Too Late:

Keep projecting (timepiece, Mia)

Pause between verse and regular conversation.

Seduction:

"women" -- pronounced "wimmen"

Franc:  this week -- emphasize (this is a joke)

Spouse is pronounced SPOWSS.

Cheat to us, Franc, and don't drop your voice

We need a pocket watch for Francesco.  Anyone?

Samantha -- LOATHSOME (emphasize this)

Peter:  WITH PASSION -- Good night, my love.

Samantha:  When husband says Peter's mind is on "some woman", perk up.  Is it you?  or someone else?and panic as you realize you're falling in love with Peter.

SWEET POISON

I/we -- don't look at husband at all.  It's too risky.  He might figure out your secret.

What time?  she's plotting.

Samantha -- enter on "gentleman"

End of scene should be centre-stage.

Drowned Man:

Yuan: SALT WATER/TOWELS

face us as much as possible -- don't look at Tourist

Never drop your voice.  Dyownne -- call the cabbie at stage right stairs.

Audition:

Alicia:  Turn to us as much as possible.  You need to find a real laugh on the stuff about the story that made you laugh.  Remember, you are desperate that Director like you.  DESPERATE!!

Big speech: Alicia, find the light.  Lift up your face. Inspire the audience.  This is one of Chekhov's great plays.

Defenseless:

Ella: sister (diction)

Lavon - slow down, crisp diction.  We need to understand the words. BANK

Let's not mime the door, because we're not doing it anywhere else.

hold your heart, Lavon -- "I'm getting excited"

Don't disappear behind the desk, Ella.

women is pronounced "wimmen".

Arrangement:

Mad -- really threaten punishment.

Jet -- buckle before she says "his knees are buckling"

Find your light.  DON'T MAKE WENDY FACE UPSTAGE.  Wendy, don't let them make you face upstage -- pretend you're watching the people walk by on the street, if they go upstage of you.

Use the door when you exit.

COME TO REHEARSALS.  WE HAVE ONE WEEK LEFT.

 

 

Journals for April 28, 2023

 Drama 8:  On a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being terrific and 1 being terrible, where would you rate yourself at working in a group?  Explain your rating.  What are you good at in group work and how can you improve?  Are you a good leader?  Explain your answer.  Write about a time you worked as part of a group and what you learned from the experience.

Drama 9:  In the three Shakespeare scenes, what is happening?  What stage business have you thought of (for each scene)?  Who are you playing?  What does your character want?  What obstacles does the character face?

Senior Drama:  Describe (in detail) a scene from your favourite movie -- write it like I have done here.  One of my favourites is "On the Waterfront" directed by Elia Kazan -- the scene is in the back of a taxi.  Lights flash over the faces as the taxi drives through the city.  Two brothers -- Terry and Charlie -- are talking about Terry's boxing career and how Terry was used by Charlie to get money by betting against him -- Charlie made Terry "throw the fight" even though the fight was a great opportunity for Terry.  Charlie's nickname is Charlie the Dude because he wears nice suits -- he's dressed in an overcoat with a scarf and he's wearing a hat.  Terry works on the docks and is wearing a working man's plaid jacket.  They don't really look at each other much.  Terry is still resentful of this event and is very upset and tells Charlie he could have won the fight.  He is trying not to cry.  Charlie knows he was wrong but he is a gangster and is expected to do what the gang wants.  The scene ends with the great line -- "I could have been a somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it."  At the end of the scene, Terry finds out something that makes him see Charlie in a different light.  The actors are the great Rod Steiger and Marlon Brando and you can see it on Youtube.  It is a classic scene of cinema. 

Journals for April 21, 2023

 Drama 8:  What should Ms. Kosar know about you?  Tell me anything you think might help me work with you in Drama 8.  You might want to mention whether you have done any drama before (at elementary school, or in lessons outside school), whether you have stage fright or not (and how bad it is), whether you have performed for an audience before (in dance, music, sports, etc.) Then include anything else you would like to share.

Drama 9:  Make 2 resolutions for the second term (these should relate to drama and could be things like not using your phone, or not talking in the audience, or speaking more clearly, or staying with your group, or any of the things I nag you about in class!) Describe what you will do to be successful in keeping your resolutions.

Senior Drama:

Look carefully at the above photograph.   Describe it in detail.  If you were going to recreate this photo on stage, how would you do it?  What would the story be about?  Which people in the photo would you want your play to focus on?  What is one detail in the photo that you find intriguing?