Thursday 23 February 2017
Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream. (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
You get a day off, so take John Lennon's advice, if not literally (I don't know how many of you live by a stream), metaphorically. It is important to be able to take some time to decompress and take it easy. I will be at the district conference, and I hope, afterward, to pop in to Aberdeen Mall, to see how we will set ourselves up next Friday.
Speaking of which, if you are coming to the mall on Friday, pick up a permission slip for your parents to sign and get your C and D Block teachers to sign it, too. Look around at home and see if you have anything that your character might wear, and also storm trooper gear or Jedi gear.
Also, don't forget that it is Cupcake Day on Monday -- we will give people cupcakes in exchange for donations for the SPCA. If you want to help, just make some cupcakes on the weekend and bring them to the theatre before lunch on Monday. We will be offering them at the theatre doors on Monday at lunch and will give all the proceeds to the SPCA.
No journals this week, because no Friday!
Speaking of which, if you are coming to the mall on Friday, pick up a permission slip for your parents to sign and get your C and D Block teachers to sign it, too. Look around at home and see if you have anything that your character might wear, and also storm trooper gear or Jedi gear.
Also, don't forget that it is Cupcake Day on Monday -- we will give people cupcakes in exchange for donations for the SPCA. If you want to help, just make some cupcakes on the weekend and bring them to the theatre before lunch on Monday. We will be offering them at the theatre doors on Monday at lunch and will give all the proceeds to the SPCA.
No journals this week, because no Friday!
Wednesday 22 February 2017
Whirlwinds of activity
Drama Club: Remember! We're producing cupcakes for donations on Monday to help the SPCA on National Cupcake Day.
Actors in Scenes 6 and 8 -- members of Goodshow's company -- we are performing at Aberdeen Mall on Friday, March 3.
Drama 8: Instructions for the Fairy Tale Mime.
You will mime the whole story and include 3 tableaus -- one at the intro, one at the climax and then one at the end.
You need music (instrumental) throughout the entire performance.
You will be able to have costumes and furniture, but NO PROPS! It's a mime.
We will try to perform on Tuesday.
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production11/12
Final Love Plays:
We are going to create collage scenes (this is called "play building"). The plays are not linear, but rather a series of scenes connected by a theme, in this case, love. I would like you to use a metaphor as a connecting device as well.
You must include:
(at least one of the following)
1 joke
1 quote
1 tableau
1 mime
1 scene of dialogue
1 piece of music in which the actors sing or dance or both
clear and efficient transitions between scenes, using sound and light
at least one set change
Actors in Scenes 6 and 8 -- members of Goodshow's company -- we are performing at Aberdeen Mall on Friday, March 3.
Drama 8: Instructions for the Fairy Tale Mime.
You will mime the whole story and include 3 tableaus -- one at the intro, one at the climax and then one at the end.
You need music (instrumental) throughout the entire performance.
You will be able to have costumes and furniture, but NO PROPS! It's a mime.
We will try to perform on Tuesday.
Drama 9/10, Theatre Production11/12
Final Love Plays:
We are going to create collage scenes (this is called "play building"). The plays are not linear, but rather a series of scenes connected by a theme, in this case, love. I would like you to use a metaphor as a connecting device as well.
You must include:
(at least one of the following)
1 joke
1 quote
1 tableau
1 mime
1 scene of dialogue
1 piece of music in which the actors sing or dance or both
clear and efficient transitions between scenes, using sound and light
at least one set change
Thursday 16 February 2017
A picture is worth a thousand words!
Grade 8's! Remember you will recite on Monday and Tuesday! Be ready!
Journals:
Ms. Kosar is going to show you a series of photographs that are part of the 100 most influential photographs in the world (as chosen by Time magazine). Here is the link if you want to look at the other photographs: http://100photos.time.com. I have chosen "Tank Man", "Muhammed Ali vs. Sonny Liston", and "Grief". There are lots of other great photos though, that capture terrible moments in the history of the world, or whimsical moments, or shocking ones, or inspiring ones. It can help if you know the background of the photo, but that isn't absolutely necessary.
You are to choose the photo that moves you the most and write about why you chose it. Then think about what we know about tableaus and write about whether this photograph fulfills the requirements of a tableau.
If you want to choose a different photo, go ahead, but explain why you chose it.
Journals:
Ms. Kosar is going to show you a series of photographs that are part of the 100 most influential photographs in the world (as chosen by Time magazine). Here is the link if you want to look at the other photographs: http://100photos.time.com. I have chosen "Tank Man", "Muhammed Ali vs. Sonny Liston", and "Grief". There are lots of other great photos though, that capture terrible moments in the history of the world, or whimsical moments, or shocking ones, or inspiring ones. It can help if you know the background of the photo, but that isn't absolutely necessary.
You are to choose the photo that moves you the most and write about why you chose it. Then think about what we know about tableaus and write about whether this photograph fulfills the requirements of a tableau.
If you want to choose a different photo, go ahead, but explain why you chose it.
Monday 13 February 2017
Do you spend time with your family? Good. Because a man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man. (Marlon Brando)
Most of you know that Marlon Brando is my all time favourite actor. I don't think he was particularly smart, but he was very sensitive and he created some performances that are so extraordinary that you have to admire him, if not for his intelligence, for his openness and creativity and willingness to let his sensitivity help the rest of us to see. I think that's what artists do -- help the rest of us to see. I watched some of the Grammy awards last night and although I am not fond of awards shows, I did find some of it quite inspiring. My favourite part was A Tribe Called Quest with Busta Rhymes and Anderson .Paak. They sang "We the People" as they burst through a brick wall with "no ban, no wall" and passport photos on it and Busta Rhymes called Donald Trump "President Agent Orange" and they had people from groups that have been targeted by the White House come on stage and at the end, they raised their fists in defiance and called out "resist!" It was magnificent. I am not an abiding fan of rap music, but there is certainly a place for the energetic rage that really great rap expresses. I felt inspired and encouraged by the powerful message and their performance.
And here in BC, we are celebrating Family Day. We are going to see "Hidden Figures" about a group of black female mathematicians who worked at NASA -- my sister said it was terrific and I hope it will be inspiring -- in a different way than Busta Rhymes, but not completely different! There aren't enough movies about women and especially black women and this sounds like a movie without a lot of the stuff that my kids see most in movies -- explosions, big brawls, snide humour. There are other stories to be told and they can be exciting (in my opinion, more exciting) than the traditional super hero fare that seems to be served up to big audiences these days. We'll see.
I did want to post this picture of the Swan Theatre (drawn by Johannes de Witt during Shakespeare's time in London theatre). Theatre Production people -- this is a drawing that has survived because it shows us what Shakespeare's own theatre might have been like. Draw our theatre and think about how it could be used for a Valentine's Day extravaganza (which we've been exploring in class so far).
And here in BC, we are celebrating Family Day. We are going to see "Hidden Figures" about a group of black female mathematicians who worked at NASA -- my sister said it was terrific and I hope it will be inspiring -- in a different way than Busta Rhymes, but not completely different! There aren't enough movies about women and especially black women and this sounds like a movie without a lot of the stuff that my kids see most in movies -- explosions, big brawls, snide humour. There are other stories to be told and they can be exciting (in my opinion, more exciting) than the traditional super hero fare that seems to be served up to big audiences these days. We'll see.
I did want to post this picture of the Swan Theatre (drawn by Johannes de Witt during Shakespeare's time in London theatre). Theatre Production people -- this is a drawing that has survived because it shows us what Shakespeare's own theatre might have been like. Draw our theatre and think about how it could be used for a Valentine's Day extravaganza (which we've been exploring in class so far).
Friday 10 February 2017
A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.
That was one of our quotes from our proposed Valentine extravaganza! Here are your journals for the week:
Drama 8: Do you like working in groups? Explain why or why not. What qualities do you have that make you good at working in a group? How can you improve? Are you a good leader? Explain why or why not. Write about a time when you worked in a group and what you learned from the experience.
Drama 9/10: This is a famous quote from an old movie. "Love means never having to say you're sorry". What does it mean? Do you agree? Write a brief scene which explores this idea. (Less than a page.)
Theatre production 11/12:
Make sure you answer all the questions in the journal!
Describe or draw (or both!) a costume you would design for the following characters:
(a) a five year old bully;
(b) a five year old femme fatale;
(c) a mean teacher (female);
(d) a kind teacher (male);
(e) a five year old "player"
Drama 8: Do you like working in groups? Explain why or why not. What qualities do you have that make you good at working in a group? How can you improve? Are you a good leader? Explain why or why not. Write about a time when you worked in a group and what you learned from the experience.
Drama 9/10: This is a famous quote from an old movie. "Love means never having to say you're sorry". What does it mean? Do you agree? Write a brief scene which explores this idea. (Less than a page.)
Theatre production 11/12:
Make sure you answer all the questions in the journal!
Describe or draw (or both!) a costume you would design for the following characters:
(a) a five year old bully;
(b) a five year old femme fatale;
(c) a mean teacher (female);
(d) a kind teacher (male);
(e) a five year old "player"
Saturday 4 February 2017
May you live in interesting times!
This is an English translation of a Chinese proverb which apparently translates as "Better to be a dog in a peaceful time than a human in a chaotic time." I think "chaotic time" could describe the situation the world finds itself in these days. The new president is busy signing his "lie detector" signature to a variety of different executive orders (have you seen his signature? his name isn't very long but his signature is huge and looks like the output of a lie detector machine -- all big lines and points) that have seemingly just occurred to him at the moment -- he doesn't appear to be asking anyone in government if the thing is going to work or how it's going to be accomplished.
Like many people, I'm worried about where this is going to take all of us. The United States has a lot of power and many countries depend on their economic relationship to it but I am thinking perhaps we, here in Canada, should think about building a wall along our border and seeing if the Americans would pay for it. (Just a joke -- I don't think walls are a good idea, although Robert Frost would tell us that "good fences make good neighbours" -- read the poem -- it's lovely.)
In order to keep up with all these interesting developments, I have taken out an online subscription to the New York Times and a paper subscription to the weekly Guardian newspaper (I can't wait to get my first copy!) And last night, while it was snowing so vigorously, I just sat in front of CNN and watched Don Lemon shake his head and Anderson Cooper squint (I think he does that when he's really trying to get his head around something complicated).
I also watched "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" which is a terrific little movie about two old sisters who have a very dysfunctional relationship. Bette Davis (one of my heroes) plays Baby Jane and she is terrific (as she always is). My fourteen year old son got interested in it against his will and, when Jane is saying "he hates me" after she terrifies the pianist that she thought was going to be her boyfriend (he wasn't -- she was just fooling herself), he said, "that's really sad". It is really sad, but of course, Jane is an awful person, too, and you can't feel completely sorry for her. Rickie and I always quote that line that Jane says to Blanche, "But y'are, Blanche, y'rare", meaning that when you wish you weren't stuck in a certain situation, you might well be actually stuck. And of course, "we all are" when it comes to these interesting times.
Like many people, I'm worried about where this is going to take all of us. The United States has a lot of power and many countries depend on their economic relationship to it but I am thinking perhaps we, here in Canada, should think about building a wall along our border and seeing if the Americans would pay for it. (Just a joke -- I don't think walls are a good idea, although Robert Frost would tell us that "good fences make good neighbours" -- read the poem -- it's lovely.)
In order to keep up with all these interesting developments, I have taken out an online subscription to the New York Times and a paper subscription to the weekly Guardian newspaper (I can't wait to get my first copy!) And last night, while it was snowing so vigorously, I just sat in front of CNN and watched Don Lemon shake his head and Anderson Cooper squint (I think he does that when he's really trying to get his head around something complicated).
I also watched "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" which is a terrific little movie about two old sisters who have a very dysfunctional relationship. Bette Davis (one of my heroes) plays Baby Jane and she is terrific (as she always is). My fourteen year old son got interested in it against his will and, when Jane is saying "he hates me" after she terrifies the pianist that she thought was going to be her boyfriend (he wasn't -- she was just fooling herself), he said, "that's really sad". It is really sad, but of course, Jane is an awful person, too, and you can't feel completely sorry for her. Rickie and I always quote that line that Jane says to Blanche, "But y'are, Blanche, y'rare", meaning that when you wish you weren't stuck in a certain situation, you might well be actually stuck. And of course, "we all are" when it comes to these interesting times.
Thursday 2 February 2017
I carry your heart with me
This is the ee cummings poem for Drama 9/10
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
Day Two: “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my
heart)I am never without it (anywhere
I go you
go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling)
I fear no
fate (for you are my fate,my sweet)I want no world (for beautiful you are my
world,my true)
and it's you
are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the
deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the
root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called
life; which grows
higher than
the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is
the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
"They say we're young, and we don't know; we won't find out until we grow!"
That's the song that wakes Bill Murray up everyday in the movie, "Groundhog Day". It is such a fun movie and Bill Murray is such a terrific actor and there are great performances by so many character actors (like Chris Elliot, Steven Tobolowsky, Robin Duke, Brian Doyle-Murray and Les Powdewell as the homeless man) and the concept is really interesting and I advise you to see it, if you haven't done so. This weekend it's supposed to snow and that's a good reason to watch it -- Punksatawney looks so lovely in the snow.
On the topic of Groundhog Day, why doesn't BC have its own groundhog? We can hardly expect Wiarton Willie or Shubenacadie Sam to predict our weather when they live so far away. Let's see if we can get our own rodent for next Groundhog Day (I don't mean that we should go out and trap a groundhog for Steveston-London, of course -- I just mean that BC should have a groundhog who can predict our weather)!
Grade 8's: Here is the piece of Shakespeare to memorize for vocal warmups and reciting!
All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.
If you say it out loud every day, you'll know it without even seeming to try!
Your journal this week is the following:
What should Ms. Kosar know about you? You can include past drama experience (if you have any), whether you have stage fright or not, whether you have any experience performing (that could be in ways other than theatre -- like music or gymnastics or sports or anything else you can think of), your expectations for the course -- whatever you think it would be worthwhile for me to know in order to teach you! The journal should be about half a page and I appreciate if you can try to write clearly and with a fairly dark pen or pencil as my eyes are not as young as they once were!
Drama 9/10: Write about something you've seen (movie, play, tv show, etc., that has a romantic aspect. How does it play? (Is it believable? Why or why not?) Describe how the actor in the presentation you named demonstrates love. Could you do a performance like that? Explain why or why not.
Theatre Production: What is a favourite song of yours (or favourite piece of music)? Why do you like it (Don't just say "because I do" -- think of why you like it and don't like other pieces of music)? What mood does it evoke? Do you think music has an intrinsic message?
On the topic of Groundhog Day, why doesn't BC have its own groundhog? We can hardly expect Wiarton Willie or Shubenacadie Sam to predict our weather when they live so far away. Let's see if we can get our own rodent for next Groundhog Day (I don't mean that we should go out and trap a groundhog for Steveston-London, of course -- I just mean that BC should have a groundhog who can predict our weather)!
Grade 8's: Here is the piece of Shakespeare to memorize for vocal warmups and reciting!
All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.
If you say it out loud every day, you'll know it without even seeming to try!
Your journal this week is the following:
What should Ms. Kosar know about you? You can include past drama experience (if you have any), whether you have stage fright or not, whether you have any experience performing (that could be in ways other than theatre -- like music or gymnastics or sports or anything else you can think of), your expectations for the course -- whatever you think it would be worthwhile for me to know in order to teach you! The journal should be about half a page and I appreciate if you can try to write clearly and with a fairly dark pen or pencil as my eyes are not as young as they once were!
Drama 9/10: Write about something you've seen (movie, play, tv show, etc., that has a romantic aspect. How does it play? (Is it believable? Why or why not?) Describe how the actor in the presentation you named demonstrates love. Could you do a performance like that? Explain why or why not.
Theatre Production: What is a favourite song of yours (or favourite piece of music)? Why do you like it (Don't just say "because I do" -- think of why you like it and don't like other pieces of music)? What mood does it evoke? Do you think music has an intrinsic message?
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