Happy Summer!

Silly me; of course, it's not the last post!  If you look at the marks I've posted and you want to talk about it, I am here next week.  My office hours are Monday from 8:30 to 10:30 (and I will be here in the afternoon running the Steveston Historical Society's vignettes -- come and see them in the summer.  There's a blurb about them on the school's website), and Tuesday from 8:30 to 10:30.

Thanks to those of you who stopped in to help clean the prop room.  We made a great dint in it and I will be back at it on Monday!

Have a great weekend.  If you want to write a journal, here's a good one.  Think of an object.  Imagine how it would play a role in a scene.  (An obvious one is to choose a weapon but what if it's a wallet, or a bus pass, or a roll of duct tape, or an old locket?)  I think I'll go home and write a scene and see where it takes me.

If you want a chuckle or a way to gain insight into the world around us, check out comics by alyssa (@hialyssacomics).  I think that's how I direct you there.  They're very funny and encouraging and sweet.  Alyssa was a student here and a great actor and writer and she is trying to do a comic a day (obviously a very creative person).  I love them!

Last post of the school year!

Summer is almost upon us!  I hope you all enjoy the holidays with great gusto and come back in September all bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Here is your last journal of this school year.

Drama 9/10, Extended Studies:

Write about how the role play went for you.  How did you find playing your character?  Did your plans (that you wrote about last week) come to fruitiion?  Write about at least two interactions you had with another character.

Drama 8:

Whose show and tell speech was most memorable for you?  Explain why.

Who am I?

Grade 9/10 and Extended Studies:

Describe your character for the extended role play in one sentence.  Explain why your character is taking drama.  How do you plan to create your character?  Will you wear anything specific?  What will you do that is different from what you usually do?  Will you bring any props to school to help you make your character real to us?

Grade 8:

Aesop's Fables tells stories that teach lessons.  Which lesson do you need to learn?  Explain your answer.  (Choose one of the morals below.)

a)  Beware of the insincere friend.
b)  In dangerous times, wise men say nothing.
c)  Physician, heal thyself!
d)  Try to please everyone and you end up not pleasing anyone.
e)  If you want a task well done, do it yourself.

Remember to be ready to do your speech on June 12 or 13.

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!