Cardboard Stoves for Dummies!

This week (4th-6th Jan) was a short week, returned back to school on the Wednesday (4th Jan 2012!!!!!!) and so we were met with a double lesson. We spent the majority of the lesson talking about set. Where it would go, how we could make the set less modern, working around the stove problem as well as having to literally cut the set in half.

We had a clear view of how the set was laid out from the drawing in my book however replicating it was more difficult. Wednesday, we had to use stand in furniture as we were not prepared and so we made a 'template' of the set, we had huge problems with figuring out what to do with the central focus stove piece, it was either make a cardboard one which frankly no one wanted to do or scrap it....We scrapped it. We then worked from there. We ran out of time for a full run-through of our piece so that is all we pretty much achieved Wednesday. Wednesday we also had around 1hr talk about an essay we shall soon write because you can't have this much fun for free can you? I'm fine with writing the essay, it is getting the needed information in it which worries me but after Mr Fearnehough talked us through the top 8 or so Stan the Man system aspects I do feel less worried now.

Friday, we got to work by fully setting the scene, we got the right chairs, a sofa, an x-mas tree, presents and some table (library was a major help). Sure there was the odd hitch with the sofa but we got it in in the end. We then proceeded to perform our extract to each other. Georgia and Richard #2 went first, they started out strong but seemed to loose it by the end. As Spencer mentioned in his post we noticed that he was from time to time chewing his words and mumbling making what he was saying incomprehensible, there was also a matter of other points but ones easily changed.

Maria and I then performed our piece, feedback seemed somewhat positive. Naturally, no piece is perfect, there was the odd awkward movement and forgetting of line but we were working with a new set so there was always going to be problems. When we have costumes I feel things shall improve.

So yeah, this past half week has shown us the value of set. From panto I know how useful it is for an actor to have the stage and set all there as it brings in further actions and naturally adds that dimension and believability to the performance.

EDIT: I just read Chapter 2: The Russian Revolution from Great Acting Teachers. Mr Fearnehough said it would be an easy read and naturally like usual I was pretty cynical of this since is was a blooming big pack of around 40 pages!!!!!! Guess what? Just read it all in one sitting, it is extremely well written and really easy to understand and cleared some things up for me. Naturally, I ran out of ink for my highlighter due to the amount of info in there. It was very very good!

Richard #1


Also Happy New Year Guys!
2012 for the Year 12!