Ch 5

A shot from the final tech rehearsal of BCTC's production of "A FEW GOOD MEN".

There are four "primary" staging alternatives in modern theatre

They are:

 

1) Prosecenium- Most common format- the auddience sits on one side facing the stage, and the proscenium "arch" frames the action (also sometimes know as the "picture frame stage".

 

2) Thrust- A more "actor-centered" space- audience is on three sides (also called 3/4 staging) . In most cases , there are "no bad seats" in the house.

 

3) Arena- also known as "theatre in the round" , as the audience surrounds the action on all four sides. Most traditional scenery must be dispensed with.

 

4) Black Box- a very flexible space, where the seating is mobile and can be configured in a variety of format. Most often, these are smaller, more intimate spaces.

 

AREAS OF DESIGN-

 

SCENERY

 

Generally, the first area of design we think of (and usually the most expensive), yet it is a relatively new area of design. The first great period of scenic design didn't come until theatre moved into indoor, artificially illuminated spaces. This allowed designers to create more realistic illusions and extravagant visual effects.

 

Two broad categories of "sets"-

 

1) Realistic - generally known as the "box set"- it looks like whatever it is supposed to represent.

 

2) Metaphoric / abstract- tends to be more conceptual / less literal. These are sometimes refer ed to as "unit sets", in that they are usually a series of different leveled platforms that can be used to simulate a variety of locations.

SCENIC MATERIALS;

 

3 Traditional Media (materials) of scenic design are:

 

1) wood

 

2) paint

 

3) canvas

 

With these, we build the three "building blocks" of scenic design:

 

1) FLATS- wooden frames covered in canvas or some hard surface (like Masonite) which are used to indicate walls, windows and doorways.

 

2) PLATFORMS- Serves the all important function of creating levels for the actors to work on.

 

3) DRAPERY- Used to neutralize the space ( hide the backstage area, mask the lighting and electrical equipment, and sometimes they are used to create entrances and exits.

 

LIGHTING:

 

Lighting, while a crucial area of design, is an even newer area than scenic design. For it wasn't until the advent of gaslight (mid 19th century) that we began to see this area of design come into it's own. What gaslight allowed was the ability to control the "intensity" of the light (how dim or bright it was). This opened up whole new worlds in theatrical design, which were taken even further with the advent of the electric light.

 

FIVE CONTROLLABLE QUALITIES OF LIGHT:

 

These are the "tools" that allow lighting designers to do their work. These are the five elements of light that we are able to control, thus the ability to create a lighting design.

 

1) Intensity

 

2) Color- we do this by using thin sheets of plastic called "gels" which are placed over the front of the lighting instrument, thus changing the hue of the light.

 

3) Shape- certain instruments have "shutters" on the sides which allow us to change the actual shape of the shaft of light.

 

4) Direction- We can aim the light in any area we choose.

 

5) Movement- certain instruments (like the Follow spot) are meant to be "mobile", or used in motion.

 

The three primary functions of lighting design:

 

1) VISIBILITY- FIRST AND FOREMOST. The most important aspect of lighting design. For if it can't be "seen", then what good is it?

 

2) PLAUSIBILITY- Making sense of the surroundings. If the show takes place outdoors, on a pier, in the late evening, then the lighting design needs to simulate that environment.

 

3) COMPOSITION- The lighting design often times "ties together" all the other elements of design, thus making them come to life.

 

COSTUMES:

 

Modern costuming came into it's own in the late 18th / early 19th century, when the desire for realism took hold in the world of Theatre. Before that, most costumes were little more than "dressing up".

 

4 primary functions of costuming:

 

1) Ceremonial "magic" - In keeping with the ancient traditions from which Theatre sprang.

 

2) Illuminate the "world of the play" / establish time and place

 

3) Express individuality of character/ "status" (Is this a King or a servant?)

 

4) "Wear-ability"- needs to be functional for the actor. Just because it looks pretty, it may not be right for the actor or the demands of the scene.

 

* You will not be responsible for MAKEUP design.

 

 

QUESTION- Which area of design do you feel is most essential to your personal enjoyment of a play?

Ch 3



Katy Lyster from BCTC's Fall 2012 production of SCRAMBLED.

 The first known actor was a Greek named THESPIS, form which we get the term THESPIAN.




* Cohen refers to acting as the most "bewildering profession known to man".

The reasons for this are many, but the text mentions:

a) Fear - fear of failure, of forgetting lines, of losing emotional control, of losing your looks, of losing your audience, etc. This is commonly known as STAGE FRIGHT, and it can beset an actor at any time in their career!

b) Uncertainty- Where is the next job and / or paycheck coming from? Actors must deal with a great deal of rejection, and there is little (if any) job security to speak of. This is true even at the highest level. (How many times have you seen an actor in a TV show or film and NEVER seen them work again?)



Two notions of acting:



-EXTERNAL: outward,physical and technical form of acting. Involves what is called MIMESIS, which simply put is creating the physical side of the character (voice, movement, etc)

- INTERNAL: The actor creates the character from the inside, concentrating on the emotional and intellectual side of the character. Also known as "EMBODIMENT"



In order to create a true, full character, the actor must JOIN these two processes, thus creating a believable and life-like character.



* Virtuosity- Refers to a "superb set of skills".To achieve greatness in acting, one must exhibit this.



* MAGIC- Presence, charisma, charm...whatever you call it, the actor MUST have this to have a truly successful career. The unfortunate thing here is that all the training in the world will NOT give you this! You can train to create a superb set of skills, but you either have stage presence or you don't! (However, one's confidence does have a great deal to do with this)



THE ACTOR'S INSTRUMENT



Physical instrument:

Voice

Body (movement)



These are your primary tools as an actor and you must care for and maintain them as you would any other form of instrument.



Psychological Instrument:

Imagination - A must for any creative artist. This must work on a variety of levels. You have to make the art real to the audience, but in order to do this, it must be real to YOU. If YOU don't believe in what you're doing HOW will an audience? (* this is one reason why children are sometimes the greatest actors of all- they haven't yet "lost" their creative imagination!)



Discipline- Possibly the greatest tool at an actor's disposal. You must be disciplined to work in a creative ensemble as part of a team, and the professional actor must lead a vigorous and demanding life, thus they must prepare themselves for a tough, demanding journey. Many are the "great actors" who have no discipline, thus they never enjoy strong careers. It takes hard work and sacrifice to be a professional actor, and it is not for the weak!



THE ACTOR'S ROUTINE:

The actor's professional routine exists in three stages:



1) The audition- The process by which acting roles are rewarded. There are three basic types:

a) Prepared- where the actor must prepare a short piece called a "monologue" and perform it for his casting directors.

b) cold reading- the actor reads directly from the script he/she is auditioning for, alone or in pairs/groups.

c) musical/dance- where the actor prepares a short song, and learns a simple dance routine to be performed at the audition, usually in a small group.



2) The Rehearsal

* Standard is 3-5 weeks, sometimes longer/ sometimes very abbreviated, depending on the type of show and the time allotted.

* A time to memorize:

-lines

-blocking (stage movement- example/ I cross from one side of the stage to the other and sit)

-business (small, directed stage actions/ example- after I sit, I begin to clean my glasses)

* It is a time for experimentation and discovery. The actor should feel free to explore and to work in concert with the director and the other actors to create the best possible production.



3) The production- What Theatre is really all about- the endgame. The audience is the "final ingredient" for the production, and can help take the actor's performance to it's full potential.



FOR DISCUSSION-

a) What are some factors that can make an actor's life challenging and difficult?

b) If the profession is as "bewildering" as Mr Cohen suggests, WHY do so many people want to do it?

Discuss!

Ch 4- THE PLAYWRIGHT

The late August Wilson, one of the greatest playwrights of the last 100 years.

PLAYWRIGHT-

The text tells us that the playwright is " the most central, yet the most peripheral figure in the theatrical event". We START with the playwright's words- it is our "point of origin", yet most playwrights are not involved with individual productions. Thus, the playwright is essentially an independent artist, whose work is primarily done in isolation.



* The correct spelling of the word is PLAYWRIGHT. Some spell the word playwrite- this means "one who writes plays". The correct PLAYWRIGHT spelling means "one who MAKE plays".



* The core of ever play is ACTION! The structure is not a series of abstract observations, but an "ordering of observable, dramatizable events."



* The playwright works with two tools:



a) dialogue



b) physical action



* Events in a play can be either "linear" (they take place in chronological order) or "non-linear" (random ordering).



THE QUALITIES OF A FINE PLAY



These are some of the qualities that make up a good play.



* Credibility and Intrigue- Credibility has to do with internal consistency and intrigue is the quality that makes us curious to see "what happens next"



* Speakability, stageability and flow- Speakability refers to dialogue that resembles real or ordinary speech. Stageability requires that dialogue be written so that it can be spoken effectively on the stage, and flow requires a continual stream of information- a play that is continually MOVING toward some kind of ending.



* Richness- Depth, subtlety, quality, wholeness, etc...we want our plays to have depth and quality.



*Depth of characterization- Some playwrights write all their characters speaking in the "same voice". We want a variety of characters, with their own independent identities and manner of expression.



* Gravity and Pertinence- Gravity refers to the central theme being serious and of lasting significance. Pertinence refers to a plays ability to be relevant to the times.



* Compression, economy and intensity- Compression refers to the playwright's ability to condense the story, economy refers to the author's skill in consolidating characters and events, and intensity refers to the quality of making the audience feel that they are witnessing something unique and important.



*Celebration- A play should celebrate life, not merely depict it or criticize.



* Make sure and look over CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS section (starting on 100) and pay close attention to Miller, Simon, Albee,L. Wilson, Shepard, A.Wilson, Mamet, Vogel and Parks.

Discussion Question-



What characteristics do YOU look for in a play as an audience member? Focus on the script more than performance aspects (acting, scenery, etc) If you haven't attended many plays, you can discuss the same thing in reference to film

Ch 2

WHAT IS A PLAY?

AGL's HOLIDAY MEMORIES, directed by Moi.

A play is defined in you text as "action, not just words in a book". That action presents itself in many forms: argument, struggle, persuasion, passion, seduction, etc...



BUT it is most always centered around CONFLICT! Without a conflict, or a problem to be solved, there is no play!





We classify plays in one of two broad categories:





a) Duration (how long?) There are three sub-categories:



1- One act - a short play that is an hour or less (sometimes as short as ten minutes). These short pieces are often combined to produce a full evening of theatre.



2- Full- length- These are divided into at least two ACTS, and last anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours (usually falling in the 2 hr range). MOST of the shows you will see, or have seen, will fall into this category.



3- Marathon- Exactly as the name implies. LONG shows, ranging anywhere from three to nine hours in length. AS you could imagine, these are not terribly fashionable or popular in the United States. But in some areas of the world, they are the norm.



b) Genre (TYPE or KIND)- There are many genres out there, including:



1) Tragedy- Where it all started with the Greeks. Certain elements make a tragedy a "Tragedy" (according to Aristotle, in his essay THE POETICS) such as:



* Protagonist / Antagonist relationship- the protagonist "propels" the action of the play, and the antagonist opposes the action. This is NOT as simple as good guy/bad guy. Often times in true Tragedy, the protagonist is a fatally flawed character, and the Antagonist is (in most cases) not even human, but a force of nature, or a God. Something, in other words, that cannot be defeated!



* All main characters must be nobility of some sort (Princes, Kings, etc...)



* The ending is always tragic BUT, despite belief to the contrary, the protagonist does NOT always die in the end. The classic Tragedy OEDIPUS REX is a prime example, as Oedipus does not die (until the next play in the cycle, at any rate).





2) Comedy- Another cornerstone of theatrical genre. The main (obvious) difference is that comedy ends HAPPILY. An important element in all comedy, from the Greeks to today, is TRUTH. All good comedy must be rooted in what is believable and real, as often times we are laughing at something because we recognize that truth.





3) History Plays- A historical piece based (at least partially) in fact. Shakespeare is often credited as the originator of this genre, with plays like RICHARD III, and all the HENRY plays. Some modern examples might include THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and THE LARAMIE PROJECT.





4) Dark Comedy- Very simply, comedy that doesn't end all nice and tidy, but has a dark or unresolved ending. The humor itself is dark and pokes fun at things we often might not laugh at. If you've ever watched a show and asked yourself "Should I REALLY be laughing at this?" , it' s a good bet you're watching a dark comedy.





5) Farce- A wildly hilarious treatment of a trivial theme. Often with "stock characters" (characters that are very cliched) and stock situations (such as "misheard instructions" mistaken identity, illicit infatuation, etc...) A forerunner of what we might also call "slapstick comedy", as it is usually very physical.





6) Melodrama- Plays that are outwardly serious, but actually very surface and trivial. Highly suspenseful and contrived plot, with very clear distinctions between good and evil. Sounds like SOAP OPERAS? Good- cause the soaps are a perfect modern example of melodrama.





7) Musicals- The ONLY genre originated in America. Probably the most popular, lucrative genre for over the last fifty years. Commercial Theatre at the highest level is FILLED with musical theatre, and it's a good bet most of you have seen at least one in your life.



STRUCTURE:



Aristotle (him again!) described the components of a play as follows:



* Plot- The "mechanics" of storytelling. What happens from point a, to point b, to point c. Usually the way one describes a play or film when asked to describe it.



* Characters- The people who inhabit the world of the play. *NOTE- These characters do not always have to be "living" or "Seen". As an example, in August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON, a recurring "character" is the ghost of a dead man named James Sutter, who we never see. However, Sutter's "presence" is very much a character in the show, and has a great bearing on the outcome.



* Theme- What the show is truly about. The "main idea" of the piece. It's topic or "overall statement". An example might be that the main theme of Shakespeare's HAMLET is that "revenge leads to madness and ultimately, death".



* Diction- The pronunciation of spoken dialogue. The text, and the tone, cadence and imagery involved therein. The poetry of the language. The diction is by NO MEANS the creation of the playwright alone. It is very much the product of the actor as well, and what that actor brings to the language with their vocal quality and depth of performance.



* Music- In Aristotle's time, most plays were sung or chanted, hence the words all had a lyrical musicality to them. Today, music can play a direct role (as in the use of actual music in Musical Theatre, or other real music used in the context of a non-musical play) and an indirect role (the rhythm of the sounds, the background ambiance of a play. Crickets in the night, waves crashing on the beach, the sounds of a city at night, etc.



* Spectacle- All visual aspects of a performance. Today, spectacle is very important to most big budget, commercial Theatre. It involves the pageantry of the costumes, the grandeur of the scenery, the lustre of the lighting design, etc...





One final component-



This is one that has evolved over time and that had NOTHING to do with Aristotle. It is called CONVENTION. Basically, this is a set of understandings between the actors and the audience that has developed over a period of years. Examples:



* When the lights go down in the house, you know that the play is about to begin. That's Convention!

* If the lights go down onstage after a scene, and when they come back up, everything looks different, you know that time has passed. THIS is convention.

THE ORDER OF A PLAY:

A play has a temporal (time) structure. It occurs in three phases:

THE PRE-PLAY

* Gathering of the audience- How do we get folks in the theatre? Primarily, this is through various PR and publicity avenues. (Newspapers, TV, internet/viral marketing) If you don't get "butts in the seats", then the work of the Theatre is all for naught!

* The Transition- Transforming yourself from an individual in the every-day world, into an audience member who is going to immerse him or herself into the "world of the play". Certain things like lobby displays, pre-show music and our program aid us in this venture.

THE PLAY PROPER:

SEE THE TEXT FOR THE STRUCTURED SEQUENCE- Pages 50-55

THE POST PLAY-

* The curtain call- The actor's bow (OUT OF CHARACTER! or at least they should be. This is to show appreciation to the ACTOR, not the character) and the audience applauds (hopefully!). It is not just for the actors to receive recognition, but for the actors to give respect to their audience as well.

* Criticism- Discussion or dissemination of the production that has just taken place before you. This can be in small groups over coffee, a critic writing a review for a paper, OR a student writing a paper! (hint hint!)

DISCUSSION FOR CHAPTER TWO-

Of all the genres discussed, which is your favorite and why? AND give some examples of plays (or films, for those of you who haven't ventured into the Theatre too often) within that genre that are your favorites.

Have at it!

Question for Ettiquette blog

Question- Describe an instance where you, as an audience member at a live production, broke one of these ettiquette rules (listed in the post below) OR some other violation that effected your enjoyment of the production. IF you haven't been to that many live productions recently, you may use a movie audience as your example.

-Tim

PS- sorry about the seperate blog posts. Blogspot is doin' some weird stuff of late!

Ettiquette

THEATRE ETIQUETTE-


Working, the Musical- BCTC Summer 2007



(at left, a shot of BCTC's summer production of WORKING the musical)

When a person goes to the Theatre, it is a different experience than, say, going to a movie or a sporting event. One isn't just a PASSIVE participant, but an active one. However, there are some guidelines that should be followed that those who don't often frequent the Theatre might not know. Here is a list of some items we might file under "Theatre Etiquette". Please note that these guidelines are NOT to suggest that Theatre is some stiff, upper-crust experience and that one must behave like a church mouse. Quite the contrary. But, in order for the LIVE theatre experience to unfold as it should, and to ensure that both audience and actors alike have a pleasing experience, these guidelines are good ones to follow.

1) ARRIVE EARLY- Always arrive at the theatre at least 15 minutes prior to the performance. This way, if the event is general admission seating (as many performances are) you can choose a good seat and don't get stuck with a bad view or behind the guy wearing the huge hat and the lady wearing ten pounds of perfume!

Also, coming in early allows you to enter the "world of the play" (which will be discussed in a future chapter of the text) by hearing pre-show music ,seeing the scenery, and having a bit of time to read your program.

Many theatres also will not allow you to enter once a performance is in progress, so always allow yourself enough time to make it.



2) TURN OFF YOU CELL PHONES!- This is a big one! You know how annoying it is to hear cell phones ringing in a movie? TWICE as bad in the theatre, as it not only throws the audience, but potentially interferes with the work of the performers. Turn them off, or at the very least, silence them.



3) NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEO TAPING- Should be self explanatory. Flash photography is a MAJOR distraction to both audience and performers alike, AND can be potentially dangerous to the performer (imagine momentarily blinding them and having them walk into a wall or off the stage! It can happen...)

Video taping is generally not allowed due to copyright laws, and it to can be terribly distracting for other audience members.



4) BRING CHILDREN TO AGE APPROPRIATE SHOWS ONLY- This one may be more of a personal issue, but age appropriate doesn't only refer to language and situations. How about LENGTH?very many five year olds who can sit still for two hour? Not me. There is PLENTY of great theatre for kids out there. Don't bore them to death with adult themes they can't yet comprehend. MANY is the adult who claims to hate theatre because he or she was drug to a three hour Shakespeare play when they were in the second grade. If it isn't appropriate for the kids, leave them at home. If you're not sure, call the theatre, and in most cases one of the staff can give you their opinion on age appropriateness.



5) DON'T LEAVE THE THEATRE IN MID-PERFORMANCE (unless absolutely necessary)- Most plays are divided into two acts, separated by a ten to fifteen minute intermission. Use this time to call home, take a bathroom break or stretch your legs.



6) TRY NOT TO TALK EXCESSIVELY - Sometimes you may want to discuss the show with a friend, but try to wait till intermission or AFTER the show to do this. Theatre is much more about LISTENING than seeing, and if you can't hear cause the guy next to you is jawing too loudly...

7) RESPOND APPROPRIATELY- Actors live for audience response, but only if it's appropriate. If someone is in the midst of pouring out their soul in a dramatic monologue, and someone in the audience starts laughing, this can be very frustrating for audience and actor alike. We love it when we get laughs, but preferably in the right places.

8) HAVE A GOOD TIME / SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF- We'll discuss suspension of disbelief in detail later in Ch 1, but suffice it to say it involves letting go and accepting the world of the play. If you can get past the feeling that "it's only a play", Theatre can be a very real, visceral experience for you. Above all, enjoy your time at the Theatre. Theatre is, at its core, a celebration of life. Open up your senses, dive in and enjoy yourself.

PAPER GUIDELINES


Guidelines to follow when writing your papers for this course:



GENERAL FORMAT (both play reviews and script reviews)

Your papers should be:

* a minimum of two pages

* typed and double spaced

* nothing larger than a 12 font

* sent to me via my email address in a document. (NOT in the body of the email)

The papers should include your name and the word "online" as a heading in the upper right hand corner. NO COVER PAGE is necessary. Utilize a simple "Introduction / body/ conclusion" format when crafting your papers.



PAPERS ON SCRIPTS:

Papers should be based on the following:



a) Plot * a note on this! Keep this area to one or two small paragraphs. DO NOT make the entire paper a synopsis of the plot!

b) Characters * note- discuss the main or principal characters of the piece. What did you like or dislike about them? How do they effect the story? Are there any peripheral characters discussed that we never see or hear from but who still have an impact on the story?

c) Theme * note- this is YOUR INTERPRETATION. There is no right or wrong, so long as you can back it up.

d) Difficulty to produce * note- imagine you run a Theatre and want to produce this play. What would make it difficult to do so? Some examples of this:

- Large cast (more than ten characters)

- Age of characters (are there any children in the cast or elderly people? Is it a cast of 70 year olds?)

- Multiple locations (would you have to build elaborate sets or change scenery every other scene)

- Language ( Is there a lot of cursing or offensive language? Are there stron ethnic or regional dialects?



CRITIQUES OF LIVE PERFORMANCES:

These papers should, very simply, be based on your opinion of the shows you attended. What did you like or NOT like, and more importantly WHY! It's not enough to say "The play was Great...I loved it" or "The play stunk! I hated it!". You must tell us what you loved or hated. This is strictly YOUR OPINION. There is no right or wrong, so long as you can articulate why you did or did not appreciate the performance.

Some areas you might want to address:

* Acting

* Technical elements (scenery, lighting, costumes, etc)

* Plot (but DO NOT make the papers a retelling of the plot! This is a great way to make a bad grade on this assignment. Simply discuss whether you thought the plot was interesting, moved at a good pace, was clear and easy to understand, etc.)

* Audience reaction- How did the audience at this event affect the outcome? Were they into the show and reacting, or were they lifeless, or rude, etc...



The due date for these papers is on the syllabus!! All must be sent to my email address AS A DOCUMENT, not in the text of the email.


If you have any questions regarding these assignments, use the comment function of this posting to ask them, and I'll reply with all due haste.