Theatre in the Real World-- Olympic Ceremony

In almost every public ceremony, theatre plays a role. Or at least there are theatrical aspects and concepts in almost everything that is performed. Whether thats a speech, a play, an assembly, a wedding, a concert... or even....

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics

The purpose of the opening ceremony of the Olympics was to entertain. To draw people in. To get them excited.
It certainly accomplisehed this goal.

• Lights-- low and dramatic, bright spotlights on key performers, completely dark for some scenes
• Sound-- huge booming sound, really dramatic effect
• Colors-- brights colors, mostly warm colors to attract attention (nations use patriotic colors/symbols)

Seeing the unseeable.

"In its essence, all [theatre] requires is an actor, two planks, and a passion; and at a pinch, it does not need the two planks."

Thinking back on all the plays I've seen-- not only Rampart productions but You Can't Take It With You, As You Like It, Monty Python, and other professional productions-- it's hard to imagine seeing these plays without the lights, extraodinary sets, soundtracks and special effects. It's almost as if the play wouldnt BE a play without these elements.

But if you had to ask me what the most important element of theatre is, I would say the actor. An actor can transform words into action, pictures into scene. They have the power to capture an audience, inhabit any character they wish. Only through the actor's movement, voice, expressions, actions, and words can the audience feel the true joy, pain, or intensity of a scene.

It is the actor who lets us see the unseeable.

More on the Frogs

Things that jumped out at me:

• chorus constantly comments


• parabasis-- "Its only a play"


• FULL of innuendo


• cast mastered the score-- fantastic job
  

Thought: Get off your ass and DO SOMETHING.

Plot: Dionyses and Xanthius travle to the Underworld to bring back George Bernard Shaw

Action: The Frogs-- recurring

Diction/Sound/Spectacle: think of the way they set it up to make you feel like you were a part of the Greek mythology

It was all metaphorical--
Frogs represent the ever-present fears of mankind-- haunting Dionyses in a way. Frogs also sit on their lily pads all day and wait for their flies to come to them. They represent the laziness of mankind.

The Frogs

Went to see The Frogs last night... :) I'd go so far as to say that it was THE BEST theatrical production I've ever seen at Rampart. Wow. The first half was absolutely hilarious...

"Viagra.. God of perseverance!"

(Love this quote. Especially because perseverance is one of the key characteristics of Rampart kids... Every time I see that written in huge bold letters on the gym wall, I won't be able to keep myself from laughing... hahaha.)

The second half was really profound... which required actually paying attention... haha. But I thought they did an excellent job balancing humor and deep subjects.
Phenomenal. :)

One thing that did strike me though.... There was quite a noticable difference between the amazing experienced actors and the not-quite-so-amazing ones. The really good ones didnt seem like they were ACTING. The WERE their characters. Case in point: Mr. Hudson Hatfield did a fantastic job with this. As he performs... he draws the audience in. And you see him as Dionyses, not as an ACTOR playing the role of Dionyses. Whereas with Laura, I generally saw her as an actress playing Xanthius. Here's what's been bothering me though. I Can't tell what the difference is. They are both talented actors, but what does Hudson do that sets him apart? Or Jess, shes's the same as Hudson. What do they do differently?

My best guess is that it has something to do with their diction. Or their emphasis on words. Somehow they make it sounds more natural....

Ahh. I dont know. Something to ponder. :)

Sophocles

-he wrote Oedipus Rex
-first prize-winner for writing tragedies-- Thespus (he also introduced first solo-speaking actor instead of chorus)

• used masks

-Euripides & Aeschylus (Father of Tragedy) aslo famous playwright
-Aristophenes (writer of The Frogs, The Birds, The Insects, The Clouds)
-going to theatre wrapped everything all in one- football game, rock concerts, play- all combined into one social event

• sometimes even a church service in there
• skipped work for a week
• like community theatre

-chorus: provides commentary on/accompaniment to the action of the play
-playwrights wrote about both pleasurable experiences of life and the unalterable causes that lead to death

• causes conflict in plays

-hubris: protagonist with ego taht leads to downfall

-text:

1. prologue-- introduction
2. parados-- entrance to the chorus
3. episode-- action of the play
4. stasismon-- general comment/reflection on play, usually from chorus-- strophe and antistrophe
5. exodus-- summarizes the moral, chorus leaves

-parabasis: the spot in the play where the playwright blatantly tells his audience his opinion/purpose for the play

-deus ex machina: when the Gods save the day; everything works out

-orchestra: center of stage