Picture Pitch Ideas

We did an exercise today about interpretation-- the way we interpret ideas, stimuli, and the tone of a scene. We were given picture-- 4 that we got to choose from-- and from one picture, we had to come up with characters, dialogue, and an entire plot for a skit.

Most of the skits were hilarious, and some were really deep. Especially the trial scene. Like the crucible. They had this freeze frame idea where they stopped the scene in order to hear separate testimonies from each person.



**USE THAT IN ANOTHER SCRIPT, HINT HINT**



But I really enjoyed it... Because it showed me the power of the SCENE and the depth that can be seen in a character just from one glance, one moment. So much can be understood from that single expression, or from the formation of a stage picture. And this exercise, whether it was intentional or not, helped me learn that.

Theatre of the Absurd

Theatre of the Absurd was born out of the era after World War II, when life seemed meaningless to many people in the wake of the total destruction, chaos, and ultimately astounding death tolls.

Authors like Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett wrote several plays that seemed to make absolutely no sense. Activities are repeated in a cycle, even small, seemingly pointless activities, such as brushing your teeth. These repeated activities are given meaning just by the sheer number of times they are performed.

The main point to recognize with Theatre of the Absurd is that

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

At least not on the outside.

Not on the surface.
Not superficially.

You have to look deeper.
Below all the actions and the silly conversations and the words and phrases that seem to make no connection.

The deeper you look, the more you may find.

Or perhaps, you won't find much, but that in itself is a deep point.

By not finding anything, you realize that life is pointless.

And that realization is deep and meaningful in itself. :)

It's one big cycle. :)

^^Waiting for Godot :)

Important Theatre Figures

This information I wrote down on paper during class, and didn't want to type it all up. So it's all in my notebook written down. :) But the main presentations were:

-Ariane Mnouchkine
-Taiwanese Glove Puppetry
-Yoshi Oida
-Kabuki
-Cicely Berry
-Japanese No Plays
-Zeami
-Peter Brook
-Eugenio Barba
-Edward Gordon Craig
-Giorgio Strehler
-Bertolt Brecht
-Kenyan Griots

Band Auditions

Today we had auditions for the band class we're going to be in next year.
And although it wasn't specifically a theatrical experience, I wanted to write about it, because I noticed a huge change in my audition this year compared to last year. Last year I was extremely nervous, my throat closed up, and I completely screwed over my audition.

This year, I think the theatre experience on stage really really really helped me keep my cool.

I've gotten over my stage fright.
And gotten over my fear of
PERFORMING IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

It didn't bother me at all, going in there and playing my piece for the judge.
I already knew that I had practiced it well and knew my stuff.
So playing it wasn't that big of a deal.
I was sick that day, but it didn't matter.

Theatre has helped me with my breathing, my posture, my stage fright, and my CONFIDENCE.

I had no idea it could affect me so much in all these other areas as well, outside the stage. :)

Thailand Shadow Puppetry

• used stock characters


• usually leather puppets


• played behind a screen


• used the shadows to depict plot


• heavy spotlights behind screen


• prolific detail/lace/holes in the puppets so light can shine through


• many colors


• mobile stages, moved around the village


• improv used with mobile stages


• temple theatres were used for more traditional performances


• very religious


• puppets were given birth and death burials


• hairs added to puppets heads distinguished them


• either large immovable characters (depended on story and music)


• or small movable characters (depended on movement)