Our piece was written as a comedy, meaning our intention was to make the audience laugh. This was achieved very well, with the audience finding a lot of the intended comedic points funny. Along with
that, they found certain areas funny that we had not written with that intention. This was because we had based our characters on stereotypes. Despite being teenagers, we still managed to get the audience to identify with our characters. The moment where Emma portrayed a character that loves drinking. This was done when she downed her drink and said, "wow that's a lot of gin". Many people in the audience felt this moment was identifiable. Along with this, we used pauses, one liners, music, costumes and monologues. Amelie played the stereotype of a hippie, which was a source of comedy as she was playing the character very well.
Along with portraying comedy, we had a message to deliver. Linking to the name of the piece, we wanted the audience to understand the issues of friendship and consider everyones emotions in a situation like the one performed. The contrast between naturalistic comedy and the non-naturalistic serious moments meant that the audience could experience moments that have meaning and moments that were lighter. After audience feedback, the sadder ending fitted the piece well as it was very impactful. Along with that, there were some very funny moments, including the interactions between Silvana and Seths character.
We utilised the whole stage and very rarely had static scenes, meaning the audience wasn't able to zone out. We did this to hold their attention. This was an important step because we knew our piece was complicated, therefore if the audience weren't engaged, they would miss plot points. The music and physical theatre also helped to engage them.
Overall, the performance went very successfully and we felt the message and style was portrayed well.
First of all, we had 2 and a half hours to work in a relatively decent sized space before traveling over to the performance venue. We had planned to do a run through in this time however one of our cast members turned up late so it meant we couldn't. Instead, we tidied up the sound and lighting cue sheets.
We had the opportunity to do our final dress rehearsal in the actual performance space. This meant we could nail the sound and lighting cues as we were able to work with the technicians. It also meant that we could familiarise ourselves with the backstage area, the dressing room and the timing we had to do everything (e.g. go from one side of the wings to the other, how long we had to put our set on stage).
This is very useful to do for all productions as it means the performance day will go a lot smoother, which not only benefits your group but it benefits all the other groups performing as it means you aren't getting in their way.
We needed to look at how the spacing is different in this space compared to our stage at our school. This is why our run through in this space had a few pauses. Some other things we had to change or look out for include:
Projecting so that everyone in the audience could hear
Today we did a dress rehearsal in front of a few staff members and a few students. This went very well and we got some very good reviews and feedback.
REHEARSAL
At the end of the day, we did some touching up of some scenes that weren't that clean, including:
Mirrored chair duet
Hugo and Amelie train scene
Louis, Tristan and James fight
Enhancing Seth's character and the comedic value of it
RUN THROUGH
We then did a full run through to see if we could apply these new changes to the performance. It worked very well and we feel very well prepared for our performance.
We started this rehearsal with a standard warm-up of splat. This was simply to bring energy levels up and get us focused for when we start working on our piece. I main focus today was to get as many run-throughs as possible so that we can familiarise ourselves with the order of scenes and the transitions. It was a relatively successful run-through however we would still like it to be smoother. We adjusted the movement in the epilogue slightly, as it is now slower. This allows us to put more emphasis on each movement and it will fit the music better.
After this, myself and Emma worked on creating the sound cue sheet and match it with the script.
Today, we started with another focus game called the 'counting game'. In this game, you begin with pairing up and counting to 4. The challenging part is you have to say 1 number each, meaning you have to get into a rhythm and focus. Then you replace the numbers with certain movements (i.e 1 becomes a clap). This helped us focus and we had a laugh at the same time.
After the game, we began a full run-through. We never finished this run-through however it was still useful because it meant we were familiarising ourselves with the start.
Today we had 4 hours to work. We finally had a full run through with all the scenes. The scenes that we have to work on are:
Improving movement in Emma and Amelie duologue
Improve movement in Hugo and Amelie duologue
Improve scenes where Hugo and Tristan fight
We started off by doing a read through of the script so everyone was up to date on the changes. This proved to be really useful as it meant that other people could add their ideas and see if it all fit together. This took quite a while to do, but it was worth the time.
We went straight into running the piece. This went well for the most part, but it went quite slowly as we all needed the new version of the script open in front of us. It was successful in that we knew what we were doing and were comfortable running the majority of scenes. Over the next few rehearsals we need to work on the following: - all transitions - working without the script - everyone's monologues - Dave and Harry's reactions to Jane and Meredith's monologues - Dave acting slimy - Jane acting drunk - Laurent having an actual personality - moments between Laurent and Jane - Laurent and Meredith's direct audience address - developing Marie's character - Laurent/Freddie/Dave conflict scene - Hugo needs to strike the right balance between angry and rational - combining movement with lines for Meredith/Harry fight - Charles being angry that Meredith called him - work on awkward silences - Last bar scene where lies get revealed and happy ending takes place.
Today we began with a warm up game of Samurai, where each movement has a reaction. This exercise really helped to focus us while raising the energy level significantly.
Once we were warm, we began running through the scenes we had. The only thing is, because the order of scenes has been switched around so many times, we were all a bit confused. As soon as that was sorted out and everyone was on the same page, we tried the run through again. This time it went much better, but we realized we needed to script the dialogue because people were forgetting crucial lines. Between the first and second lesson, Amelie had scripted it on a document that we could all see and change. With this written up, it was far easier to see what needed to be done as I had highlighted those parts in red. These are: - Charles comforting Meredith - Marie starting an argument and Charles proposing - the big reveal of lies - Jane ending it with Dave - Jane getting with Laurent - Harry and Meredith reuniting - all of Laurent's scenes with his new personality
This rehearsal was on a Saturday, meaning we had to rehearse elsewhere. We booked a room in Top Squash. This was especially useful for physical theatre as one wall is covered in mirrors meaning we could see what we were doing the whole time. Here are the things we got done:
Completed a list of all scenes we will have in our piece
Blocked the ending
Practised our chair duet (where we Jane and Dave mirror Harry and Meredith's movements)
Practised several other scenes
Had a run through of the first 15 minutes
List of all tracks
First of all, we began with a very physical warm-up, consisting of lots of running, jumping and body movement. The first few minutes, we stood in a circle and stretched. This is important for preventing injury, as we are constantly performing and being active. Following this, we ran from one side of the room to the other, while jumping in the middle. We did the exercise several times, meaning by the end of it, we were all wide awake. It is important to start with exercises as it brings the energy level up, especially as the rehearsal was starting early.
Our aim was to have a long list of every individual scene we wanted. We wrote all the scenes down on individual pieces of paper. The list of scenes that we decided on (still with a few scenes missing towards the end) are:
Prologue
James Monologue
Bar movement
Fragmented monologue (3 boys)
Mirrored chair duet
Emma and Amelie Fragmented monologue
3 boys fight
Tristan and Emma plotting points to destroy Louis's relationship
Emma planting seeds of doubt into Louis
Train station scene (using Swindon 5)
Amelie and Hugo (she asks him to walk her down the aisle)
Seth and Silvana character reveals
Train station Swindon 5 (again)
Hugo, Seth and Silvana talk
Awkward bar (Tristan almost beaten up)
3 boys rekindle friendship
Tristan tells Louis that Amelie is cheating on him
Louis confronts Amelie
Seth and Amelie past relationship revealed
Tristans lies revealed
Louis and Amelie end happy
Seth and Silvana argument ends in proposal
Hugo and Emma end happy
Chair duet with Tristan again
Tristan left alone
prologue repeated but changed
Originally, the plan for the first chair duet was for it to be between myself and Amelie's character, however we decided that it would be better to have Emma and Tristan mirror this chair duet to our left. This shows that both couples have a strong bond. This is later broken down, as Tristan ends up alone. At the end of the play, myself, Amelie and Tristan will repeat this on stage, without Emma. This means Tristan will be doing the chair duet alone. There will then be a contrast between the happiness of one relationship and the sadness caused by lying.
After working on this, we had a run through to identify which areas needed improving. A few details include:
Using the space better (don't go to far stage right and vice versa)
Today we had an extra rehearsal. These are 3 things we need to work on:
Characterising all the time
Keeping up energy during physical theatre sections
But at the same time not rushing them i.e. varying the speed of the piece between Meredith and Harry
LAURENT INTRODUCTION
After changing Hugo's character name from Geoff to Laurent. We also came up with a scene that includes Swindon 5. Swindon 5 is a non-naturalistic style of theatre where people are walking around the stage in 2 triangles. It is used to show somewhere is busy. We used it to portray a busy train station where Amelie and Hugo meet up. Here is the script for this section:
Meredith: Hi, Laurent?
Laurent: (offstage) Meredith, hi!
Meredith: I have some really exciting news, but I want to tell you in person! Can you come down to London?
Laurent: It’s funny you should say that, I’m actually on my way to London now! Got a meeting with SenseiOkymotothis afternoon. We’re planning to expand the Dojo’s around Brighton.
Meredith: When are you getting in?
Laurent: In about forty minutes.
Meredith: I’ll come down to meet you. This really can’t wait.
Cue ‘train station sound effects’ as the Swindon Five sequences takes place. Meredith is swept up and deposited in front of the arrivals board (DSR).
Laurent: Meredith! (Fighting through the crowd) Meredith!
Meredith: Laurent! Hi!
They hug.
Laurent: So? Tell me the big news!
Meredith: Harry proposed!
Laurent: Oh wow! Congratulations!
They hug again. They are a huggy family.
They turn to the audience.
Laurent: I can’t believe she’s getting married. I know she’s all grown up now, but she’ll always be my little sister.
Meredith: We were never close as kids. He was always off with his mates climbing trees in the park. I wasn’t allowed to go with them. Mum used to say she was scared I would break something.
Laurent: I didn’t think it was fair. The trees in the park weren’t even that tall.
Meredith: And then one day, I went with him. Not because Mum and Dad had said yes, but because they weren’t there to say no.
Laurent: Since the day of the accident that took our parents, we’ve always looked after each other. I’ve had her back, and she’s had mine.
Transitioning into dialogue.
Meredith: That reminds me, I wanted to ask you something.
Laurent: What?
Meredith: Would you walk me down the aisle?
Laurent: Yes, I would love to!
They hug. AGAIN.
Laurent: I’m not being funny, but who are you going to invite to the wedding?
Meredith: You know, my friends....
Laurent: to audience She doesn’t have any friends.
Meredith: Hey!
Laurent: Do you want me to get my friends to come?
Meredith: Yes! Who were you thinking?
Laurent: Charles and Marie?
Meredith: Really? Charles? Won’t that be awkward?
Laurent: No, why would it be? It’s all in the past! Besides, he’s dating Marie now.
Meredith: Ok, that would be great!
Laurent: I’ve actually got to run, can’t keep the sensei waiting!
FIGHT BETWEEN LAURENT AND DAVE
Another scene we now have is where Hugo's character is asking James' character about organising a party for his sisters engagement. This will be done by cross-cutting as this will be taking place on stage left. Then Tristan's character enters, talking about how much he hates Meredith. Laurent then turns around and pushes him back. Then they are separated and Laurent walks off. Here is the script for this section:
Enter Freddie, pushing his bar.
Laurent: Good afternoon, I’m looking for Freddie
Freddie: Well mate, you’ve come to the right place, I’m Freddie, welcome to brothers bar what can I get you
Laurent: Not looking for a drink. I’m Laurent, Meredith’s brother……I was wondering if there’s any chance for me to hire this bar as a venue for Meredith and Harry’s engagement party.
Freddie: Well, how many people are you planning on inviting? What food and drinks am I going to need? When?
Laurent: Well, I’ve got the guest list here, food and drinks too. And I’m thinking about Friday in three weeks at the latest.
Freddie – audience address- some of the ideas that Laurent had were just nuts!
Enter Dave.
Dave: Freddie, I can’t deal with that bitch Meredith anymore, she’s screwing with Harry, he’s not Harry anymore, he’s turning too much into her, he’s not himself, she’s put him on all these weird diets, and she takes him to goat yoga for fun of all things, she’s spending too much time with him.
Laurent: Are you talking about my sister?
Dave: I didn’t know Meredith had a brother!
Laurent: yeah well now you do
Laurent pushes Dave back, Dave stumbles. Freddie gets between the two.
Freddie: Calm down boys, no fighting, no fucking swearing either while we’re at it.
Dave: Fine. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll carry on the party planning then. You…. Watch out.
Exits.
MIRRORED CHAIR DUET
After showing what we had to Mr Lemon, he suggested that we should do a mirrored chair duet. A few weeks ago, we made a chair duet between myself and Amelie. Mr Lemon thought it would be a good idea for Emma and Tristan to be doing this on the other side of the stage. The idea of this is to show that both of these relationships are at a similar stage. Along with this, Emma has written a monologue that can be used as a fragmented monologue with the monologue Amelie wrote a while back. Here is the fragmented monologue:
Meredith: We met a few years ago. It was his 21st birthday. His friends took him to a goat yoga class. Which, by the way, is doing yoga while goats climb on you. It isn’t really a joke. I take it very seriously. Connecting with other beings is part of my peace mantra. I go every Sunday, and I am so happy I do because it led me to this wonderful man. He seemed to really enjoy the class and we started going out. At first, he seemed to be utterly perfect, but it soon became clear that there was lot of work to do. We began daily meditation at dawn to cleanse our souls. He was hesitant at first, but once I put him on a diet of kale smoothies and natural supplements like spirulina and gojiberries he became a lot easier to manipulate.
Jane: It started 2 years ago. He seemed like the perfect man. We met at a local pub, one that I had never been to before. I had such a bad week and needed to get away. I may have gotten a little tipsy to say the least, but he was looking so hot and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. We instantly clicked. Talking till 2:30 in the morning! We used the pub as our spot. That was were all our best memories were. He even asked me to be him girlfriend there! I might have initiated it but he still asked me. For most of the first year it seemed... perfect! Honeymoon period, I guess. Then something changed.
Meredith: We’ve been living together for eight months next week. I think it was quite a shock for him seeing how minimal I like to live. He’s adjusted now, although he looked really tired when he switched to sleeping on hand-woven reed mats. He knows it means a lot to me. People say imperfection is perfection, but I don’t see it that way. After a lot of work, Harry is almost perfect, and we’re nearly there! We are so happy.
Jane: He got weird, he wanted to spend less time with me and seemed obsessed with trying to get his friendship with Harry back on track. It’s not like anything was wrong with their relationship, they were already spending everyday together at the pub. I feel like I have to compete to get his attention. It’s ridiculous. Any time I see David, Harry is always there. I know they’re friends but I need some more attention. I swear I’m not clingy. I can spend 5 minutes without texting him. I’m not obsessed with him either. I may know his favourite type of toilet paper, but that’s what a relationship is about. The only time I’m actually alone with him is at night. And nothing ever happens then. He’s always too tired or drunk and passes out.
Meredith: It’s Friday night, which means that Harry and his mates are going off to the Brothers bar.
Jane:I’m not expecting to see Dave until lunch time tomorrow. Here is a video of our mirrored chair duet:
