RENT - Dancing Tango: Maureen 19/10/16

Today, Lorna taught me the dance we have to do in Tango Maureen, which is obviously a Tango. I'm terrible at dancing and I have no idea how to Tango so I found it very hard. It was also very hard to sing and dance at the same time because it's very hard to focus on getting the tune and harmonies right, whilst also really focusing on making sure the dancing is good. When we performed it, I was told that I need to move on the balls of my feet so it looks a lot smoother when I move, because when I move in the dance, I was told I look very uncomfortable and unnatural when I move, which is not very good to watch.

RENT - Character profiles/interpretation 17/10/16

In today's lesson we were asked to complete a character profile on a given character - this included a drawing of our character, our interpretation and facts about the character.
*Insert photo of character profile*

RENT - Tango: Maureen 10/10/16

Today we were given the task of practicing/rehearsing/learning a solo or duet that our character has in the musical because Henri is off ill so we can't rehearse most of the full company numbers. I worked with Lorna (who is playing Joanne) on our duet, Tango: Maureen. This song really portrays the rivalry, unease and awkwardness between Mark and Joanne because obviously Mark used to be with Maureen but now she is with Joanne so there is obviously going to be some tension between them, and I think this song really shows that relationship. The song is about Joanne setting up for the protest but Maureen calls mark to fix it as the equipment is broken. It's then mark warning Joanne what Maureen is like and what happened to him.
*Insert picture of annotated script*

RENT - What you own 12/10/16

Today, we practised and performed a couple of our solo numbers again and we got criticism from Mr Webb. I did Tango; Maureen again with Lorna, and I was told that when I am practising songs, I need to stand still and stand up straight because it affects my singing. I also practised What You Own with Tom (who played Roger before) and I think that went very well as I know the song very well, and because Tom is my brother and we both love the song, we have done it together at home. I think the song means that you should stop worrying about all of the little things in life that cause you pain and just focus on what is important - "Don't breathe to deep. Don't think all day." I think that thing song is very important to the characters of Mark and Roger because it makes them realise that even though they think their lives are the worst, they're not alone. During this song, these two people think about their lives - they think about what they're doing and about what they should do. At the end of the song, Mark quits his stupid job at Buzzline and Roger returns from Santa Fe to New York for Mimi.
For Mark, I think this song is really about him reflecting on all that has happened, and him finally letting out his feelings - which he never does. As well as obviously the previously mentioned.

RENT - Singing La Vie Boheme. 5/10/16

Today we began working on the song 'La Vie Boheme' - I found this song very hard to learn because the tempo changes a lot in the song and it is very wordy and the tune is not very catchy and it is a strange tune. I was then forced to sing with the track which made it even harder for me to learn the song because I didn't know what I was singing to and I couldn't listen to the track enough so that I could learn it.
The song is a celebration of bohemianism, especially the type present in the 1980s Alphabet City, Manhattan, and begins with a mocking of the character Benny's statement that "Bohemia is dead".In between the two halves of the song is an interlude featuring a romantic duet with Roger and Mimi ("I Should Tell You"), during which they each learn that the other is HIV+ and tentatively decide to begin a relationship together. In the stage musical, the second part of this song opens with a brief dialogue between Maureen and Joanne in which Joanne tells of the riot in the lot. The song then continues with the celebration of bohemianism from the first part of the song. Like the first part, the second part of La Vie Bohème lists many ideas, trends, and other symbols of bohemianism. It is a song featuring the characters of Rent holding a toast to bohemianism and shouting out what/who inspires them such as jazz poet Langston Hughes and counterculture-era comedian Lenny Bruce. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Vie_Boh%C3%A8me
Vocally, I don't find this song very hard, I am again focussing on supporting my voice from my diaphragm; the only thing is, like I say, the lyrics and the tune.

RENT - Singing Rent 3/10/16

Today we started by going over seasons of love to make sure we don't forget it. We then began working on the title song 'Rent' which I personally love. The song is simply about how they struggle to pay rent. From this, I can gather that the characters could be a little stressed since they're always being hassled about the rent, and also quite annoyed that they can't pay for heating and it's the middle of winter. I tried to incorporate these emotions into the song vocally (since we only rehearsed vocals). I feel I did this fairly well, however I could have done better had I known the song better. One problem with me is that it takes me a very long time (longer than most) to learn a song - this plays much to my disadvantage because we are expected to learn a song in one lesson; this is definitely something I have and will be working on. Vocally, I don't find this song very hard, I am again focussing on supporting my voice from my diaphragm however I am constantly being told that I'm straining and not supporting properly which is very frustrating because I am practicing vocals every night at home.

RENT - Seasons of love 29/09/16

In today's lesson we began to learn seasons of love, including harmonies. I already knew the song so I was quite comfortable singing it. The lyrics ask what the proper way is to quantify the value of a year in human life, concluding in the chorus that the most effective means is to "measure in love". Since four of the lead characters either have HIV or AIDS, the song is often associated with World AIDS Day and AIDS awareness. While singing, I was making sure I was focussing on supporting my voice from my diaphragm and breathing from my diaphragm rather than my chest. I was told there was an improvement vocal wise in terms of where I'm singing from. I think this song, for Mark, is all about him supporting his friends with AIDS, and he is just happy that everyone is together at such a desperate time.