DNA - Character development/analysis and full run through complete

In today's lesson, we began by looking into our characters and sharing them with other members of the class. We were to share three interesting facts about our characters - I said Danny is generally just a bit lost and he can't really focus on too much for too long (i.e. his attention span is very poor, but in a comical way), and although he is constantly worried about dental college and getting references, I don't believe it is an arrogance or a self-centred thing about him, I think it is just him being stupid and not thinking of the bigger picture or the repercussions of what has happened. This is something that I missed earlier on in the unit was how important characterisation was going to be for Danny - Danny's anxiousness; this is an essential part of his character and since learning this about him, I have looked back at all of the scenes we've done and thought about how I could adjust my performance to apply this anxious trait. For example, in the first scene with Lou, John Tate and myself, I am now going to be pacing back and forth muttering to myself about dental college and trying work out ways around the situation that wouldn't put Danny's future in jeopardy. To the audience, I think this will come across as confusing to them at first purely by virtue of me just being in the background of Lou and John Tate for a whole page of dialogue. Then when I come in with "I can't get mixed up in all this, I'm gonna be a dentist." I have sort of given up trying to find a way around it and almost putting the responsibility on Lou and John Tate to get me out of the situation, or at least help me to get out; but from this it is easy to perceive Danny as arrogant, selfish and/or very dependant on others, but I don't think he is - I think he is just a bit stupid and he doesn't realise that everyone else is in the same boat as him, and that he really overthinks bad situations. To show this side of Danny I will still continue to show his 'lost' nature, being easily distract and amused by his surroundings and just generally show that he is a bit of a simpleton. For example, when John Tate announce the word 'dead' is "banned", I stop pacing immediately and stand in almost like a trance of confusion, and then when I finally speak and say 'Banned?' I think he is genuinely confused at how you can literally ban a word, and he genuinely isn't aware that you can't actually ban a word. Essentially, when showing these two traits I need to really focus on and consider my physicality and movement. Especially due to the fact that my character doesn't speak much, so the emotions I wish to give off will be heavily relied on my physicality.

I also said that he is one of the few characters who don't turn out crazy or mental - granted he does go on about dental college non stop throughout the play, and then end up hating it at work experience, but he doesn't go mental or crazy or any other form of what may be considered as 'insane' like Cathy or Brian does. I was in a group with Will (Mark) and Henri (Richard); when discussing Mark, Will said he could be speculated as being Jan's brother or girlfriend and I believe this to be dependant on how you play the character and how you interact with Jan and portray the relationship - from observing their performance over the rehearsal period so far, I see them more as brother and sister; they seem quite argumentative and petty, but you can easily tell they care for each other very much - much like a brother and sister relationship. He also that he feels like some sort of a narrator when playing Mark - which I definitely agree with, Mark and Jan open every scene with a duologue which I think kind sets the scene for the audience and soot explains to the audience what sort of topic they can expect in the scene, very much like a narrator, how he nor Jan ever address the audience. When discussing Richard, Henri said that towards the end he feels like a narrator because his monologue kind of ties everything together - he explains what happens to each character and brings everything to a close. We then were set the task of imagining we, as our characters, had been arrested for the crime of killing Adam and we were to act out what we would be thinking/saying to ourselves in the prison - kind of like an inner monologue. I talked about how it wasn't supposed to happen and that it was wrong. But then a sudden panic comes across me because I suddenly remember that being in prison will decrease my chance of dental college. This helped me to have an even better understanding of my character because I was able to think of what my character would do and say in an unknown situation. We then began a run through of the play, implementing our further character developments into our performance. For me, it suddenly made it a lot more interesting and enjoyable because I knew what I should be doing in terms of my thoughts and actions within the scene. I was able to interpret the scene and the dialogue in such a way that Danny would, thus improved my 'inner monologue' and my reactions.

DNA - Off-script run through 22/5/17

Last lesson, we were told to be off script by next week, so our job over the weekend was to learn our scripts. This entails not only learning our lines, but learning our cue lines, and stage directions and the order of the play. I am usually nightmare with learning lines, but this time round things are easier for me because I have very little lines. The only problem I had was a few slip ups on my cue lines.
That said, todays 'off-script' rehearsal went very badly because no one knew their lines. We began from the start and Mark and Jan knew their duologue mostly, with a few slip ups here and there but nothing major, Chloe cut massive chunks from her monologue. When we got to the part with Me, Lou and John Tate, that whole first page is just them two and they didn't know it very well at all; they were cutting each other off in and interjecting in the wrong places, completely losing the effect of the interjection, and they were dropping lines left right and centre. As a result of this, I was completely thrown off and I couldn't get my cues right, which then meant Lewis and Warren didn't get the cues from me either, so it all just turned into a mess. We were then sent away to learn the scene and work on it. We made sure we were not dropping lines and interjecting and the exact right points and getting our cues right. Also, another problem we faced off script was the fast paced dialogue we had with scripts which really brought out the comedy in the scene - we completely lost it when off script. So when we worked on the scene, we talked about it and made sure we were each fully aware of the cut offs and interjections, and cue lines. Once we sorted this, we ran through it a couple times and what we discussed seemed to have worked and had positive effect.

For next lesson, Mr Webb has told us to have our scripts learnt fully - including cues, cut offs and stage directions.

DNA - Staging and a strange run through of scene 1 complete

We began by observing our performance space and deciding on where to move the scenes and audience throughout the play. We ran through the scenes we set last lesson to show Mr Webb and he was happy with our staging. However only one aspect was altered. The part where Richard, Cathy and Brian enter has changed to a different place so they have a longer walk to the scene so the audience can acknowledge they are there.

After we discussed further staging, we read through scene 1 but all of us were spread around the field to work on our projection. Whilst we were running through the scenes before hand, we were told our projection was poor and we desperately needed to work on it because outside, the sound is taken very easily. When we read through it on the field, it was very comical but at the same time it was very beneficial. We were able to explore levels and volumes and somehow we were able explore our tones within ourselves and specific tones we have with other characters. For example, when i say "Shut up, Cathy." Mr Webb said that we done that bit very well and it resembled the relationship Danny and Cathy have so much better this particular time, though he didn't specify what it was that was different.

We were reminded of how each actor works well with their counter part and how they wouldn't work with other combinations of people. For example Mark and Jan, as mentioned before the chemistry between them is great, but Mark and Jan wouldn't have worked for Will and Chloe, or Tyler and Taylor.

Whilst rehearsing this scene, I took it upon myself to consider my character's objective in this particular scene and I then applied this to my performance. I think Danny is just trying to find a way to cope with this overwhelming stress and anxiety that has suddenly come upon him, and he is struggling to deal with it and thus driving him a little bit crazy and extremely worried. He is, in his head, frantically trying to find a way around the situation that would not put his future dental career in jeopardy. The application of this objective in my performance really helped to get further in to my character, and I was then able to apply method acting and think back to a time when I had this or a similar objective. This really helped my performance become more realistic, and it fitted into the naturalistic piece very well. For further lessons, I will consider my character's objectives for each scene and undergo the same process and apply method acting to make my performance more realistic.

DNA - Working on staging and energy (scene 3, the part with Adam) COMPLETE

We started the lesson by doing the end of scene 1 where everyone is on stage, but in a variety of strange ways. First off, we read through the scene lying down - we were soon told that it already looks more interesting than the way we have done before. We then done it running around, which definitely increased the energy levels, and Mr Webb again mentioned it looks better. We then we separated to either side of the room: Phill and Leah on one side and the rest on the other. We were facing the wall and each time we had a line we needed to turn and face Phill and Leah, and vice versa for them to us. I think this was to help us establish who our lines are directed at. We then stood up the two blocks and we all hid behind them and every time we had a line, we would pop our heads up to say the line. I believe this was to help us bring out the comedy within the scene.

We then began work on scene 3, where we meet Adam and find out he's not dead. My character has no lines in this scene, so Webb gave me Lou's lines because I lack lines throughout the play. This scene is all about some characters in shock that Adam is not dead (mainly Leah), some people not caring much (Danny, Richard, Cathy - who we see has turned savage and very scary especially towards Adam, and Brian who has literally gone mental), and Phill who won't let him come back to civilisation. This is the scene that shows how most Characters de-evolve (mainly Cathy), and/turn horrible and savage. I don't say much during this scene, so I have decided that Danny would still be worrying about chances of getting into dental college. We also sorted out the staging within the scene. We decided to have us all in a huddle right away from Adam, who is on the floor rocking back and forth, as if we are discussing what we should do about the situation. As Cathy continues to speak, she goes closer and closer to him very slowly and solemnly, and then when Cathy says "Terrified", Adam pushes backwards as if to get away from her in fear, she is right up close to him looking down on him. The proxemics here are very important to note because Adam is on the floor being towered over by Cathy, which makes it clear that she has clearly turned into someone crazy and dangerous.

During this scene, I have next to no lines so my acting and performance is heavily relied on my body language and physicality. I think throughout the scene Danny isn't really paying much attention - I think is so overwhelmed with nervousness and anxiety he is just not with everyone else. To show this, in terms of movements and physicality, I am at the back of the scene breathing fairly heavily but not too much to draw attention - I think that is an essential trait of Danny: he gets nervous and anxious but really doesn't want too draw too much attention to himself - I am also slowly but surely moving backwards towards the bush trying to physically get away from the situation. I am also frantically looking around at everyone, observing them, coming to the realisation that everyone has lost it; to Danny, nobody really seems to care as much as they should. Coming back to movement and physicality, to show that Danny is zoning in and out of the situation during this scene, when I come in with my line "Good?", I kind of jump forward as if I've been listening the whole time, but really I've just clocked on to when Leah says it's "Good". I think I portrayed Danny's anxiety and nervousness very well here, I think him being almost completely detached from the situation and 'lost' suggests that he is struggling to keep calm and focused; almost as if he has truly given up with solutions, he has just struggling to accept what his future may or may not be.

DNA - Work on characterisation 10/5/17

Today's lesson began with one of the duologues between Mark and Jan - I think Will and Taylor work very well together, the chemistry they between each other onstage is immense and their duologues are always very entertaining to watch. However in this particular duologue, they need to work on cutting each other off and interjecting each other at the right times, because sometimes we lose the effect of the cut off.

After this, Mr Webb had chat with us regarding our performances as actors - specifically in this play. He said we really need to look into our characters and the emotions/feelings our character would feel at each point. In a nut shell, he was basically just saying our acting, emotions and reactions need to be more in-depth and believable. He mentioned that when we first read through the script, we didn't know that Adam was never actually dead, so when we got to the part where it is revealed that Adam is not dead, our reactions were real and genuine; so we all just need to work on this. I believe it simply comes down to knowing your character inside out - I intend to do a lot of research on Danny over the course of the next few weeks. Mr Webb commented on how our character evolve (or in some cases, de-evolve) throughout the play. He said about the irony of Danny going out dental college and worrying about not getting in throughout the whole play, but then by the end he goes to do work experience as a dentist and hates it.

After this, we then ran through from the top with focus on our characterisation - I decided to mainly focus on what Danny would be doing/reacting to what else is going on in the scene when I am not in the main focus. for example, in scene 1 with Danny, Lou and John Tate, the whole first page of that part I have no lines so it is essential for me to be thinking of what my character would be doing. When we ran through this, I decided to be fiddling with grass or leaves or anything I can find to show that I have a short attention span and easily amused/distracted, plus also walking around in a very small area looking around aimlessly to come across as 'lost'. Once I start with my lines, I don't have much trouble. This scene went very well today, it was very loud and we were really able to bring out the comedy by interjecting at just the right points, and having correctly times pauses.

We got to the part where Leah finally finds out that Adam is dead, and we decided that the whole duologue between Jan and Mark where they describe what happened should be directed an Leah and we staged it in such a way where they are either side of her and they close in on her as they proceed through the duologue for dramatic effect. I think this staging works very well, it seems a lot more interesting to look at as a pose to the way they did before.

As I said before, I will focus on researching my character to further progress in my characterisation.

DNA - Cast list and first rehearsal 8/5/17

Cast list:
Mark - Will
Jan - Taylor
Leah - Chloe
Phill - Tyler
Richard - Henri
John Tate - Warren
Lou - Lewis
Danny - Cameron
Cathy - Alice
Brian - Owen
Adam - Olly K

I was very happy to find out I had been cast as Danny, since this is the I went for in the audition and I wanted this part from the start. I was told the part is a lot like myself: very slow, unaware, and always physically present but not really mentally. Although this is a lot like me, I think I am still going to be pushed far in my skills because a) I have never played this kind of character before, and b) it is going to be hard to think about the things I do every day because I don't take notice of my mannerisms, voice, stance and physicality.

We began rehearsals by trying the first scene from where John Tate, Lou and Danny enter (after Mark and Jan's duologue) and for a first attempt with movement and proper interactions (as a pose to our initial read through prior to the auditions), it wasn't bad at all. In this scene, we have just found out that Adam is supposedly dead, and Danny is absolutely solely focussed on dental college - whilst John Tate and Lou are arguing over his death and John Tate trying to convince us (and himself, I believe) that we are going to be fine, Danny is just randomly interjecting about Dental College and how the current situation "isn't part of the plan" - this can be seen as Danny being arrogant and selfish, but the challenge I have now is to make sure it comes across as his just being lost and unaware. There are 3 lines of mine where I'm talking about dental college the other two are yelling over the top of each other and we are all interrupting/shouting over the top of each other and it's very comical because I am just wailing on about Dental college whilst John Tate and Lou are shouting about Adam's death, then eventually John Tate cuts us all off with "Alright. New rule. That word is banned." and me and Lewis stop, pause, and both simultaneously turn in from either side of Warren and just look at him. This, I believe, really brings out the comedy because John Tate says something so stupid which causes us to stop instantly.

After this dialogue with Danny, John Tate and Lou, everyone else joins the scene. The last of the dialogue between us 3 is John Tate saying how the word 'dead' is banned, the when the others come in Richard abruptly says "He's dead" which makes John Tate lose it - things really brings the comedy. Throughout the rest of the scene, I don't have many lines so I need to work on my reactions and background acting - since my character is 'lost', I was trying out things like looking out into space, staring at the ground and tapping my feet and looking round aimlessly. I think I should just do small mannerisms though, because I think looking round aimlessly is too big and could take away from the main dialogue.

DNA - new play for live audience unit: Auditions 3/5/17

Today’s lesson was the auditions for ‘DNA’. As a class, we decided to scrap our devised piece purely because it just wasn’t getting anywhere – we lost our plot, characters eventually started becoming irrelevant and our scenes were pointless, boring and most of them had bad or no script so was pretty much improvised. This, I feel, is a shame because we had such a great and unique initial idea, but from there it all just fell apart; so we decided to take on a new play instead: ‘DNA’. I auditioned for ‘Danny’; I decided to play him in such a way that captured elements of worry, carelessness/unawareness and comedy, and intertwine them together and different combinations of the three, throughout this particular scene. By unawareness, I mean unaware/oblivious to the consequences and the repercussions and the level of seriousness the current situation is at – which again, I attempted to use this to bring out the comedy. I also wanted to show that this character is going through a stream of different emotions and he switches between them quickly, and do this by bringing out the comedy. For example, the line “How am I gonna get references?” is very sudden and unexpected, because prior to this they are talking about the man they have framed potentially going to prison, then somehow Danny is suddenly reminded of his desired path for dental college. To show this change and bring the comedy out, I very quickly and suddenly sped up my pace and increased my dynamics, and turned straight to the floor and turned my back on the others (literally, not metaphorically) as if I no longer care about the subject matter at hand, I’m now purely focussed on dental college.

I didn’t receive any feedback for my audition, but I thought it went quite well. To improve, I could possibly have used the stage space more and moved around a bit more – I think I was quite stationary and had little movement. However this may have been effective when taking the dental collage line into consideration because it shows more of a sudden change in my physicality as well and my voice, and could have helped bring out the comedy.