The aim of today's lesson was to continue discussing ideas, in preparation for feedback to the other three groups. During our previous rehearsal yesterday, we were able to structure our ideas in a clear laid out structure therefore our ideas appear fairly easy to understand and enable us to progress further - as we all share the same level of understanding. In response to criticism from the story telling project (George's marvellous medicine), we realized that we tend to get carried away in the creative process of devising rather than planning a clear structure in which to work from- this lead to our piece appearing disjointed and jumping from one idea to the next.
Developing on this idea of structure, we have each assigned roles of research ( I will be researching frantic assembly and other general themes/ links to the play). Through incorporating research and outside elements into our piece, we will have some form of base (developed and planned out intention- linked to the messages/ morals) and will perhaps discover new ideas, story lines or inspiration which can be use at a later point. Similarly to Romeo and Juliet, this piece worked really well as we had an outside influence (Bosko and Admira) that we could base our piece around which therefore gave rise to the themes and moral explored.
During the group presentations, I loved James's idea of using a story from the holocaust (linked to a chosen theme in much ado) to develop and structure the performance around. As a group, we have constructed a completely different idea therefore the way in which we work and the material we produce will be different. However, through taking this idea of research, we may be able to find a similar story that relates to our general idea- perhaps looking into suicide, broken down families, films etc.
Although we discussed one way of creating the suicide, it would be good to have a couple of separate ideas ready to 'back up' as there would be safety issues concerning our first idea. From what Jonathan was saying from a previous Shakespeare retold, a group used the grid (above the hub) to drop blood down to the floor- the audience don't necessarily have to witness the suicide therefore they could come into the hub to see the body already dead on top of the grid/ tracks. This would appear as though we are looking up from underneath (with the platform overheard/ perhaps a bridge).
In order to stage this suicide, we were going to show Hero jumping in front of a train (as part of a flash back in Claudio's mind). However, this may seem confusing to the audience- they have been shown around the building as though they are in a hotel and may not understand that this is a flashback. Furthermore, although the idea of passing a handbag to a stranger made sense in the context of the tv series 'smoke' it doesn't necessarily apply to our adaptation- there is no reason, and it may look odd for Hero to pass her bag to a man who happens to be standing next to her at the station.
Our ideas are all creative would make good theatre, however, we need a more solid structure in which to base and 'drive' our performance. Currently I don't feel as though there is a particular intent for creating this performance - it seems to be lacking substance and content.
Taking the themes from yesterday, I will research into parallels ( from much a do and reality) that could be used for the same idea, the hotel.
A gifted man (TV series)- man can see his dead wife as a ghost.
Could adapt this idea- she commits suicide because Claudio is 'mental' abusing her and taking away control. Taking this idea I could research into stories of physical, verbal or mental abuse where women have committed suicide or been tortured by some form of authority/ group of men.
We could use the rooms in the hotel as a metaphor for the stages of Hero and Claudio's relationship. ( although these rooms are just telling the story, it's not actually happening now). We start on ground floor where things seem perfect and happy- could use comedy - lighthearted). We move onto the first floor and things start to get tense e.g. Claudio not allowing hero to go out or forcing her to stay with him- awkward comedy?). On the second floor verbal abuse begins to happen and the story begins to get darker. The top floor, verbal and physical combined. There is then some motive for the audience to run back down to reception. Here we see Claudio having a break down/ flashback as hero commits suicide. Each floor level represented a different stage in their relationship.
This idea is based on the idea of abusive male authority. Within the original play of much ado, Hero is blamed for cheating which is why she then fakes her death- she doesn't even get a voice or a chance to be heard (doesn't tell her side of the story as she is a woman). Therefore women are silenced and submissive to the power of men.
We could find a version of this story/ idea,'abusive relationships', in reality to base our performance on. This will also provide us with influence and an understanding of both perspectives.
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