Our next exercise was to show an escape. In our group we devised a piece where by a wanted escapee returned to the plantation to release the other inmates. We thought about how we would react in that situation. We decided to show a day in the life of the slave and then how it dramatically changed when they got the opportunity to escape. We showed the escape by sprinting across the stage while frantically glancing around, checking that we would not be caught. Natalie played a slightly less enthusiastic slave, who was un convinced we would make it out without getting caught. At the end when everyone else had escaped, I ran back, grabbed her hand and dragged her along behind me. You never find out if the slaves make it without getting caught, we thought it would be effective if we left it up to the audience to decide. We performed this to the class and got some positive feedback. I learned that playing a slave is harder than I first thought it would be, because you can never even begin to imagine the relief or the thoughts that went through their minds when the opportunity aroused to escape. Below is a small diagram of our escape scene.
This next exercise was my favourite as I got to play a more challenging role. We were given a poem called ‘strange fruit’. We read it together, as a class, and were then put into groups. I worked with Donna, Matt and Dan. We decided on parts and a story line. We also had to include the poem somewhere in our performance. I offered to be the narrator. We decided it would be effective to show a hanging scene whilst the poem was being read. I sat just behind where Dan was being hung and read the poem in a tearful voice and pretended to cry. Donna hung Dan and silently he swayed as if in the wind, while the poem was read. We were told at the end of our performance that that worked exceptionally well. I learned that I can play challenging roles and it gave me a lot more confidence to play such roles more often. Also I learned how friendship must be an important aspect of a slave’s life.
The hunter and the hunted exercise helped us develop ideas about what it must have been like being beaten when you were least aware of it. We blindfolded one volunteer and they became the role of the hunted. The other volunteer was given a rolled up piece of paper and took on the role of the hunter. The rest of the class sat in a circle around them and had to tap our hands on the chair to warn the hunted person that the hunter was close.
We organised our dream sequence by using ideas from our own dreams, for example if you dream about someone who’s really aggressive in real life you may dream that they are a passive quite character. We also used ideas by where in your dream you have children but you don’t in real life, or, you could be doing one thing and then it changes into doing another. Our group performed this well and I think we showed the difference between reality and fantasy.
I have chosen to write a script of the performance we did of strange fruit because I feel it was very effective and showed the unpleasantness of slavery. The impact we wanted to have on the audience was to show a more mentally emotional side, where as most were concentrating on showing the physically unpleasant side. The performance opened with Matt and I working in the fields.
Faye: I don’t know how much more I can stand of this. (Angry)
Matt: I don’t know, it’s not too bad, besides, digging’s kinda fun, dig, dig, dig. Keep on diggin.
Faye: Your insane
(Donna enters with Dan, Matt stops singing and gets back to work)
Donna: Your slowing down, keep up the pace. We’ve got a new one, show him the ropes. (Shoves Dan forward) I want to see you working when I get back boy.
(Donna stomps off)
Matt: Hullo, I’m Matt. Erma well, You just gotta dig ……. ok?
Dan: huh, why? Why should I?
Faye: What are you doing? Just get working, she’ll be back any minute.
Dan: Why?
Faye: Just do it!
(Dan picks up shovel)
Matt: dig, dig, dig just keep on diggin.
(Donna enters again)
Donna: right you lot you haven’t done enough. You’ll make up the time tomorrow or else?
Dan: Or else what?
(Matt and me gasp, shocked)
Faye: what are you doing, shut up!
Dan: No, or else what? You can’t make me do anything!
Faye: Shut up! For god sakes!
Donna: Get inside! All of you.
(We all trail off inside and sit down on the left hand side of stage)
Donna: I don’t want to hear a peep out of any of you tonight! And just for that rudeness outside, no food tonight! I suggest you sort out the new one or he’s gonna drag you down with him. Your lucky your new boy, I wont be so lenient tomorrow.
(Donna exits)
(Faye has picked up a book and began jotting in it)
Dan: why do you do what she says? She doesn’t own you.
Matt: We have to, she’s our owner. She’s real nice y’know.
Dan: no she’s not she shouts at you all the time and beats you.
Matt: That’s just her way of sayin’ she likes you. What you got there Faye?
Faye: just my poem.
Matt: how’s it looking?
Faye: pretty good d’ya wanna read it? (Hands the book to Dan)
(Dan begins to read it)
Matt: there’s a real nice tree at the bottom of the fields, but the white folk poison it. In the summer you can smell the blossom, but sometimes it’s evil.
(Dan looks confused at Matt)
(You hear stomping in the background, it gets closer)
Faye: Quick, it’s her, pretend you’re asleep.
(Matt throws the book back to Faye and they all pretend to be sleeping)
Donna enters.
Donna: damn slaves (she walks off muttering under her breath)
Faye: phew that was a close one. I’m gonna get some sleep, hard days work for us tomorrow. Nite.
Matt and Dan: Nite
(Faye goes to sleep)
Matt: so where ya from?
Dan: Texas. How long you been in here for?
Matt: Oh must be about 6 months now. It goes really quick, seems like only yesterday I was the new kid. How’d they get you?
Dan: I was out walkin and these big blokes ran up to me, grabbed me and brought me here. My families gonna be real worried.
Matt: awww my family. My son’ll be 10 now y’know. He’s probably out playin baseball in the garden or something and and my little Susie she‘ll have been born now. Probably looks just like her mother. Oh and Lucy, my beautiful wife she’ll be watchin the stars, prayin that I’m ok. I’m fine hunny, don’t you worry bout me, tell the kids I love em. (Matt’s away in a dream)
Dan: you really miss them, don’t you?
Matt: yeah. Hey Dan would you be my best friend?
Dan: well I guess you gotta have friends in a place like this, sure.
(Matt gives Dan a big bear hug.) Well im gonna get me some sleep, I don’t fancy swingin tomorrow.
(Matt and Dan go to sleep).
(Moments later Donna strides in)
Donna: Get your backsides movin! I swear if you’re not out there in 5 minutes…
(Faye and Matt are running about putting clothes on, Dan is still sitting down)
Dan: what’s the big hurry
Faye: C’mon you heard what she said, if were not out there in 5 minutes we’ll be beaten or worse, c’mon
(Matt and Faye run out to the fields and start working, followed closely by Dan)
Dan: I’m gonna get out of this damn place today whether I have to go dead or alive.
Faye: Good luck.
Donna: Hey! New kid get your ass movin boy.
Dan: My names Dan
Donna: Do you think I give a damn what your goddamn name is boy? And I’ve had just about enough of you. I’m warning you now boy, I’ll be watching you like a hawk.
Dan: Yeah? Well I aint doin no work today!
Donna: Get to my office! NOW!
(Donna and Dan go to right hand side of stage)
Donna: What exactly is your problem boy?
Dan: You don’t own me; I don’t have to do nothin you say!
Donna: Oh dontcha. Look you Negroes were put on this earth to work. So god Damn it you will work. You and whole you’re whole family are dirt, and the sooner you realise that the better.
(Dan stands up and takes a swing at Donna’s face)
Donna: You’ve had it now boy! I warned you!
(Donna grabs him and shoves him outside)
Donna: Workers, this boy has crossed the line! He’ll be swingin at exactly 3pm.
Matt: No! Dan! No!
(Dan and Matt are about to hug Faye intervenes pushing Matt away)
Faye: Do you wanna be going with him?
(Dan is taken to the right hand side of the stage, Donna begins to hang him)
Faye: Reads the poem (tearful)
(The focus goes back on Matt in the middle of the stage, Faye goes to join him working)
Faye: You ok?
Matt: Yeah, just gotta keep on diggin, dig…..dig (cries)
Before the project started I never really thought about slavery in any detail. I knew that it was unpleasant and that they had to put up with some awful punishment. But other than that I was clueless. I don’t think it’s something many people in our society are aware of and in my opinion they should be. As it’s not just about slavery it could be taken further and raise opinions and discussions about racial bullying and discrimination.
I think using the drama it helped us to imagine what the situation must have been like. We had to put our selves into that setting and think about our own actions under the circumstances. At first it was hard to imagine what they must have been going through but as the course developed I found it easier to play the roles effectively and got deeper ideas about slavery. For example I didn’t think about each of the people in the plantation to be individuals, but after a few drama exercises I thought about how each and every one of them have family, friends, likes and dislikes, instead of them all being the same.
I think my most effective role was in strange fruit. I thought carefully about the role as I played a slave who always acted tough, stuck her chin up and got on with it. But at the end I had to show her true side, the scared, weak woman who longed for freedom. It was good how I could show that just by reading a poem too. I also found that the whole group had a positive impact to the performance and we all gave 110% effort. I think we had the effect on the audience that we were after.
I thought that Bianca, Carly, Laura, Laura and Donna’s escape scene was fantastic. It kept you watching throughout and had a wide range of differing characters. It also used the whole stage and the storyline worked well. I liked the way they kept you interested by showing different levels and their facial expressions were good also.
In my opinion the project was a great way to get us all thinking, and, performing better, and more demanding roles. It helped us feel motivated to do well. Also it taught us how lucky we are nowadays. If I had to sum the project up in two words it would be ‘Educational, fun’.
