Drama - Responding and Developing.

Drama

Session one - Responding and Developing

Task One:

After creating a map, in groups, families were created, based on this map.

There was the family of prostitutes, from the local brothel, there was the inn owners, there was the family from the fruit and veg stall, and there was the soldier family, who lived in side the barons castle, and were just a small part of his very large army. The church is located just to out of the village, closest to the castle, on top of a big hill. All families must attend, or they will be punished.

The entire class is stood in a still image, grouped with the rest of their family group. The scene is set outside the church, with the door represented by a rectangular shape on the back curtain, made from masking tape. The only other scenery is a path walked into the grass, again, marked with masking tape.

Stood to the left of the door is ‘Kirar’, stood with her arms folded, looking kind of angry. She is related to the Hollywell family, but outcasts her self from them, as she disagrees with their brothel. To the left of her is the Smith family, the local bakers, and then further away from the door is the rest of the Hollywells, who are talking, and rose, the brothel owner, is giving Edward, her rival, dirty looks. On the right closest to the church is the Heath family, who are the local god fearing family, and stand looking ready to go in, and have a ‘holier then thou’ attitude. Further up are the Broadmoores, my family, who owned the local tavern. Edward, the husband, is standing looking proud, with his arm around his wife’s shoulders, and the wife is looking bored and biting her nails. The two kids are standing chatting, and looking like they don’t want to be there. At the furthest away from the church are the McLains, the soldier family, who stand outcast from everyone else.

Task Two:

Miss Oates placed a selection of objects on a sack in the middle of the tight circle formed by the class. The objects were a doll, partially complete, a strange pot with various herbs inside and a silver goblet, with a red stain at the bottom. We started by looking at each individual object and trying to work out what they were, or could be used for. The ideas were sometimes very radical, and sometimes perfectly normal, but they were always plausible.

We then looked at the objects as a collection, and the idea was that it was a collection of items for a voodoo spell.

The Objects

The Goblet was thought to be for drinking blood in a spell or sacrifice, and had been stolen from a church. The other idea was that it was for Holy Communion.

It is the first object the priest picks up, and makes his mind start turning as to what is the reason for these objects to be there, and all together. In the bottom is a red stain, just simple wine? A remnant stain from when it was stolen from the church? Or something more sinister? Blood maybe, from a voodoo ritual…

The Doll at first was thought to be a semi made child’s toy, maybe a person had been making it for a daughter or friend, or maybe it was just a plain doll in a body shape that had broken and was being fixed. The second idea was that it was a voodoo doll, in the process of being made in the likeness of a person in order to cast a spell upon them.

Later on in the drama, the doll is the second object viewed by the priest, it leads his mind further towards voodoo or witch craft, it could just be a simple doll, in the process of being made, or fixed, or it could be something more sinister again, a doll to cast a spell upon some poor unsuspecting victim.

The Pot (Tajine) and herbs were looked at together, as the herbs had been placed inside the pot. The pot was a dish at the bottom, with a plant pot shaped lid that went on top, and an indent in the very top of the lid. The initial idea was that it was for cooking, probably bread, as the pot looked like it would go in an old type stove/oven and the herbs would be used as flavouring. The second idea was that it was used to store foodstuffs, such as the herbs, and keep them in a coolish place, ...

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The pot is the third and final object that the priest looks at, the one that causes him to decide that it is witchcraft. The herb, wrapped together in a posy inside the pot terrifies the priest, and causes him to run away.

We then looked at the objects as a collection, and the idea was that it was a collection of items for a voodoo spell.

After we had gone through the items, Miss Oates told us that these objects had been found by a priest on his way home, through the woods towards the later part of the evening, as the sun was setting. This lead to a short scene, done in action/narration directed by the whole class to how we thought the priest would have reacted. I played the priest.

Firstly the objects were left where they were, and the class moved away from the area where they were, then I stood a short distance away from the objects. Another student described what they thought I should do, and every now and again, another one would chime in with their idea. In the end, after a period of experimentation, the final scene was as so:

I walked along at a reasonably fast pace, in a hurry to get home, and went past the serious of objects, then when I got just past, I stopped and turned to view them again. I then went back and knelt in front of the objects, then examined them. I picked up the goblet, and took a look inside, then sniffed it, and placed it down again. The doll was picked up next; I took a look at one side, slowly, and then looked at the other in the same way, quickly placing it back. Then I lifted the lid of the pot, and dropped it in shock, stood up, whilst stepping back, crossed my self in the shape of a crucifix, then quickly turned and left.

After this, we were shown this picture, The Witches Sabbath, by Goya:

And were told that this is what the priest thought off when he saw these objects. The pictures show four witches dressed In black, with a 5th person (may or may not be a witch) stretching out to a innocent person praying, maybe this person stretching is trying to get help, or trying to get to the innocent person in order to harm them.

After this, we talked about what the priest was thinking/feeling. We decided that he was scared of the witchcraft, and what spells they would cast, as well as angry that a member of his parish (all local people went to the church) had been doing such evil, and still entering the house of god.

The priest saw these objects as tools of evil for one person, or maybe even a group of people, and he thinks that this evil must be stopped, to protect the good, innocent people that may be affected by this. This means he will insist on finding out who is responsible for this, and will see that they are duly punished.

By linking the two stimuli, we can see that the general theme is going to be connected to witches, or witchcraft at least.

Task three:

This is a whole group role-play, mostly improvised, as no one knows what is going to happen, apart from the teacher in role as the priest. It starts of as a still image. The families are set out as described in task one, waiting to enter church on Sunday morning, when the Priest arrives carrying a sack (teacher in role). The priest takes objects from the sack, and places them in front of her. The objects are those described in task two. The priest speaks out to the people “there is a witch among you” which causes most people to look scared, or shocked, with the exception of Kirar, and Victoria Hollywell, the tavern owners wife, who remain unfazed. The priest continues to tell the village that they will not be allowed to enter until the witch has been found. The two Broadmoore family children look really happy and dance, as they hate church, but this promotes suspicion in the priest, and at the same time, Victoria is trying to slip away quietly, but is being restrained by Edward (the Tavern owner/father) who struggles with her, but is forced to let her go when the priest comes over to ask why he does not have control over his family, and why they are so pleased that there is witch craft, Kirar also slips away, but no one notices.

Reflection:

After this the students went into groups, to mark the moment using whatever explorative strategy they wished to show what they thought the significant moments were, and the most used moment was Victoria Broadmoore skulking away, as everyone noticed this.

My group showed that scene, through a series of still images. We choose the ones we thought showed that part of the scene best, starting from Edward holding Victoria tight as she tries to struggle away, The priest yelling at Edward for not having control over his family, whilst Victoria escapes, and the two children dancing around. This series of images shows why the Broadmoores get a lot of suspicion around them, and why later on in the drama, Edward refuses to talk to the family.

Session two and three

The ‘Crying Out’

The crying out is the final part of the drama, where a young girl collapses in the road, and the two girls nearby who try to help her, are proclaimed witches, and arrested then put on trial.

This part of the drama is based on transcripts from the Salem Witch trials, and most of the script in the courtroom, are excerpts from various parts of those transcripts.

It also shows the hysteria that the chance there were witches in the village caused, the people didn’t care if they were guilty or not, it was an excuse for revenge mostly. In this version of the ending, neither of the accused are guilty, but Victoria would prefer to die and get revenge upon the Hollywells then let them get on with their lives.

Scene One

(Mary Smith runs in. Screams, collapses and fits on the floor. Kirar Hollywell and Victoria Broadmoore enter and rush to Mary’s aid)

Kirar: What’s happening – what’s wrong?

Victoria: Are you ok?

(Mary points randomly)

Mary: WITCH – WITCH – WITCH!

(John McLain enters)

John: What’s going on?

Mary: WITCH – WITCH – WITCH!

John: Guards – GUARDS!

(Enter guards who drag Victoria and Kirar offset)

Guard: (To Kirar) So it’s you is it? Interesting…

This first scene shows the main part of the hysteria, neither girl actually did anything, they just tried to help the girl, but they were there, and the ill girl blamed them, so in the eyes of the villagers, they did it.

Scene two is where the girls are sentenced. They are on trial separately, and at different times, but the scene is shown as one trial, and the separation is shown by the accused girls having a spot light on them when it is there trial, and then off when it is the other girls trial. The judge only asks the questions once however.

Scene Two

(Enter Judge, Guards and ‘Witches’. Guards then exit)

Judge: We are gathered here today to prove that these two…people are witches. Victoria Broadmoore, how do you plead?

Victoria: G – Guilty.

Judge: Kirar Hollywell, how do you plead?

Kirar: Not guilty.

[Here we see how Victoria is pleading guilty, even though she didn’t do it, and Kirar is telling the truth]

Judge: What evil spirits do you have familiarity with?

Victoria: The…The Devil – it was Kirar – not me – she brought to me.

[Victoria tries to blame Kirar for it all, just to get her in trouble, as revenge against the Hollywells, her rivals]

Kirar: None.

Judge: Have you ever seen the Devil?

Victoria: Yes – only once – When Kirar brought him to me.

Kirar: No.

Judge: When did you see the Devil?

[The judge continues to push Kirar even though she keeps saying she hasn’t done anything, as he has already decided she is guilty]

Victoria: The other day.

Kirar: I haven’t seen the Devil.

Judge: And what did the Devil say to you?

Victoria: Nothing – He told Kirar everything.

Kirar: Nothing, because I haven’t seen him.

Judge: But why did you torture the poor young lady?

[The judge makes the girl who had the fit seem to be a meek girl, so that when he sentences the ‘witches’ it looks like he is doing the right thing]

Victoria: Because Kirar told me to.

Kirar: I didn’t.

Judge: OK. I find you both guilty of being witches. Because Victoria Broadmoore told me the truth, She will be imprisoned for six years. However, Kirar Hollywell, you failed to tell the truth, therefore I sentence you –

[Rose Hollywell enters quickly]

Rose: She didn’t do it! It was all me – she didn’t do anything. She’s innocent - take me instead!

[Rose still has feelings for her sister, even though she left, and they usually bicker]

Judge: Very well. You are BOTH sentenced to die. Guards! Take these witches to be burned.

[The judge doesn’t actually care who dies, so long as he gets rid of the witches]

(Enter Guards who take witches and Victoria)

Scene Three

(Kirar and Rose at stake)

Kirar: Well that was stupid.

Rose: I thought it would work.

Kirar: Obviously not.

[Kirar and rose revert back to their previous digs and bickering, even though they are about to die, they are so used to it, its just natural]

Rose: Are you scared?

Kirar: A bit…you?

Rose: Terrified. Well, here he comes.

[Rose and Kirar are now admitting to each other that they are scared, a big thing for each character, as they are dropping their ‘mask’ and revealing their true feelings]

(Guard Enters)

Guard: Get ready to burn.

Rose: Well I guess this it. Goodbye Kyra.

Kirar: It’s Kirar.

[Kirar cannot let go of the hatred of her birth name ‘Kyra’ even before she dies]

This is the way a different group perceived what was happening in the village.

1st Scene

Dining Room (The Heaths)~Leanne brings in the food.

Nana: Thank you (As she pokes the dinner)

Child: Thank you (delayed and hesitated, goes to eat the food)

Nana: (hits child) God forbid us if we didn’t say grace, now say grace please. (Looks at Auntie)

Auntie: (The prayer) Thank-you for the food we take, make it good for Jesus’ sake.

Nana: Amen. Now eat.

(Cross cut to the McLain family)

2nd Scene

(Sarah sat in the corner staring at the doll in her hands)

Mother: (outside) Sarah (pause) Dinner (pause) Now!

(Cross cut back to the dining table)

3rd Scene

Child: Why didn’t we go to Church on Sunday?

Nana: (hits child again) Don’t speak of witchcraft at the dinner table.

[Nana thinks of her self as respectful but when the child asks a simple question she hits the child as though it’s a natural response and jumps to the conclusion that the child is talking about witchcraft although she’s not]

(Cross cut to the McLain family)

4th Scene

Sarah: I’m a witch, I’m a witch, I’m a witch, WITCH!

[She is admitting to being a witch even though she is only a child and probably has little understanding of the whole concept but believes by doing this she is

helping her family.]Mother: (walks in) What?

(Cross cut back to the dining table)

5th Scene

Auntie: I really think we should discuss it.

Nana: Stands up) Well I have my suspicions; it’s those whores, those disrespectful whores bringing sin into our village. (Other members of the family look shocked)

(Crosscut to McLain family)

6th Scene

Sarah: I’m a witch, I’m a witch.

Mother: You’re a witch?!?!?!

[Can’t believe what her daughter is telling her and is shocked that her daughter would do such a thing.]

(Cross cut back to the dining table)

7th Scene

Child: What’s going to happen about those whores?

Nana: They’ll get their comeuppance.

(Cross cut back to the McLain family)

8th Scene

Mother: (Grabs Sarah’s wrist and drags her up) I’m taking you to the

Priest

[The mother sees the child as evil, and no longer cares for her, she sees it as more important then her own flesh and blood]

(Drags her to the priest) (Lights down black out characters change)

9th Scene

Sarah: (Kneeling at the front of the Church)

Priest: (Lighting candles, notices Sarah, puts his hand on her

Shoulder) what is it my child?

Sarah: (mutters quietly) I’m a witch.

Priest: What was that?

[The priest isn’t really paying attention to the girl; he thinks she is unimportant]

Sarah: (Stands up) I’m a witch! (collapses to the floor)

Priest: (Jumps back) say that again my child (Shaking)

[The priest is now listening, and is now scared of the girl]

Sarah: I’m a witch; I’m a witch (muttered)

(Lights down black out characters change)

10th Scene

Judge: We are gathered here today to witness the trial of Sarah McLain

Accused of witchcraft in this village on January 28th…

Nana: (Looks shocked, interrupts) how can she be on trial when there are disrespectful whores in our village?

[This shows Nana heaths hatred of the whores, and her firm belief that it is them causing the witchcraft]

Mary: (‘Whore’ stands with her hands on her hips looking shocked and annoyed, huffs)

Judge: Who gives you the right to speak? (Points)

Nana: The Lord did! I can’t stand here and let that poor child take the blame when they (pointing) stand there causing trouble in the village, they’re evil!

Judge: Then leave!

(Nana leaves unwillingly)

Judge: Sarah McLain do you plead guilty or not guilty?

Sarah: (falls to her knees) I’m a witch!