Blue Remembered Hills .What are the challenges for an actor performing the part of Donald in this extract? In your answer you should refer to: Voice Physical Characterisation Motivation Interaction with others

After being scarred, nervous and a little excited he then must quickly turn and get upset. The actor must show that Donald is used to being teased but still illustrate that he is getting hurt, especially as it is Peter, who the actor must clearly show Donald looks up to, he could do this by trying to keep the hurt caused inside maybe turn away from Peter when getting upset, doing this would also be tricky as the actor must show the audience but not Peter.  To try and win Peter back round after being teased he compliments him ‘must have done. Him can’t beat you’ at this point maybe he should move closer to Peter, but in doing so he must still represent the hierarchy and show Peter is idealized and in a sense hero-worshipped by Donald adding to this also he must still portray the fear Donald has of Peter.

In the scene Donald tries to keep a secret, and I believe that maybe he really wants to tell Peter, but doesn’t feel he can. The actor must show that Donald is desperately trying to hold back information and the fact that he gets worried when faced with being beaten up. He must show this fear clearly in his facial expressions, movement and voice. Backing away, stuttering more than usual and wide eyed. When he gives in the actor must show he is still trying to give in reluctantly, I believe he maybe telling him for a reward or looking for friendship, the actor must show he is desperate to find this. He is so happy when Peter realises what he is doing, this excitement and happiness must bubble over, creating the manic laugh which is suggested in the stage directions.  

The actor knowing what is to come later on in the story, may want to prepare the audience or give some inkling that Donald is not quite sane. You get this idea from the script, and you know something is going to happen but the actor could add in some hints too like for example at the beginning of the scene when Donald is sitting alone he could rock back and forward, as this is a sign usually used to show a problem with a persons mental health or when laughing at this point he could do it in such a way that gives the audience a clue.

The terror comes back to Donald when Peter tells him he will go to jail; the actor must quickly shift again from this excited state, back to being frightened. When Peter brings up his dad, the actor should show a clear reaction to this, showing he is deeply, emotionally hurt with the fact that his dad is missing. Donald is naïve and must be persistent that his dad would not be dead but fighting – the actor should really change at this point when talking of his dad, to show he is proud and believes strongly in him but Peter must shatter this, leading Donald back to being upset and hurt ‘My poor old dad’. This pain must really show through as it must be recognized enough by the child Peter to understand how hurt he is.

Peter changing the topic could relax Donald a little and therefore the actor although still holding the previous feelings of sadness, show that he prefers and is glad of the change in subject. Donald could slowly get more and more happy as they chat away about finding the squirrel and yet as soons as he has got a little more comfortable the actor has to change the atmosphere again at the mention of matches as this is a premonition of what is to come, and yet this must be only slight and will shift back again quickly to him being inquisitive of the squirrel found and Peter’s hurt face. Going back to the matches and the fact that he asks about burning things ‘Do you like setting things on fire’ must be said very clearly as it is a very important line – in foreshadowing events.

There are so many shifts in emotion through this scene. The actor must be able to portray each one, still holding on to the last to show it is one continuing scene. As in real life people especially children aren’t able to drop emotions quickly and therefore it will be tricky to keep this shift steady, subtle and accurate. Acting all this as an adult while trying to be a child would be very challenging, because this scene would be tough without the added challenge of playing a West Country young child in the 1940s. I believe each of these things must be taken into account when taking the role of Donald in order to give a successful performance.