For the witness, we didn’t use the interrogation approach. Instead, Katherine and Laura (the police) interviewed the witness (Amanda) in a subtler manner to get information out of her. Neither did they circle her. They stood next to her on either side to show that they were on her side. Again, the police asked five questions each before ending it with “case closed” to show that we finalised the story.
Before today, we didn’t use depiction for the attack as we didn’t think to but once we had performed how far we had got so far, we were directed to use it to give a greater effect. We tried it out and found that it did work better. We also didn’t time the depiction’s and the steps leading up to the attack and then seeing it, we considered it was relevant. The final thing of which I personally didn’t like was the thought tracking at the beginning of the scene. However, the rest of the group thinks it works and I agree with them, I just don’t like performing it.
I believe that the two hot seating situations were particularly good as they had a great deal of contrast between them both. This would keep the audience interested because the two are varied. Now that we have added it, I believe the depiction’s of the attack are extensively effective. This is because before my hands were flying everywhere as I didn’t know what to do with them and it all happened very quickly whereas now, the audience can see exactly what is happening and can have a greater understanding. I also think that the use of sound leading up to the attack as it creates an impact that keeps you on the edge of your seat. One final thing that is good about our scene is that it involves everyone equally so that no one is left out or has a too smaller part.
I think we used space very well. In the beginning we cut across the floor diagonally to insure we use as much space as possible. This also shows that we are in a spaced out environment (the park) to give a visual image. The attack should then take place near about the middle of the floor so the depiction’s can be seen from all angles of the audience and of cause, me and my partner will face the audience at all times. The hot seating is different. Hot seating doesn’t require much space but the in which we use the adequate space is good as we rotate in a circular motion around the seat, getting faster and faster to give the effect of interrogation. So, overall we have excelled ourselves reasonably well in ways of space.
Although we didn’t use sound constantly, the way in which we have is satisfactory. The drum beating leading up to the attack works well but the drum beating on the hot seating is too alike the build up to the attack and therefore needs more contrast. I think we will probably change this in time to come.
I don’t think we thought about motivation before our first performance. We needed to get into the minds of the characters and if you were the particular character, what would you do? After the first performance, we needed to think about this and why the characters were doing what they were doing. Therefore, we used the appropriate facial expressions as well as body language.
There wasn’t any movement in the first aspect of our scene when I am thought tracking with the policemen. I just sat on the chair with my knees up, biting my nails to show that I am nervous. Katherine is lent forward to show that she is caring and understanding whereas as Laura was acting the laid back policeman, taking notes of the conversation. Moving into the build up to the attack, with every two steps, I turned around to see what was behind me. From then, the depiction’s take place. In the hot seating, me and Katherine surround Laura (the attacker) in a circular motion so intimidate the attacker and the attacker sits there laid back as if he hasn’t done anything and doesn’t know what the policemen are talking about. When Katherine and Laura interview Amanda (the witness) the movements and mood changes. The policemen become more relaxed and with the witness. They don’t surround her and just stand by her side to show that they are on her side.
I believe that our play works very well. I would only change two things and the first being is that to close the interview the policemen says “case closed” and I don’t think this is very effective neither does it work well. This is because they lean in as they say it and I would feel interrogated or isolated when really, they are meant to be on her side to gain information. Therefore, I think that rather than lean into the witness, they should face the audience and say it to put a close on the horror scene. I think this would work better. However, this is a joint decision between the group and I will ask and see what they think of how it works now and if they like it and if they don’t then I will propose my idea to see what they make of it. If they are willing to, we will change this bit to add it in. I also think that the drum beating in the hot seating is too alike that of the build up to the attack. The one with the attack works better than the one in the hot seating mainly because it is repeated when doing it with the witness. The idea is to make the defendant feel isolated with the drum beating and not the witness. I think we should change this and keep the drum in the lead up to the attack but possibly change the hot seating instrument for each. I will consult the rest of the group.
All in all, with a little improvement, our horror scene should be very effective on its audience. At the moment, we are obviously still in the development stage and need to clean it up a little, too so that it looks almost real!
