Drama
1st day, things that we have done:
At the first day of the exam, we were given a poem—“saw it in the paper” by Adrian Mitchell. We were given about 5 minutes to read through them by ourselves. The teacher then read it with us, in order to give us a brief idea on the poem. We were then told to high light the most important sentences in the poem, but no more than 12.After doing it, the points that we shall be focusing on should be clearer. The poem was about a mother with a baby, whose husband has run off with another woman. She was heart broken and decided giving up everything. We then used spider grams to show different opinions on what this poem was about. I think the main theme was about “love”, loved from the mother, who locked her love away.
Still image:
After doing to introduction, we were then formed a group, about 3-6 people. I was in a group with Cindy N and Sam C. we decided to emphasize on 3 images; “The baby was hungry, nobody came”, “But the man who promised to marry her ran off with another woman” and “When love was torn away from her, she locked her love away.” Our still images were basically about a happy family picture, emphasized on the smiling faces and the ring on the mother’s hand.
Second one was about the guy with his new girlfriend. And the last one was about the mother abandoned the ring as well was the baby.
Evaluation:
Quite a good start generally. The family photo showed the happiness when everyone were not out of their lines, when no one had done the mistake, betrayed the other and when there was no evidence of mental instability. Second part had shown that he( the husband/ the baby’s dad who was acted by Sam) had decided to run away with another woman. It showed to the audience that how upset a woman could be if they saw the love ones hanging out with another woman. However, we had made a common mistake, we should not use out backs to face the audience. We will try to improve it next and make sure that it would not happen in the future. The last scene was good, because we used the idea of dropping the ring (dissolved a mirage), and then dropped the baby. Since no one loves her, she is going to love no one.
Scenes:
We then have to construct a few scenes; we then decided that the mother (acted by me) had to show that she doesn’t care the baby at all. She wanted to carry on clubbing or partying with her friends. She never thinks of taking care of her own baby. She was out when her baby died of hunger. Her friend (Cindy) was the one who discovered it. The mother could not be bothered to even have a glance on it.
Evaluation:
Due to the lack of the characters, there were limits of what we could do. However, Cindy and me had made the best of it. We set up the scene that the baby was crying, a friend walked in to visit her and she warned her about the baby. It showed that the people around her would care more about the baby then the actual mom. It clearly showed the level of the unawareness of the mother. And this leads to the next scene, where Cindy discovered that the death of the baby and tried to tell the mom. The mother was too drunk, she did not even have the consciousness to realize on what was going on. We could then emphasize on the angel of the mother. There were parts that needed improvement. When Cindy pressed the bell, due to the fact that I knew what was going to happejn next, my reaction was not natural enough.
2nd day things we have done:
We were given a newspaper article on Neanderthals. We were then told to read through it once on our own and we discussed about what to do we think about this. We were told to do a news report, therefore, we discussed who would be involved in an actual news reports. They were varies ideas: news reporter, camera man, scientists, the one who holds a different idea, the one who discovered the footprints and the residents around that area, etc.
News report:
We were then asked to form ka group of around 5 people. I am with Cindy N, Fiona B, Ayshea B and Stevie A. we decided to have several characters: 2 news reporter(Fiona and Cindy), 2 scientists(Ayshea and Stevie) and the one who holds a different view of it(Angela). I was the one who was in the interview and said all the scientists saying were for the research fee.
Evaluation:
The news reporter knew words by heart; they therefore knew what will be said next (the actual news reporter was supposed to know it). They had absolutely no problem with that. The scientists were excellent, Ayshea spoke with an accent, it shows that the origin of her (Italy). She could still manage to speak ‘recognizable’ English.
She had also done the video bit. She handled it quite well, with the help of Stevie, who illustrated all the small actions of the reconstructed Neanderthals. On the other hand, Stevie also showed her enormous knowledge on it. This persuade people to believe it. I played a small but effective part. I acted as a geographers, who claimed to know everything about it and it was just a false accusation of the scientists, so that they can have the research fee sponsored. I had shown my confidence in myself towards to audience. I wanted to persuade them, ‘ what I said was right, may you please believe me!’
GCSE drama assessment
The response phase
Section 1:
We received the lyrics, ‘she’s leaving home’. It was a song from The Beatles. I was about a young lade, who was spoiled by her parents. They bought everything that money could buy for her. They sacrificed themselves for her. The consequence was se left home. We read through once. The teachers assigned Ben Rogers to read out loud. This made us to have a stronger memory in the content. We then underlined the most important sentences. After that we had a group discussion. We discussed what it would be the more likely situation. For example: ‘Meeting a man from the motor trade.’ Was it her reason for running away (in order to cohabite/get married with him) or was he just the sales person of a car company (she wanted to buy a car to run away from home)---the reason she ran away. Was it because she felt alone---even though she got so much money? Did she feel the love that her parents tried to let her feel it? After discussing it, we were then divided into groups of three.
I was in a group with Cindy N and Sam C. We were told to do freeze frames---no more than 4 frames. We chose 3 most important lines to focus on. ‘Wednesday morning at five o’clock as the day begins.’, The first scene was she wanted to check and make sure that her parents were sleeping. She closed their door and walked away. Second scene was ‘Pick up the letter that’s lying there.’ And the last one was ‘meeting a man from the motor trade.’
Section 2:
We carried on what we did in the previous section. We were divided into groups of 4. I was in a group with Tom D, Daisy D & Sam C. Our scene was I (the daughter) left the letter. Parents work up, read the letter and worried about my safety. I met the guy from the motor trade. I tried to buy a brand new Mercedes car. I nearly got raped.
We had tried to practice before hand. We watched other group’s performance.
Evaluation :My group
Our scenes focused on a number of lines, “father snores as his wife gets into her gets into her dressing gown, picks up the letter that’s lying there.’ ‘Meeting a man from the motor trade.’
In the first part of the scene, Father(Tom D) and Mother(Daisy D) were snoring. According to the lyrics Mother woke up first when Father was still snoring, he slept heavily. She dressed in her gown---showed her unconsciousness. After reading it, she woke Father up. Father showed his unawareness too. Next, came to the scene that I had performed.
I walked in a car shop--- (‘keep the appointment she made.’) \POSHLY. It showed that I was a spoiled kid. I got so much money and wanted to buy a brand new expensive Mercedes. I did not even care that the car was actually ‘the-sales-person-owned’. I knew I wanted it---as I always do, a decisive person. Even though the sales person suggested something better, I did not care. I knew clearly money could buy happiness. We tried on that particular car I want. Sam and I tried to do it as realistic as possible. We opened the door of the car. Fasten our seatbelts. Turned on the car. Drove. I followed the rules to get the car moves. The car suddenly stopped-Sam looked as if he did it on purpose. This could lead to the next step. I hesitated. It was not what I expected in a driving test. I suggested calling a taxi-Sam did not seem to like it. He showed that he got something else on his mind---raping. He lengthened the time—to check the car’s machine. I could not be bother to walk down the car-as I am always a lady. I called the taxi, in order to lead to the last scene. He tried to rape me then-I has to react in an exaggerated way. I screamed, in order to have the best sound effect and be dramatic. I slammed him-to get the reactive scene. I left—final revenge. Daisy had done an excellent job in this. She followed all the lyrics and the lines. Audience should be very clear in what’s going on. Next to our scene was deliberately a few seconds after the previous freeze frames, in order to identify the separation period.
On the other hand, our group had made several mistakes:
- At the first scene, I should not stand near to the parents’ room. This leads to confusion.
- Tom should not snore so loud just to get a bit of humor. This might get an opposite effect.
- I smiled at some points when some audience started moaning. I should NOT. This made the scene less realistic.
- We forgot to undo the seat belts. This should be improved.
All the little things-although they are little, we have to keep an eye on. To follow up what happened in the first place and then ended it sensibly.
Evaluation Ayesha B, Fiona B and Stevie A.
They did an excellent play. Their play was in the reasonable length. Not too long and not too short. All their scenes were well organized. For example: Ayesha put on a pair of glasses, change the accent and clothes when fitting in a new character. This made the audience definitely know what’s going on. The secretary (Stevie A) was very good too. She checked the man’s daughter carefully---just in case. It shows that people who are doing illegal stuff cannot even trust their relatives. When Fiona (the daughter) entered, the father reacted mentally. He could not even trust his daughter. It was because he is a criminal, has is a cold-blooded creature. Ayesha ordered his daughter to deliver illegal stuff to a residential block nearby. H. He threatened her and questioned her before hand—just to make sure that everything is fine. He did not want to get himself into trouble more than his own daughter. This was the only way to lead to why the daughter ran away from home. The daughter was frightened when she got caught. Her reaction showed how uneducated her dad was. How the way she felt about her dad---who ruined her entire life. Good use of space. They used chairs, table and a pen too.
However, I personally think that all the scenes they had done was not included in the lyrics. The only factor that linked to the lyrics was her dad might be a criminal, earn so much money. That was why should bought what money could buy, she felt alone at last. Therefore she had to leave. Referring to the excellent performance of Ayesha—such a cold-blooded man would not sacrificed himself for her. (If he did, he would not ask her to do some illegal.). The dad would not feel sorry for her too—even she’s gone! If he loves her, he would do the best for her, but not telling her to do something illegal for him. It ruined her life at last.
Our script:
(In the market)
C: Shall I buy this?
A: yea, of course. We shall buy pancakes. I can still remember when you were young, we used to make them.
C: I always like them.
A: That’s your favorite blueberry cheesecake, shall we buy it too?
C: Sure, mother.
(Exit the scene)
(in the kitchen)
A:Cindy do you want to help me in making the pancakes?
C: OK.
A: You can add the eggs and milk into it.
C: I want to scramble the eggs.
(Mother handed over to her)
A: Cindy, are you ok?
C: mom, I really don’t want to leave you and our house.
A: Cindy, it’s time for you to learn how to be a grown up.
C: I know, but mom why that one? I don’t want to live with those kind of people and for god’s sake, how can you live with no servants at all? This is ridiculous!
A: Cindy, how many times do I have to tell you. Of course. There is nothing wrong to be wealthy, but there is nothing wrong to be not wealthy too!
C: But mom…..
A: No but mom, now bring the dishes to the dinning table.
C: Shall I get…..
A:NO! you will do it yourself.
(In the dinning table)
A:They are delicious, aren’t they?
C: Yea, nice taste really.
A: Cindy, unlike your cousin William, you are going to a slightly lower class school. You are going to learn much valuable experience from all of them. You will learn how to be a successful person by then.
C: Mom, I know what to do, don’t worry! I will behave and be good.
A: And always remember……remember……..
C: Remember not to tell them that you came from the Royal family. Mom, please stop crying.
A: Yea, just in case anyone wants to assassinate you.
C: mom….
U4 GCSE Drama Assessment
Unit 1
Evaluation
There were two stimulus texts given to us. I will evaluate the first one now:
She’s leaving home’ By the Beatles, which is only 40 years ago. When comparing to the other one, it is more recent text.
It talked about modern stuff too. For example: ‘meeting a man from the motor trade’.
We did both freeze frame and scenes. In the freeze frame, which allow still image. All groups managed to it successfully. My group did it successfully:
- The clear process is shown the time morning (woke up)--->(parents)picked up the letter---->meeting a man.
- Did not have any movement at all.
- Used obvious movement and facial expression (examples: used the door to represent checking the parents are sleeping and happiness on faces when she saw the man)
In the play I was with a group with Tom D, Daisy and Sam.
We did it successfully. It was because we:
- Decided to follow all the details of the lyrics. Example:” father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown.’ And ‘picks up the letter that’s lying there’.
- Mother (Daisy) had shown considerable love to her own daughter
- We developed the scenes cleverly. It showed that what the parents were worrying would come true. It was because it was reality.
- Made the kid looked as posh as possible.
However, there are still places I should improve:
- I should not smile at any time and at any point.
- I forgot to remove the seat belt after wearing it.
Other group
Ayesha, Fiona and Stevie were excellent, because:
- Well organized in all scenes.
- Right length of scenes.
- Shown the characteristic of a criminal guy----who does not trust anyone, not even his own daughter.
- Used accents, clothes and small devices (such as glasses and pen) to be identifications.
However, I would suggest some other methods to make the play even better:
- The change of accent should be more obvious of Ayesha.
- They could make more obvious movement of their little device.
Generally, I think they were excellent actresses. Their play was excellent.
Hamlet:
Unlike the previous text, it is quite an old text. It was from Shakespeare time. They used old-fashioned English.
I think our scenes were quite good; I quite like the idea of using the Royal. It is because it reflected the society and very educational.
The things that made out scenes outstanding:
- Without saying the word “Royal”, people can still know that we are from it. It is because the reality is that usually the ‘Royals’ would not call themselves ‘Royal’ within the family.
- We used phases like ‘cousin of William who studied in Eton’, ‘Servants’ and other words to show that we got connection from the Royals.
- Clearly showed what a ‘dictator’ the mother was.
- Happy ending, as everyone likes it.
However, there is something we could do to improve it:
- Made the dictatorship of the mother even more obvious. For example: tell the daughter what to eat, no matter she likes it or not.
- Have a sad ending, as happy ending is too common.
Evaluation of other group:
Kit and Pardeep. Their scenes were excellent. They were very positive and thoughtful.
They made it successful by doing the follows:
- Shown the love of father when they have just started the play. Very impressive.
- Good use of device, such as a glass. Very simple, but useful.
- They managed to end the scene without forgetting to put away the device.
- Showed a determination of a soldier. This was very encouraging.
I would suggest some other methods to make the scenes better:
- A soldier does not pay for the ticket. They forgot this bit.
- Kit(the son) did not mention the place, time and single/return ticket.
- Pardeep(father) faced the back to the audience. They could swap the door and the side of the window to avoid it.
The last scenes:
They were very effective, because we have done the following:
- Clear division of places. Floor=DIRTY grass (common place), Chair (where Cindy sat) showed the privileged of hers.
- Used simple device, such as paper to show the hatred.
- When the time that Cindy felt regretted, I freeze. Therefore, Cindy could talk to herself. This made it very impressive.
- Realistic. No matter how bad the impression is, the truth may not always be the same.
- Educational, wealthy people do not have to be rich people.
- Volume, words and sound are clear enough to be heard.
If I could have another chance for doing it, I will:
- Ankle is not where the knee is. I should not hold my knee and claimed that I hurt my ankle.
- Improved my fluentness in English language.
- Speak more clearly.
- Use exaggerate movements to make all the small bits easier to understand.
There is another group I want to evaluate.
Tom D, Daisy and Christian.
Their scenes are based on the theme---homosexuality.
I thought they are quite good, because:
- Clear introduction of character.
- Managed to get the father (Christian) audience confused and then solved it eventually.
- Did little actions, for example: chatted within the son, the so-called ‘girlfriend’ and the ‘so-called girlfriend’s girlfriend’ groups.
- The truth is clear to audience.
In order to make it a more successful play, I would:
- Do not cut in the middle of the play by using not very good excuse.
- Do not mess around too much, because the audience may get fed up with it.
- Make the kitchen more obvious.
- End it in a better time. (For example: After the father found out the truth).
In general, I think everyone in our group tries hard and determined to make their works successful. Time is a very important element to determine the success. Sometimes, if we emphasize too much in a particular part, the other part we got weaker. We have all learnt how to seize the time wisely. It is very delightful that we all managed to use our face to face the audience. Despite what we have learnt, we can do better in the future.
