- Ahmed’s monologue “Twenty years like this. Twenty years. I just wish I was free”. This, in my opinion, illustrates the confinement the pictured lady is experiencing. She looks as if she is trapped by where she is – the longing for freedom. Ahmed’s monologue illustrates this. “I just wish I was free” - This is how I would feel if I was in this position.
- Dhaval’s monologue – “Why did he have to commit suicide? He was my closest friend. Why did he have to go?” This is a rather different interpretation of the picture, but nonetheless, a powerful and highly probable one, as; Picasso’s “Blue Period” was inspired by his friend committing suicide. The lady in the picture could’ve been thinking this – her body language certainly suggests this – she is hunched up, as if she has a huge burden on her shoulders, or the ‘weight of the world’ has really got her down. Dhaval’s monologue expresses this very well and in my opinion, is an accurate interpretation
These phrases were made more effective by the fact that they were short. Length changes effectiveness – after all TV adverts that incorporate short phrases like “Have a break, have a Kit Kat” are powerful and memorable.
Our final task was to create a role play on how this painting came to exist. My group consisted of Paul, Charles, Kasun and of course, myself. The basic plot idea was simple. Paul was to play Picasso, the painter. He would go to a prison to paint a prisoner for his “Blue Period”. I would be the prisoner he painted, and yes, that inevitably meant that I would have to put a wig on! Charles would be the prison guard and Kasun would be another prisoner. The “draft performances” went well and everyone seemed to be confident with their lines. However, performing was different. The initial bit went well until Kasun went a bit “over the top” being a prisoner. His silly “lemme out” became annoying, and frankly, was a bit stupid. Then came my part. Picasso (Paul) came to my “cell” to do the painting, but the audience couldn’t really see my face, yet alone my facial expressions, as bits of the wig kept flopping over my face. (Much to their amusement) Consequently, as Paul painted, he was edging left, and was blocking bits of the stage. Apart from the few muck-ups, everything went smoothly. Our play integrated several drama mediums and explorative strategies…
- Role play – This was used effectively to show the audience what was going on.
- Narration (at the start – when Charles gave a small speech about the background of the play) – This was effective in telling the audience what our play was about.
- Props (my wig, and some stools [for the cells]) – These were effectively used to make our play more realistic.
The other groups
I didn’t think our play was excellent. I thought it lacked depth – it was a rather short and didn’t really portray a lot of feelings. Also, some parts were a bit unnecessary (Kasun’s “lemme out” – one is enough!) However, I thought there was some excellent work out there – In my opinion, Dhaval’s group did a very effective play that captured how Picasso was feeling. It started off with Picasso (Dhaval) running out of some paints and having to go and buy some from a corner shop. The shopkeeper refused to sell Picasso the paints because he didn’t have any money (A rather comical piece of acting that made the audience laugh), so a dejected Picasso wandered out of the shop. On the street, he purchased a newspaper from a “newspaper salesman” (A lively character played by TJ [I think]). On this paper (A prop was used here – The Metro – this made the scene more real, as it would’ve looked rather strange if he’d been reading a blank page) he read that his friend had committed suicide. This seemed to sadden him, as he fell to the floor, head in hands. This was designed to emphasise the sadness and depression he was experiencing. This would’ve been a powerful piece of acting if he wasn’t smiling through his fingers. He then went home to paint with the colours he had left, and eventually painted that lady (Shown to the class by Picasso when he had finished) This play reflected the depression Picasso was going through before he commenced his “Blue Period” This was a powerful play – Picasso experienced one disappointment after another, and it was clear that the audience could relate to how he felt. Prior to the opening statement, we brainstormed a number of ideas about physical and mental confinement.
For the monologue at the beginning of the lesson, I intended to say “Why did I do it? Was it really worth it? I’ve got nothing out of it but a life in this hell hole” This was designed to show the audience that I hated prison and that I was feeling sorry for myself. The way my shoulders were slumped was designed to show that I was experiencing problems and having a tough time.