The war drama that I helped derive and performed in, although incomplete, contained some most effective parts. If we had completed it I think it could have given a strong message across to the audience

        The war drama that I helped derive and performed in, although incomplete, contained some most effective parts. If we had completed it I think it could have given a strong message across to the audience or if not a message would have had an impact at the least. What made it effective, I think was the plotline we had started and dramatic techniques we used. The plotline was about a soldier who was narrating about trench life and his fellow soldiers. What made the plotline effective was the fact that the audience didn’t know the soldier was dead until the end and all the while it was like he had been with the other soldiers and actually involved with the scene. An unexpected twist can have a strong impact on an unsuspecting audience. We used various devices in our war drama. I think the most effective device we used was our monologues during a frozen scene. We each said our thoughts aloud whilst everyone stood frozen. It was stylised, and that can add to the effectiveness of a device or drama piece. Telling the audience and acting as well, gives the audience an impression of our individual characters but it also is something unnatural which can provoke different feelings and emotions. We also included some mimed parts on our performance. When ever Ben spoke everyone else would mime. This was partly so the audience could hear him but it also looked like Ben was in the scene still though but just introducing it, or saying his thought aloud – like he had a monologue at the start of every scene and seeing as we all performed monologues it wouldn’t make the audience think that he was completely out of place in accordance with the rest of us.

        I have chosen to evaluate Izzie’s character from her performance – their performance is the one I have seen most and I think I understand her character better then the other characters. Izzie plays the mother of a soldier who has gone of to war. (As she was only called mother in the play, I don’t know her real character name) She portrays a woman who wants her son to come and while always thinking and worrying about her son she has to look after her daughter and other younger son. Izzie plays her character very well and has given her emotions and makes the character come alive. In the mothers voice there is always a trace of anxiety even when she is being encouraging or speaking in a happy tone of voice and when she is actually worried you can tell easily. Constantly, the tone of voice supports the character and stops her from being two-dimensional. Achieving something like being able to give a good idea from just tone of voice can be a very effective thing from the audience’s point of view. When someone in general is worried or anxious about someone, they will do something, like an action which usually portrays their worries. Izzie’s character does this – when she is particularly troubled she becomes very busy, always doing something. Her body language becomes troubled to – like she doesn’t know what to do with herself or she feels useless. Simple things like body language can make an audience understand more about that character. As I have mentioned previously the main emotion of this character is apprehension and anxiety. This is clear in all the actions and tone of voice constantly throughout the performance. She doesn’t just depict her emotions through a plotline and what is said. Izzie has created a powerful character whose emotions can be felt by the entire the audience. She is very much a character that can be empathised with easily – simply because of how she makes the character so understandable and clearly shows what’s running through her mind. One of the main reactions from the audience is sympathy – especially when the character finds out her son Is dead. Izzie acts this very well and creates an extremely powerful impact upon the audience – and she only says one line – “he writes very nicely”. Immediately from that point her pretence she has put on for her children becomes very obvious and the character suddenly appears now as a mother with no one to turn to or to express her true emotions to. This is what makes Izzie’s character such a powerful, emotional and memorable one.