IB Free!!!

Our project was based on Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl. In the original text, Mary Maloney waits at home for her husband, Patrick, to return from work. When he arrives, they have a serious talk, which is barely described in the text. Afterwards, Mary kills Patrick with a leg of lamb from the freezer. She realizes how bad her actions were and attempts to disguise the fact she is the murderer. To do this, the goes to the store by sneaking out through the back door of the house. Upon her return from the grocery store, she finds Patrick dead and calls the police. The police arrive and investigate the crime scene. At the end, Mary offers the police officers the leg of lamb and they eat it. 

In our adaptation, we used the three named characters (Mary, Patrick, and Jack) and added two other police officers. These other police officers were originally loosely based on the officers mentioned in the story, but as they were not very characterized and there were too man for the number of actors we had, we made up new roles.  The new roles were Bob and Allan. The roles were made to add more energy to our skit.  Another change we made was expanding the conversation between Mary and Patrick.  By doing so, it made more sense why Mary killed him.  Other than these two changes, we kept our skit close to the original text and even decided to keep some of the dialogue the same.

With the little rehearsal time we had, it was difficult to stage.  While the final video was much better than the beginning, there are still many visible problems.  Most of them could have been fixed with more time and more rehearsals.  Some of the major mistakes were projection and talking over each other.  Projection is a common problem, especially when attempting to record our work.  Most of the video is clear, except some lines are easily lost.  For example, when Charlie said she was going to put the lamb in the oven after killing Patrick, she turned and the line was almost inaudible compared to the rest of the dialogue.  This problem was also slightly visible during the scene where Wiebke and I alternate with Adler and Charlie.  Wiebke and I were practically yelling at each other.  This was to project, but it also was produced by the level of energy we needed to and did place in our characters.  Compared to us, Adler and Charlie were quiet.  To be clear, they were not necessarily quiet, but when switching back and forth, it was noticeable they could be louder.  This problem most likely would be fixed with more rehearsals and creating more drafts to look at.  Another problem was that we kept talking over each other.  Everyone was guilty of this at least once.  This was partially caused by our lack of experience and lack of rehearsal while ad-libbing.  In our scene, about half of our lines were ad-libbed.  This was decided earlier in the week, so we did not have much practice of the particular scene and for some of us, ad-libbing in general.  This posed some problems of when to take pauses, when it was appropriate to interrupt and when we needed to stop talking in general.  In addition to the ad-libbed parts, there were several other minor overlaps in the scripted parts.  This was also likely due to the lack of run-throughs before we recorded.  

Some other minor aspects that might need adjusting is the fact that Wiebke and I left our hair down and that we were barefoot.  While this added a certain quirkiness to our characters, it was unintentional.  The scene changes also needed improvement.  They were very long.  This could be easily fixed if more people were present to help. 

Overall, I am proud of how far our group came in the little time we had.  To be honest, I thought the video was going to be hard to watch, but I was pleasantly surprised.  We managed to fix some of the tiny problems and address some of the notes given the day before well.  For example, the back and forth seemed smoother and everyone was doing something when they weren’t talking, which took away most of the dead silence that lingered the day before.  With more time, it would have improved even more, but I am proud of what the group managed to accomplish in such a short time. 

Link:

https://youtu.be/ZbKU528x4FE

Image source: 

Google images

Our Script for the Slaughter

Our project keeps getting pushed off due to people being absent, but we are making the best of it.  All of the scenes are difficult to rehearse if even one person is missing.  This is because of the awkward silences and the back and forth between groups of people.  Our blocking is roughly set, but it still needs work.  There have often been times where people in our group know what the plan is, while other people don’t.  As much as we have tried to all share ideas, it stills seems as though we are not all on the same page.  This is difficult to have in a group of five and I feel this is one of our biggest struggles.  We are great at dividing and conquering to get individual work done, but as we are blocking, it is difficult to all be on the same page.  This is not to say we don’t listen to each other’s ideas and all contribute, but there are definitely some differences in the way we interpret each other’s ideas.  Having a wide range of ideas has worked well, but as we work toward a final draft we definitely need to do a better job making sure we are all looking for the same outcome of the scene.

For the first time running our performance all the way through, the outcome was pretty good.  We still have a lot to work on.  We all need to work on our characterizations and learning to further exaggerate our roles.  In addition, we need to work on our relationships with each other.  I think Wiebke and I were doing a decent job working together to show our character’s and their relationship, but we were not as good when talking to the other people.  This would help with a few more establishing lines to show the prior relationships between each of the character’s.  This is especially needed between Adler and Charlie’s characters. Another way we can work to improve this is by memorizing and feeling more comfortable with our lines.  In my case specifically, I will be able to add comedic elements in some ad-libbed lines when I get more comfortable.  

The next step for our group is to go back to the script and add a few more lines like the establishing ones I mentioned above as well as a few more lines for Bob and Allan to embellish their comedic characterizations.  After this, we must proceed to learn our lines to the best of our abilities.  Once we accomplish this we can abandon our scripts for good and work on the characterizations, the relationships, the energy and other pieces as needed.  After today, a few other pieces will certainly be pacing, filling dead space, and projecting more.  As one of the last details, we need to work on making the scene changes smoother.  It was our first time today, so they may become more efficient on their own.  However, we may also need more people to help because of the various props that are left on stage and then need to be returned on stage.  This is difficult to operate with five people as it is difficult enough to carry the furniture without worrying about the props like the phone and the glasses.

To recap, our group is doing decent.  We need to put in more effort to know our lines.  Most of us were off script, but some people still were which made the flow and the energy troublesome.  Even the people who knew their lines need to become more familiar with the lines. First we need to add a little more and them all know our lines.  This will greatly improve our staging abilities and help us resolve many of the problems and mistakes that occurred in our first runthrough. 

As for the other group, they had some of the same problems and some problems that were very different.  Both groups definitely had a problem with projection and both created a little confusion as a result.  The other group needs to work on showing the time changes because it was very difficult to follow.  This could also be due to the quick pace.  The scene changes seem to happen very close together.  Their skit also was much different as they had more dialogue and less action while we had more action and less dialogue.  Without the actors projecting, it was difficult to understand what was going on in their scene.   

Diagram for scenes 1 and 3

Diagram for scene 2

Something of Everything

   As usual, I enjoyed the show, but noticed many minor mistakes as any good stage manager would.  I attended both shows this time, and I have to say that the fact that there were two shows were interesting.  Usually there are a couple, but only having two shows, one was opening night and the next was the last night.  Opening night in any show usually has a few mistakes that are most likely fixed in the nights to come.  The last show is usually the sloppiest as the company has performed many days in a row and are tired.  In this case, an interesting dynamic was provided.  While some mistakes were corrected in the second show, more were made and the actors ad-libbed many lines.  

    A few mistakes I noticed on the first night were the mics, the boys dancing, a few lighting miscues, and the way the blocks were tuned. First, the mics seemed to be taped incorrectly.  They might have slid, but several of them had mic tape around the tip of the mic where the sound enters.  While this may have no effect, it could also cover some of the sound.  The next issue was Elle’s skit.  Her mic fell off and the amp was turned down really low.  If this wasn’t a problem by itself.  The guys made a lot of noise by moving around behind her.  This was distracting from the song.  Some of this noise was accidental, but they also were clapping/snapping.  Another minor problem was the lighting miscues.  This was minor compared to the other comments I’ve had.  Most if not all were quickly corrected and there were few the following day.  Another very minor mistake was the way the black blocks were turned.  This was easily fixed the day after.  It was just a little thing that- as a stage manager- bothered me, but wouldn't bother most people.

    The show on Saturday night brought my attention to a few new minor mistakes.  A few were the scenes where the actors were supposed to freeze and the actors’ projection. First, most of the blocking in Mr. Porter’s skit was the actors freezing in their position on stage.  On Saturday a few people were moving while the rest were frozen disrupting the effect of freezing.  Another problem was the amount the actors were projecting. It was difficult to hear some of the lines which, in some cases, took away from the comedic aspects.  Both of these problems were likely because it was the last night as they did not occur the night before.  

    As a whole, I enjoyed the idea of doing the comedy skits.  It was different than what has previously done, making it more exciting.  However, this seemed to add to difficulties in rehearsing each individual skit.  Both from hearing the actors talk outside of rehearsal and through the shows, it seemed as though some skits had more rehearsal time than others.  As a theater, we haven’t had this problem to this scale.  Sometimes a scene will be rehearsed les, which isn’t very noticeable within a long play or musical.  However, in a small skit, it is more noticeable. Overall, I think comedy skits are worth doing again.  

    Another aspect that  I noticed on Saturday night that was important for me to notice was the backstage door on stage left.  I usually use that door when I am stage managing.  I haven’t thought i was distracting because the pit and the movable walls were blocking it, but after sitting by the booth, I am not sure anymore.  Therefore, I am going to check next year before I use it freely.  

Props, Costumes, Lights, and Sounds

Prop List:

“Lamb” leg

“Alcohol” (ice tea) glasses, bottles, container for the drink + ice cubes

can of beans

potatoes

wall phone

camera

flashlight

gun?

bell (sound effects)

grocery bags

knitting stuff

purse + money

laundry basket + clothes

props to place around the set to make it look more interesting such as a fake flower for the living room, or food and others things on sale in the grocery store)

Set Pieces:

5 Chairs 

Kitchen table

Armchair

Counter (grocery store)

register 

coffee table (green table from prop room)

lamp for the table

shelf for alcohol

coathanger

telephone

Costume List:

Allan and Bob- Police uniform

Badge

Striped shirt from Prop room? (check)

Canes (check)

Black pants (check)

Briefcase with science stuff

Hat (check)

Dress shoes/ boots

Mary- housewife

Dress  

Pregnant belly

Simple shoes not sneakers but comfy because she is pregnant

Jack- Nice looking police uniform

Navy shirt

Black pants

Badge

Hat (check)

Dress shoes

Patrick- Nice clothes

Black pants (check)

Dress shoes

Nice looking shirt but is no longer in uniform

Coat

Sam- Grocery store uniform

T shirt/ polo

skirt over Black pants

Apron (check)

Name tag?

Shoes- type of shoes doesn't matter here

Sound Cues: 

Scene 1: 

Enter Patrick: 

              Door Slam

Gives Her Reflection nod and Exit;

                Door Closing 

Scene 2: 

Enters Mary:

         Bell Sound

Mary enters the Kitchen: 

         Door Closing 

Scene 3:

 Beginning: 

Sound of Sirens (5-10 seconds)

Knock on door 

Light Cues:

Beginning:

lights come up

Mary: Hello, Sam I want some potatoes, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans. [gives her reflection a nod, EXITS]

BLACKOUT

scene change

lights come up

Mary : Thank you, Sam. Good night. 

BLACKOUT

scene change

lights come up

BOB: It's probably right under our noses. What do you think, Jack?

BLACKOUT 

end of scene

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        My group’s project is going well.  Everyone has contributed a decent amount especially considering the busy week last week was.  I am pleased that we finished the script on time- I was doubting that we would.  We now have all of our character development done as well as a full draft of our script and staging diagrams. We have also taken some of the blocking, lighting and costumes into consideration already.  This leads me to be hopeful for smooth sailing this week.  I think that figuring out our staging should not be too strenuous from the position that we are in.  Considering IB exams are over and everyone should be able to give the amount of commitment needed to our scene, I am looking forward to this week.  Staging will be more fun than writing the script was.  

       So far the group is working pretty cohesively.  We have been able to multitask during class in the sense that each person is working on a different aspect or doing a different task that needs to get done, but we are all sitting near each other to allow us to ask for other people’s creative input.  

 For example, if I was writing part of the script and Charlie was creating one of the stage diagrams and Adler was writing his character development...etc.  I could read the previous few lines and ask what so and so’s (one of the characters) should say next.  This was much more effective than working on every aspect as a group.  By using a divide and conquer strategy, we got more work done in a shorter amount of time.  I hope we continue working this way in the coming weeks as it has proven so effective.  While it may be hard to apply this while staging, we can certainly apply the strategy to lights, sound, costumes, props and finding the set pieces we want. Conveniently, that list has five items and the group consists of five people.   Therefore, I think dividing and conquering will continue to be a useful strategy.  

Script- Lamb to the Slaughter

Scene 1: 

MARY is in the living room, she is pacing around the room. She seems anxious like she is waiting for something. The door opens. 

MARY:    Hello, darling

PATRICK:    Hello

Mary takes Patrick’s coat from him and hangs it up. She brings 2 cups of alcohol, one for her and one for Patrick. 

MARY:    Tired, darling?

PATRICK:    Yes [sighs] I'm thoroughly exhausted. 

Patrick drinks the entire cup of alcohol and gets up to exit upstage into “ Kitchen” 

MARY:  I'll get it! [jumping up]

PATRICK: Sit down.

Patrick enters from upstage with a cup and a bottle of alcohol. He pours it all the way to the top. 

Mary sighs

MARY:     I think it's a shame that when someone's been a policeman as long as you have, he still has to walk around all day long [he doesn’t answer] Darling, If you're too tired to eat out tonight, as we had planned, I can fix you something. There's plenty of meat and stuff in the freezer. [she forces a smile, he doesn’t react] Anyway I’ll get you some bread and cheese."

PATRICK:    I don't want it.

[She moved uneasily in her chair]

MARY:     But you have to have supper. I can easily fix you something. I'd like to do it. We can have Lamb. Anything you want. Everything's in the freezer.

PATRICK:    Forget it

MARY:     But, darling, you have to eat! I'll do it anyway, and then you can have it or not, as you like. [stands up and places sewing on table]

PATRICK:     Sit down, Just for a minute, sit down. [pause] Go on, sit down. 

[MARY sits watching him all the time with large, puzzled eyes, he  finishes his second drink stares into the glass] 

Listen … I've got something to tell you

MARY:    What is it, darling? What's the matter?

Patrick stays motionless and does not make eye contact with Mary

PATRICK:     This is going to be a big shock to you, I'm afraid. But I've thought about it a good deal and I've decided that the only thing to do is to tell you immediately. [pauses]  I think that I need some time and distance to myself..

MARY:     That's fine dear are you thinking of a vacation for us?

PATRICK:     Yeahhh... more of a vacation for me.. Permanently 

MARY:     What? ..What are you saying…? [In a sad voice]

PATRICK:    I'm a rolling stone Mary, that's just how it is.. I met a girl at the casino last Month we’re eloping 

MARY:    I… I don't know what to say..Patrick. Please tell me this is a joke

PATRICK:     No, Mary.. I've simply outgrown you, I'll be packing my bags tonight.. I'll be gone by the morning.

MARY: Patrick..

PATRICK: I did us the favor of going to the town hall and getting the divorce papers..  [hands Mary the papers and Mary ignores them] So there it is. And I know it's a tough time to be telling you this, but there simply wasn't any other way. Of course, I'll give you money and see that you and the baby are taken care of. But there really shouldn't be any problem. I hope not, in any case. It wouldn't be very good for my job.

MARY stays silent for a minute, a look of confusion washes over her face. She gets up and acts as though nothing happened.

MARY:     I'll fix some supper [happy] 

MARY exits upstage 

PATRICK:    I've already told you.  Don't make supper for me. I'm going out.

PATRICK:    Well that was weird, well anyways I can't wait to Shelly tomorrow, she makes me forget all about this boring old witch. I don't know how I'm going to see the baby, but whatever the money should take care of that.

MARY comes behind PATRICK and swings a leg of lamb, she hits him with it and he falls to the ground dead.

MARY: I have a baby coming, he deserved it. I mean he wasn't going to take care of us with another girl around. What was he thinking? Another women in this child's life? No that can't happen, I'm the only mother. There is not going to be a stepmother or whatever other mother. It's me just me. [pauses]. Wait… I can't go to jail for this. Can I? He technically forced me to kill him. He was practically asking for it. I have to protect this baby, and I think I might have the perfect idea. 

Practices to herself 

MARY:    Hello, Sam [speaks loud and strangely] I want some potatoes, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans. [Not happy with how she sais it she tries again] Hello, Sam I want some potatoes, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans. [gives her reflection a nod, EXITS]

Scene 2- Grocery Store

[ENTER Sam and Mary]

MARY:    Hello, Sam [smiling] 

SAM:        Good evening, Mrs. Maloney. How are you?

MARY:    I want some potatoes, please, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans, too. Patrick's decided he's tired and he doesn't want to eat out tonight. We usually go out on Thursdays, you know, and now I don't have any vegetables in the house.

SAM:        Then how about some meat, Mrs. Maloney?

MARY:    No, I've got meat, thanks, I've got a nice leg of lamb, from the freezer.

SAM:        Do you want these potatoes, Mrs. Maloney?

MARY:    Oh, yes, they'll be fine. Two pounds, please.

SAM:        Anything else? [pause] How about dessert? What are you going to give him for dessert?  How about a nice piece of cake? I know he likes cake.

MARY:    Perfect. He loves it.

[Sam brings stuff and puts it in bags]

MARY:     Thank you, Sam. Good night. 

Blackout

[MARY enters the kitchen by the back door, quietly singing to herself]

MARY:    [calls out] Patrick! How are you, darling? 

MARY  sees that Patrick is dead, she runs into the living room and drops the groceries on the ground.  She runs over to him and drops to her knees.

MARY goes over to the phone and dials a number

MARY:     Quick! Come quickly! Patrick's dead.

POLICE:     Who's speaking?

MARY:    Mrs. Maloney. Mrs. Patrick Maloney.

POLICE:    Do you mean that Patrick's dead?

MARY:     I think so, He's lying on the floor and I think he's dead. [crying]

POLICE:     We'll be there immediately.

Scene 3:

Sirens go off and a knock is heard at the door. MARY opens the door and four policemen walk through the door. They all crowded around the dead body. 

MARY:     Is he dead? [crying]

JACK:        I'm afraid he is. What happened?

MARY:     I really loved him….. 

ALLAN: There is evidence of trauma to the--

BOB: The frontal lobe!

ALLAN: There must be trauma to your frontal lobe.

Jack is pacing and MARY is sitting on the couch in front of him. BOB and ALLAN are fighting but you can't hear anything.

JACK: Dammit.

MARY: Who would have done such a terrible thing?

BOB: He was clearly shot

ALLAN: Thank god! You might be right for once!

Start to look for bullet wound.

MARY: What am I going to do with the child now?

JACK: You don't need to worry. You have all of us. [gestures to ALLAN and BOB]

BOB: We can't find the hole!

ALLAN: Well if you weren’t such a dumbass!

BOB: Well you find it then.

ALLAN: I just did.

BOB: That's not a hole.

ALLAN: You’re blind!

BOB: Idiot!

JACK walks over to BOB, ALLAN, AND PATRICK’s body.

JACK: You’re both idiots!

ALLAN and BOB: How?

JACK: It was obviously not a gun shot.  It's not a deep enough wound.  Blood doesn't automatically mean there is a gun wound.

MARY starts crying loudly.

JACK: Mary, calm down.  We will solve this.  Did you know that your oven is still on, and the meat is still inside?

MARY:    Oh, So it is! I'd better turn it off [EXITS returns shortly after in tears] Would you do me a favor? Here you all are, all good friends of Patrick's, and you're helping to catch the man who killed him. You must be very hungry by now because it's long past your supper time, and I know that Patrick would never forgive me if I let you stay in the house without offering you anything to eat. Why don't you eat up the lamb in the oven?

JACK:        I wouldn't dream of it.

MARY:    Please, personally, I couldn't eat a thing, but it'd be a favor to me if you ate it up. Then you can go on with your work

The detectives hesitate but eventually follow MARY off stage. 

Black out

Scene 4:  Eating the Lamb

BOB: Have some more, Allan.

JACK: No, we'd better not finish it.

ALLAN: She wants us to finish it. She said we ought to eat it up.

JACK: That's a big bar the murderer must have used to hit poor Patrick. The doctor says the back of his head was broken to pieces.

ALLAN: That's why the weapon should be easy to find.

BOB: Exactly what I said. 

JACK: Whoever did it, he can't carry a weapon that big around with him.

ALLAN: Personally, I think the weapon is somewhere near the house.

BOB: It's probably right under our noses. What do you think, Jack?

Blackout

Sorry the formatting got slightly messed up by blogspot.  

See Charlie's blog for stage diagrams.

Character Development- Allan

      Allan is a forensic scientist/detective who is not very smart.  He tries to do his job well and thinks he is smarter than Bob- and he is slightly.   Allan and Bob add comic relief to the murder mystery.  While Jack attempts to comfort Mary and deal with his own emotions, Allan and Bob attempt to investigate Patrick's body for clues.  Allan has many lines in which he makes comments that do not make sense. The audience knows how Patrick was killed, so Allan's obliviousness is what makes him a comedic character.

      Allan is most likely a middle-aged man.  His stance and opinions would change based on others opinions.  He knows that Jack is smarter and that he needs to be nice to Jack.  He also has a little bit of respect for Jack.  

      There is not much to Allan.  He does not really have a backstory, nor is one extremely necessary.  He is simply there for comedic purposes and the fact that there is no substance to him and that he is shallow, makes him funnier.  Allan thinks he is smart, but he isn't.  He also has a habit of bickering with Bob.  The chemistry between Allan and Bob is very important to our show.  Without each other, they would be funny, but with their obliviousness and stupidity combined, they are twice as fun.  

I picture Allan dressed nicely in uniform as he is on the job, but there are definitely some quirks to his appearance.  He is probably on the larger side, and has funny looking hair.  His hair could potentially be sticking up- not messy, it is just the way it is cut.  His uniform would look new because of his incompetence.  He has not gone on many investigations so he is not dirty.  He probably stands a little weird maybe leaning sometimes and straight/tall others, and his facial expressions will change quickly from line to line as he gets excited about something and then is told it is dumb.  He does not laugh or smile easily if ever because he wants to take his job seriously.  This adds a contrast to his personality.  Overall, I will have to find a mixture of portraying as a funny and ridiculous character to being to far over the top.