Death Disguised

http://youtu.be/0KwYJekezZw

From Chaos to a Job Well Done

Staging scenes in class is difficult due to the time constraints, but it is a fun interruption to normal class activities.  Compared to sitting in a class taking notes, staging a scene involves moving around and creativity.  A good scene is one that grabs the audience’s attention.  This may be because the scene is unique or creative.  Often times, the scenes are based on what we are reading in class.  If the assignment was to adapt a scene to modern day, the scene might grab the audience’s attention by being different from expected or ‘outside of the box.’ This might mean staging the scene in a different situation, or having the characters be a little different from the original play.  The scene would also grab the audience’s attention because of the ways the actors or actresses played their roles.  They way the actor or actress chooses to portray the character may set the scene apart from other interpretations.  

The most difficult part about staging scenes in class is the short amount of time we have to meet with our group, come up with idea, write the script, stage the scene and perform it.  The groups also make it difficult.  Since it is still early in the year, we have not had the chance to work with each person in the class.  This is usually true with most performances.  In the first week or two of rehearsal, the cast and crew is still getting to know each other.  From experience as a stage manager, and from staging scenes and acting in class, both the crew and cast, need to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses.   Learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses helps the group as a whole to succeed.  Overtime, working in class will get easier because everyone will get to know these things about each other.  

Specifically to the Romeo and Juliet scene that we are staging in class tomorrow, it was difficult to learn the Shakespearean language.  It is much easier to stage a scene if you have your lines memorized.  Once you do not need your script, you can use your hands while talking. In some scenes this is necessary, but in most this just adds a little extra.  Speaking in the Shakespearean language is very difficult.  It is extremely easy to get tongue tied.  Wiebke and I, as well as some of the other groups, found ourselves talking very quickly.  This is a problem because of the language.  With any script, the lines need to be said at a relaxed pace, so the audience understands what the actors and actresses are trying to say.  This is especially important when the script is in Shakespearean language because the language is harder for the audience to follow and understand. 

Overall, staging scenes becomes easier with practice.  I feel much more confident about the latest project than I did on the one a few weeks ago. I also knew my group members better this time which helped.  In conclusion, the most difficult part is the amount of time, but it is possible to do with help and cooperation from my group members.

This photo is from rehearsal of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 

Ryan, Jessica. Jessica, Ryan.

Setting: The Cheshire Academy Prom at Anthony’s Ocean View. Ryan and Jessica have not come together. Ryan comes alone but intends to see Rebecca and Jessica is with Peeta.  Ryan attends Suffield, Cheshire Academy’s biggest rival. 

DJ: Welcome Cheshire Academy! Are you ready to dance? Don’t be shy! The dance floor is big and I want to see all of you on it!

A teacher gets on the dance floor and starts to dance. They dance very strangely.

Come on everyone! There should be more people dancing.  Show this teacher how it’s done!

More students join including Rebecca and Peeta.  Ryan and Jessica stay behind. 

Ryan: (to a student who passes by) Do you know that girl over there? Who is she? 

He points at Jessica.

Student: I don’t know. Ask someone else.

Ryan: I will!

(On the other side of the dance floor)

Toby: What is he doing here? How did he get in? I can’t believe he has the nerve to show up here.  

Mr. Chapman: What happened? Who is here? Slow down.

Toby: He is our enemy.  He’s that guy from Suffield who tackled the ref.

Mr. Chapman: Is it really? Why is he here?

Toby: Yes I swear it’s him.  Are you going to make him leave?

Mr. Chapman: Calm down, Toby.  Just ignore him.  He shouldn’t bother you. Now, go have fun with someone your own age!

Toby: Okay, I will try not to react, but if he comes near me-

Mr. Chapman: Go on, have fun. Don’t let your prom be ruined by someone standing in the corner.

Toby sighs and walks away.  Ryan meets Jessica.

Ryan: You are beautiful. 

Jessica: You are not so bad looking yourself.

Ryan: Why have we never met before? …. Oh well, now that we have I just want to be with you.

Jessica: I want to be with you too.

Ryan kisses her.

Jessica: Wow.. 

Jessica kisses Ryan back. Jessica’s friend interrupts.

Nora: Peeta is looking for you.  He says he wants you to hurry. 

Jessica: Oh yeah. I forgot.. Thank you. 

Jessica leaves Ryan without saying goodbye.

Ryan: Who is she?

Nora: She goes to Cheshire Academy.

Ryan: Oh, no. What did I just get myself into?

Ben (Another student from Suffield who hasn’t been noticed up until this point.): We should leave.  People are starting to stare.

Ryan: Tell me about it.

Outside Jessica talks to Nora.

Jessica: Who was that? He was so hot.

Nora: I do not know his name, but I don’t think he goes to CA.

Jessica: Oh no! What have I done? I’m so stupid.  I should get out of here.

Source: Google Images

"Death is Not the Worst Thing That Can Happen to Men." -Plato

In Act 3 scene 2, Juliet refers to the death of Tybalt from two viewpoints: she misses Tybalt, and she is upset that her husband is banished.  She, like Romeo in scene 3, compares death death to banishment.  Juliet says “My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband: All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?” In this quote, she is saying that Romeo lives and Tybalt is dead.  Tybalt's death was supposed to kill Romeo, but he didn't which is comforting, but she still is upset.  This is because, to her, Romeo's banishment is like death.  Once he leaves she will not get to see him again.  Juliet sees death as both a good and bad thing.  She dislikes that Tybalt died, but she thinks it would be better if Romeo had died rather than been banished. Romeo's death would have been the end.  However, their secret love cannot continue and because of the feud no one will support it right away.  Romeo doesn't have this time. If Romeo died, Juliet would not technically be breaking vows to her husband, but this had its problems too.  Romeo's death would make Juliet very upset because then they would never get to be together.  In this situation, death can be viewed positively and negatively.  Overall, Juliet's emotions toward death are conflicted.  

Iambic Pentameter

The moon and stars alight the sky this night

To guide me home along a path so bright 

Anger

Anger is powerful because it causes someone to do irrational things.  I have been in a situation where anger caused a chain reaction.  Person 1 and person 2 had a disagreement, so both people were acting upset.  Person 1 snapped at person 3.  Person 3 got upset and person 2 realized and tried to talk to her.  Eventually person 1 calmed down and realized what happened.  This situation could have been avoided if person 1 hadn't snapped at person 3. 

"Who Says Romance is Dead?"

Warm Bodies, directed by Jonathan Levine, is an abstract version of Romeo and Juliet. It was released on February 1, 2013.  The director made many changes to the characters while keeping the plot similar to the original play by Shakespeare.  Some of these changes included the language, the setting, and the time when it was set.  The language is modern English including some comedic lines. The setting was much different.  The time is set in the future after a zombie apocalypse has occurred.  Rather than the feud between the families, the two groups are the zombies, also referred to as corpses, and the humans.  The character R comes from the corpses (Montague) and Julie from the humans (Capulet).  In both the play and the movie, love is a possible cure to the feud between Romeo and Juliet's worlds/families.  The director based many scenes and characters off of those in the play with some key changes.

In the movie, Julie talks to Nora, who is similar to the Nurse, in her room about R.  While this conversation is much later in the play, Julie asks the same questions as Juliet: why does she love Romeo/R more than any other guy?  Why does it have to be him? This scene is followed by the balcony scene.  The balcony scene in the movie happens later in the movie, after R killed someone she loves.  The scene still portrays the fact that Romeo risks his life to see Juliet. In addition, Nora also interrupts them, similar to the way the Nurse calls Juliet in the play.   

Julie's boyfriend, Perry, is similar to Paris and to Tybalt.  He is similar to Paris because him and Julie are dating, but their love isn't perfect.  At the beginning, Julie reaches for Perry's hand and he lets go, focusing on the message they are watching. This is different from the play, where Paris was more interested in Juliet than she was in him.  Perry is also similar to Tybalt because both are killed by Romeo/R.  In addition, it is brought to Juliet/Julie's attention that the person they loved killed another person who they loved.  

The movie and the play were also slightly different.  The biggest difference is that the movie is not a tragedy, but the play is.  At the end of the play, Romeo and Juliet both die, as well as other characters.  In the movie, only Perry and the bonies, who are corpses that are too far gone to be cured die.  Julie is able to convince her father that R is becoming human again, so R and Julie do not die.  Instead, they are able to be together.  Another difference is that R and Julie do not get married. Their relationship is much longer and they do not kiss until the end. 

I enjoyed Warm Bodies. I previously watched the movie with friends before reading the play and did not realize that it was an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. This movie is enjoyable with and without knowledge of the play, but connecting it to the play makes the plot more interesting.  Due to the modern language, the movie is easier to understand and makes the play more understandable.  Overall, watching Warm Bodies enhanced reading Shakespeare's play. 

Sources: 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588173/

Google Images