THEATRE I DUET SCENE TIMELINE
Ø Tuesday, Jan. 20th - Assigned Scenes and Partners. Scripts Provided. Read aloud several times.
Ø Wednesday, Jan. 21st – Focus on SETTING: What are you working with?
Location determines blocking choices and use of props. (Stage business)
To Consider:
1. Indoor/ Outdoor?
2. Time of day/ Time of year?
3. Set pieces: Chairs, sofa, tables, etc. What kind? What size? Arranged how?
4. Props: Purse, newspaper, handkerchief, glasses, coffee mug, tape recorder, phone, handcuffs, briefcase, folders
5. Is setting familiar or new to you? How can you show this to the audience?
6. Can you create a set that offers blocking choices? Levels (sit, stand, etc.), enough space to cross behind & in front, placement of door for entrance/ exit…
REMEMBER, WE ARE USING REAL OBJECTS, COSTUMES AND SET PIECES. NO MORE SPACE OBJECTS! Sketch your set lay-out. DAILY GRADE.
Ø Thursday, Jan.22nd – PRE-BEAT & BACKSTORY
To Consider:
1. What are the MAJOR EVENTS that have shaped your character’s life in the past year? Be specific and create details in your memories. Make them relate to the script.
2. What’s at stake for you in this scene? What do you want? What would be the worst possible outcome?
3. What are you doing/thinking the MOMENT BEFORE (pre-beat) you or your partner enters the scene? Build the stakes here.
ASSIGNMENT: On a sheet of paper answer the following (1st person):
· What do you want from the other person in your scene?
· How will you know you get it? (Describe.)
· How will you know if you fail? (Describe.)
QUIZ GRADE.
Ø Friday, Jan.23rd – BLOCKING BASICS
To Consider:
1. Where are the BEAT CHANGES in your script? (These are moments when the tide shifts, the mood or tone changes, there’s an entrance or exit, the topic is heightened or weakened, etc.)
2. BLOCK YOUR BEATS! Once these beat changes have been marked, understand that these are opportunities for movement. Stand, sit, turn your back, lean in, flag down a waiter, exit, rummage through your briefcase, kick a chair, pound the table, slide down the wall into a broken, weeping heap – ANYTHING!!! Make bold choices.
3. MARK BEATS AND BLOCKING IN YOUR SCRIPT.
Example:
Mary enters café looking for her husband. She sees him at a corner table staring out the window with a content smile on his face. She approaches the table.
Mary: “Hi.”
John: “Hi honey, Happy Anniversary!”
Mary: “Yeah…Happy Anniversary. Can we go somewhere a little more private? I really want to talk to you alone.”
John: “I already poured us some champagne and ordered appetizers. We’ll have plenty of time to be alone. Let’s celebrate! ”
Mary: “Oh….Okay.”
Okay, so now I’m going to MARK MY BEATS AND ADD BLOCKING to the same script:
Mary enters café looking for her husband. She sees him at a corner table staring out the window with a content smile on his face. She approaches the table.
Mary: “Hi.”
SEE MARY. STAND, HUG HER while saying line. Try to TAKE HER COAT.
John: “Hi honey, Happy Anniversary!”
HOLD ONTO COAT.
Mary: “Yeah…Happy Anniversary. Can we go somewhere a little more private? I really want to talk to you alone.”
REMOVE HER COAT.
John: “I already poured us some champagne and ordered appetizers. We’ll have plenty of time to be alone. Let’s celebrate! ” PULL OUT CHAIR.
Mary: “Oh….Okay.” SLOWLY SINK INTO CHAIR.
ASSIGNMENT: 5 BEAT CHANGES WITH BLOCKING PER CHARACTER. I’LL CHECK YOUR SCRIPT FOR QUIZ GRADE.
Ø Monday, Jan.26th – RUN LINES & BLOCKING
GIFT BOXES PRESENTED TO SCENES. (tbd)
Ms. Ferrarone will work with scenes 1, 2, 3
Ø Tuesday, Jan.27th – RUN LINES & BLOCKING
Ms. Ferrarone will work a selected scene in front of class to demonstrate motivated blocking, use of stage business, creative entrances/ exits, playing objectives, etc. Everyone will make applications to their scenes.
Ø Wednesday, Jan.28th – RUN LINES & BLOCKING
Ms. Ferrarone will work with scenes 4, 5, 6
Ø Thursday, Jan.29th – RUN LINES & BLOCKING
Ms. Ferrarone will work scenes 7, 8, 9
Ø Friday, Jan.30th – ROUND ROBIN DRESS REHEARSAL
Bring props, costumes and set pieces that will be used in performances.
MEMORIZATION AND BLOCKING TEST.
MAJOR GRADE.
PERFORMANCES BEGIN ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND.
Duet Scene Checklist
1. Is the stage arranged in a way that promotes blocking and movement or does it limit my scene?
2. Have I gone through the script and discovered all props needs and successfully worked stage business into my performance?
3. Have I solidified a costume that informs the audience about who my character is or have I made an uninformed choice?
4. Does my scene have blocking choices that are driven by the script or am I moving for no real reason? (Or worse, just sitting/standing for most of it!)
5. Am I well-memorized or am I too concerned with my lines to be in the moment with my scene partner?
6. Have I created a strong pre-beat/ entrance and exit for my character that sets up the scene or do I just wait for my partner to enter/ walk onto the stage in an uninformative way?
7. Does my character change in the scene or do I remain the same for the entire scene?
8. If my character does change, when does it happen and how do I show it?
9. Am I clearly visible to the audience at all times or is there something in the way? (Hair in face, back to audience, poor blocking choices, etc.)
10. Do I stay in character from start to finish or do I “break” because something goes wrong, is funny, I lose a line, etc?
11. Am I playing an objective or just milking an emotion in my scene? Do I know what my character wants in this scene?
12. Am I trying different tactics to get what I want or do I play one basic action the entire time?