Final Evaluation.

My overall opinion on the performance was that it was so professional, although we are theatre students I don't think anybody would expect the level of preciseness from our age group, the performance was very heartwarming as well as cold blooded (meant to be an innuendo but I don't think it works), it had made me realize what it was that made me love and want to act in the first place!
Personally, I think the final characterization of my character went pretty well! I was so worried that because I was still building up to finding Danny, that I wouldn't be able to express her enough in my performance, or that I would do it but with no meaning. It worked in time and I think it fitted rather well as it was sort of similar to Kim's? Kind of...
Another actor that's very noticeable is Eloise, from the beginning she has put a lot into the making of Leah. Unlike myself, she is very fast at learning lines knowing them at practically week one? This gave her a big advantage over everyone else as you can feel more your character, and be your character a lot better without a scrip faffing about in front of you. I think Eloise developed the character beautifully and knew exactly how to portray it. The reason I have chosen Eloise is because she knew exactly how to deliver her lines, and importantly to who she's delivering them to. This was very effective because it was clear who was the next to speak, or at least where you stood in the act. Although, it could have been even better if the Leah's had referred back to each other when it came to building their characters, because excluding the amount of talking they did there wasn't much significance in their connection as the same character in the way they spoke, sometimes even their physicality.
The Piece was very effective because of the variation of assets we had to create DNA. An example being the props, the little things that showed the related characters were really emphatic; another being the costumes and set, the idea of us all wearing uniform works really well because it shows our age group and the fact we are all acting within our age group-which is one of the main reasons I think it worked so well. The set being simplistic also, but the small things, E.G the swing and the bench, just gave it the feel it really needed. We made really good use of these. Another important part of the set was the back drop, or the projection at the back of the staging area. The text messages gave a similar feel to the uniform highlighting the age group we're in as well as giving a taster of some of the relationships between the different characters within the play.
I think that the main strengths of the performance were that it flowed so well, there were no sudden, unneeded pauses and silences in the play. There were no noticeable errors and everybody covered for each other! The biggest strengths is probably the group itself and how we are cooperate so well with each other in terms of acting and knowing when, where to come in, when to help out a class mate and help to contribute to the building of someone else s character. We are all so imaginative and my character would not be what it was if it wasn't for the analysis of everyone else, and the tips I've been given, which I'm pretty sure would be the same for everyone else. So, none of our characters were developed by one person but by several; so they allow to fit perfectly into the piece. The characters all just worked in general, and they just felt natural!
Although this happened, things that could have been developed further were those such as characters being able to apply to each other. Sometimes the scene change overs weren't enough to see which characters are being played by who, and it had to have been made more obvious by highlighting the things the characters had in common, because sometimes, minus the clothing I doubt you would have been able to tell. But that's it really? I think you all did amazing, and thanks to Miss Goodall obviously who is fabulous, and the best teacher ever (not attempting to bribe for a distinction) cough*cough*cough. Thank you though Miss, I think I would have to cry if I  had a different strand teacher, oh god I can't even think about it...!

Need to find my role on wall, peer assesment, self assesment at school to photocopy for blog 21-2-13.

Once again, WELL DONE EVERYONE!

Song's going to bring back an awful lot of memories now, awr

FINAL DAY!!! dress rehearsal/official performance

Today was probably the most nerve-wrecking thing I've had to do in a while, but I loved it!!!
The cast of DNA have outdone themselves once again!
There was no problems or hustle in the process of getting ready and we went straight into it!

Here's a picture of my part in scene 2!:)

(Left to Right: Marli (Jan), Claudia (Cathy), Lauren (Lou), Myself( Danny); JJ (Brian) on the floor)


The dress rehearsal was to Mr Stevens and a few year 12 students, they were a fab audience!
Although there was a slight problem at the beginning where I had to pass someone a prop, I had missed my Que for the opening, so not a very good start to the dress rehearsal sadly. I tried my best to make it up but not coming out of role for a second during the performance, standing around the edges observing my teeth and looking at a dental site on my phone; by doing this I think I over exaggerated a little bit too much, lol. I realized this and toned it down a little for the real thing, so it's ok!
When it came to my scene, I had remembered the alterations I made to my characters and I think they worked really well! Dress rehearsal went really, really well!




Right now for the real thing, all I can say is that is was perfect. I guess the theory that people always perform better when the actual show happens is true!
Everything went as planned and the pace was miles better than when we had originally done run through.
Our class were able to cover for each other when it came to lines, and allowed the play to flow really well.
Well Done DNA, WE DID IT!!!

final final final rehearsal!

We all came in costume today and really did look AH MAY ZING.

The piece has really improved and I should hope that everyone is really proud of themselves!


I have read through my lines thoroughly and know exactly what I am doing/saying and the purpose of my lines, with a nice pressure quiz from my mother pretty much every night *enthusiastic parents*. I know clearly who I am talking to in every line (Usually Leah or Lou, on occasion Cathy or a general comment).
I am clear on what the subtext of my lines and what I am thinking in the process. I know now what the aim of my character is in this scene, which I did not think about before.

I think that Danny is just being dragged into this and is pretty much just going along with it, though she is scared and just wants everyone to realize that she has plans that she does not intend to change for anybody, not even dead people. She is attempting to keep calm until she eventually bursts on the line "we can't do nothing, they want Brian" you can tell the anger in this line (I hope) and how it contrasts with her nerves at earlier stages of this scene. Danny's character wants everyone to know that she doesn't want to be part of this, she just wants to be a dentist really?


Ah, really nervous/exited for next week!!!

*REMEMBER SHOWS NEXT WEEK*

it's getting closer/final rehearsal

The tension is building and we are getting alot closer to the show!!!
We are doing amazingly, and we are really starting to live, eat, breathe our characters, the commitment is amazing.

This lesson we focused on the change-overs and more on our characterization. Well, Miss Goodall had the genius idea that we should have text messages up on the screen during the performance as if they were to us! Here are a few examples:

Danny had received a text from the oxford orthodontic university with confirmation of her appeal for work experience, but I don't particularly think it fitted as well as these messages. These messages send to us at the point in the opening scene where we look at our phones with a big grin and run off stage. 

This is the last rehearsal so it should have been perfect by now! Well I hope it was??

My targets for next week:

• Remember to keep up the energy
• Don't forget to follow on Kim's interpretation of Danny in act one
• Keep revising over my lines and notes, try to be as dedicated as possible by having extra rehearsals outside of class.

Rehearsal 5

Today we did another run through, which sadly could have gone better for myself and the class.

Firstly we did the change over in our scenes, Kimberley and I started with the idea of the hairband sharing in the plait; which eventually changed to the idea of passing on of the glasses, highlighting the stereotype-we agreed this worked really well. When we tried it with all of scene one and scene two I thought it looked fabulous!! I think that the audience will understand what we are trying to do and how this is significant to our character.

Although, today had limited success because of the lack of learnt lines. Let's just hope we all know them by next week!!

Targets for next lesson: 

• Know all my lines and the lines before and after me.
• Know who I am talking to and how to express my subtext within the lines.
• Practice the physicality of Danny offstage, try to think more like my character take myself seriously and never come out of role within theatre lessons.

*REMEMBER TO BRING PROPS*

Rehearsal 4

PROJECT CHARACTERIZATION IS WELL UNDERWAY! I have made some fairly large decisions to do with the representation of Danny.
Unlike the decisions made last week, deciding more is less simplicity is more important to do with showing this character and the scene changes. The idea was to do up a plait and swap hair bands in the scene change but we have decided to go for something more stereotypical to the character.
Glasses.
For the opening scene, using each other as mirrors and showing our morning routine of the whole, very long tooth process. (The decision was made that we would cut this and only use mouthwash). Though because the audience have seen a clip of our personalities in the opening section it's not necessary for them to see us exchanging teeth products in the scene change-over because it might come across a bit over the top. Although the glasses are rather significant to our figure because of the whole fact we are the 'nerds' of the group, and sets the stereotype feel.
I have further annotated my scripts from the analyzing I did with my group this lesson. They have also given me feedback and I am very pleased they think the way I portray my character works.

(What can I do to improve my character further?) Something I have learnt this lesson, and need to consider for the future is who I am speaking to. As well as knowing my own lines, I need to study the lines before and after me, knowing who I am speaking to and the purpose of my lines.

Rehearsal Three

Well Done team DNA! rehearsal three was definitely one to remember, being the first run through of the entire play. It was really impressive for the first time doing the entire thing.
The run through allowed me to explore, and take in help with how I should construct my character on stage.

At this stage I haven't made major decisions about the characterization of Danny, but I have made some decisions on my physicality. By looking at Kim's interpretation of the character, I think that the idea of Danny being quite timid but shriveled at the same time. We've decided on what our significant item is to show we are the same character is: a bag full of dental equipment (changed to glasses). We have also decided that we will both wear our hair in a side plait and wear a fringe, assuming it will be more emphatic if we looked similar.

I am on the way to learning my lines!  As I haven't had my script before Christmas  it's been rather difficult learning them but luckily I have friends who allow me to practice with them and their scripts in our own time! Should have them perfect by next week *fingers crossed*.

In terms of the entire run through, like I have mentioned little improvement has been made in terms to getting to know my character, because I am so sure with what I want to do with it anyway!? Also, the plot is so much clearer when it is being acted out, the story line makes more sense and the small things in act three (an example being the plastic bag) are much clearer. Whereas before I didn't understand where it came into context with the actual plot, now I see that it's actually meant to be for us to figure out?!

So far the play looks amazing, the characters that have been assigned to each of us are perfect. Once we learn our lines and pick up the pace, it will look even better!

During the run through, I particularly noticed all three of the Leah's! Even though they all have very contrasting personalities and ways of acting they managed to pull it off perfectly. Even taking into consideration that they had the largest parts, it was obvious that they had put in the most effort with all three of them nearly knowing all their lines perfectly!? By this already on the way to creating their characters in depth, actually very, very impressed!

I've lost my peer assessment sheet, but everyone did really well. The person I observed the most was Kimberly as I thought that it was her who would benefit the decisions I make about the character of Danny.