Monday, 5 December 2011

Stringent Strindberg

Using a good, reliable, relevant, specific source create a post including the following...

Some biographical detail on Strindberg.

A quotation from or about Strindberg or from or about his works.


A link to a review of one of his works.


No repetition allowed.

Site all sources used.

Stanislavski in the Studio

Reflect on the Studio activities we have completed over the last few weeks.

Pick one that you think would be most beneficial to the actor when creating a character.

State the activity.
Explain how it would support an actor when creating a character.
Explain how it would help an actor understand the psychology of a character.
Make mention of how you could develop or extend the activity to get greater understanding of the character.

Thursday, 17 November 2011

The Government Inspector by Nicolai Gogol

...or The Inspector General by Nicolay Gogol

Find out and post...

1.  Some brief biographical details about Gogol
2. Some brief details about the geographical, social and political context the play was written in
3.  Some brief details about the play itself; plot, themes, character, performances.

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Naturalistic Exercises

Working with Naturalistic Exercises

Recently we have been studying and using exercises that focus on:
Awareness of Muscles
Control of Muscles
Observation of Everyday Activities
Centers of Gravity


Consider these questions...

To what extent are the type of exercises we have been working with of use to...

a) the acting student
b) the actor
c) anyone and everyone in everday life
d) you


Refer to specific exercises in your answers

Sunday, 9 October 2011

The Actors Studio


The Actors Studio

http://www.theactorsstudio.org/

A simple task this week...

Visit this website.
Explore.
Read what it says under the tab marked Our History

Publish a comment that includes...

One almunus (famous former student) of The Actors Studio that you have heard of and at least two (prefereably more) pieces of their work (that you have also heard of)

Once a person has been posted you cannot repeat the name.

Go!

The Great Naturalistic Playwrights


The Great Naturalistic Playwrights

The two most notable Naturalistic playwrights are Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen

Chekhov worked with Stanislavski at the Moscow Art Theatre.
Ibsen is widely referred to as the 'father' of modern drama.
(Pretty strong references...I think you'll agree)

These authors believed in the acting method that was proposed and developed by Stanislavski; their plays had scenic reality, a linear timeline, thematic realism etc...

Basically they were written with this method of acting in mind.

For each of the following plays provide a short summary that makes note of the main events of the play, some of the characters, the moral/message and the context (time and place).

Anton Chekov

Three Sisters
The Cherry Orchard
The Seagull
Uncle Vanya
An Enemy of the People

Henrik Ibsen

Hedda Gabler
Ghosts
Peer Gynt
A Doll's House

Magic If...


Magic if...

It is not always easy to think of good quality 'magic if...' questions to propose for characters.

Over years I have developed a bank of questions in my head that I have picked up from different; exercises, situations, roles and people.

Each of you is to write five good quality questions that would help you explore any character. 

They should not be closed questions (ones that would solicit a yes or no answer),nor should they be preference stating questions.

They should simply include the word 'if'...there is no other guidance.

Remember to look over other people's posts if you post first.

Simples!