The Blitz 1940

The Blitz was an horrific time for Britain, it was moment the heart of the Britian was literally crumberling away.
Although many children were evacuated to the countryside there were still a number that remained in the cities.


Although the play itself is not soley set in the London it is important to get that feeling of coping with the conditions. I imagine your living out of a suitcase if your lucky with homes being destroyed in minute, recovering bodies out of rumble or worse recieveing news of loved ones away at war. I feel it would be a traumatic time for anyone.
I feel using this to Helen's character has given up on caring unlike Hetty she is not experinencing family away at war. Of which she has become bitter that fact that there is no one out there thinking of her. In a sense this seems a bit selfish to think of it in that way but she has no husband all she has is her daughter who she constantly critques. Maybe this is last ditch attempt to be the mother she never was.

I really wanted to get that sense of fear and dread installed into during the bomb scene. In a way this feeling can only be created by the atmosphere. Therefore when the SFX and LFX were included it did give me that real sense of the atmopshere during that time.
I will say when hearing the air raid siren it has installed that fear and panic which I can only say is what the people back then felt when that noise bellowed through the country.

Smoking? For fashion or For life

During the 1940's, infact from earlier smoking was always popular it was regarded as a social thing as drinking is sometimes nowadays.
Helen is a heavy smoking it is built into her characteristics whether it is done for fashion or for relief that is debateable. I feel when I really go into the sort of person Helen is I believe it would be for fashion purposes.



After further research it's clear that people were made to believe that smoking was recommended by the doctor and that it could "give you a slender figure". All these statements completely contradict the thoughts on smoking today.
However I am maintaining the character of the time and the image that those cigarette companies were after back then.

Crispian Speech

THIS STORY SHALL THE GOOD MAN TEACH HIS SON
AND CRISPIN CRISPIAN SHALL NE'ER GO BY
FROM THIS DAY FROM THE ENDING OF THE WORLD
BUT WE IN IT SHALL BE REMEMBERED

WE FEW

WE HAPPY FEW


The Crispian Days Speech is one of the most famous speeches of and renowned throughout.
The meaning behind this speech is very important it is a speech that creates patotism, brother hood and courage. The original speech comes from Henry V when he is rounding the troops preparing them for battle.
This speech is very important to We Happy Few because it is set in the similiar context, the fight, a brotherhood and the courage the women had to do what they did and they weren't deterred no matter what was said.

Every memeber of the players has a line of the speech I feel that each word should be said with punch and conviction.
In order for me to understand the power that is needed for this speech I have reviewed previous performances of the speech imparticular Brangahs interpretation.
A video is located at the bottom

Childrens Hour- Radio

At this time the television was not a common feature in the 1940's household. The wireless was put as a high regard and was the only for of entertainment and news.
Helen is a story teller on the radio where she is presenting Children's Hour. Back in the 1940's this is the only for of entertainment that children had, not many households had televsion sets until 1952 when the Queens Coronation occured.

"Our great actors are back on the Westend...bastards!"

During the play many actors are mentioned so I felt necessary to have an understanding of those actors as I know the actors and stars of my time I should know the ones of that time.

Ralph Richardson



Laurence Olivier


John Gielgud


Richardson, Olivier and Gielgud were three of the most renowned English actors of the mid 20th century. They were strongly affiliated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Old Vic. There roles have included Hamlet, Richard II and Henry V, if not more.
These three have a connection, John Gielgud Directed and produced many films which had the involvement of Richardson and Olivier. So all three worked in close proximity with each other.

Clothes, What to wear?

At this time the pencil skirts where coming in and belts at the waist. This broke away from the straight long flapper dresses of the 1930s. I have pictured Helen as very sophisticated wearing a smart fashionable dress. Diamonds and Pearls I feel is fundamental to Helen's character.


Seamed Stockings!
With the break out of war food, clothing, petrol almost everything was rationed including stockings. At this time ladies were always wearing stockings especially, it was a common trend when you were unable to have a pair of stockings you would imitate stockings with an eyebrow pencil and coffee or some form of tanning agent of the time.

I felt it was important to research this area as it occurs for Helen. I think this just highlights how women had to go to extremes in order to maintain their fashionable status.

Hair styles, What to wear?

During the 1940's the common hairstyle was up and tightly rolled in creating elaborate curls framing the face. This Style I feel spanned off from the shorts bobs and waves of the 1920's and early 30's with the flappers. At the bottom of the page I found a newsreel showing upcoming hair styles of the 1940s.

Personally I have slight obstacle with my hair being so long, however I have experimented with alternative styles.
Using the method-
- Matt up hair
- Twist
- Pin in
- Lots of Hair Spray! :)

Helen Irving- Character Summary

Helen is a strong character however comes across as selfish woman both from other characters and her daughter, Rosalind. I believe that Helen is Stubbs interpretation of actresses of the time ie- Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth.

Rita Hayworth


Bette Davis


Joan Crawford

During the play Helen is compared to showing similiar characteristics to that of Joan Crawford especially her reputation of treating others.
I have done some research on the sort of character Joan Crawford was, as a actress and a mother.
Helen although it indicates that she was once married now it is believe that the married was an un happy one especially for Rosalind and has now dissolved. Joan Crawford herself was married four times in the space of thirty years of which this marriages only lasted between 3-4 years. This suggested to me that Joan Crawford was a woman that got men easily however due to her nature the romance was never long. One may feel sorry for Crawford children having to get use to a new "father figure" every four years. It was said that Crawford treated her children badly physically and emotionally whether this was caused by the pressure of the Hollywood lifestyle and the media always one step behind you or whether it was just who she was. This is very similar to Helen she constantly critcises her daughter finding her weaknesses and never praising. Unlike Joan Crawford at the end Helen restores her relationship with her daughter. Maybe this is the alternative ending to what Crawford could of had with her children, rather than memoirs "Mommie Dearest" which showed the negative and not Crawford's interpretation.

Women during World War 2

We happy few gives an insight of how woman all over the country were doing, stepping into the men's shoes. Mothers,sisters and daughters would become factory workers making arms and ammunition, working on the land, mechanics. Those jobs that been associated with men for centuries now were under the control of women. Today this would seem a normal job but then it was challenge continuing what the men used to do.



Propoganda posters such as this one "Rosie" these were to bring the women from the house and into the fields and factories.

Top girls rehearsal

28/4/10
We previewed Topgirls to the class however remained on script still. From the preview we were able to have feedback from the class.

Notes(feedback)

- louder projection (especially during overlapping dialogue)
- Continue with fidgeting with the props on table
-Don't allow the scene to become too loud and argumentative, remember the time and setting, and that Angie is asleep.
- understand why the pauses are needed and the purpose behind them. The pauses must have relevance to the scene.
- Go into why Joyce is the person she is compared to Marlene
- Good using the props but use hot water,liquid for the whiskey ( this is naturalism make it believeable)


27/4/10
This has been the first rehearsal after the easter holidays. I still feel a little un sure with the layout of the text knowing when and when not to cut in on one another. however practising with the props has made a big difference the movements now have there purpose.
Tomorrow we will be performing a preview to the others, so it will be beneficical to get some feedback and any need to improvement. Also i think getting off script will benefit the performance a lot more.

30/3/10 - 1/4/10
This is the second week that we have brought in the props and developed with movement. At this point it is knowing the point when to move with the text.
The pauses and been developed further, althougth the script specifies pauses in additon we have introduced pause where we felt necessary.

Hello and Goodbye- Hester

Given Circumstances Hester

Hester is a white South African 30 year old women who has returned back to her father and brother. This is the first time she has visited since she left 12 years ago. During the years she was away she has been a prostitute, she lives by herself in poor conditions. The year is 1965 approximately,and South Africa is half through the apartheid.

The reasons for her returning at first seem genuine care for her father and her brother, however she has alternatve motives. Her father many years ago when her father worked for the South Africa railway he had an accident where he lost his leg, he received compensation. the money has been secretly hidden in the house both Hester and Johnnie believe it to be hidden in the house. the real reason for Hester's return is not for the care of her brother or father but to claim some if not all of the compensation money.

Hester has been traveled from a distance suggested by the discription during the monologue. The conditions of South africa, very hot, dry, rural open areas.
South Africa is a highly religious country even today compared to the U.K.

Here I have used the knoweledge that I have gathered from the play and used it in a
Hagen Objectives Exercise

Who am I?
My name is Hester Smit I am 30 years old from Johannesburg, I am a white Afrikaans woman. I live by myself in a shack in Johannesburg, to earn a living I’m a prostitute. I have a brother called Johnnie and my father who I haven’t seen in 11 years. My mother died when I and Johnnie were little, my father had an accident when he was working for the train company, and he lost his leg.

What time is it?
The time is 1965 at current there is apartheid happening in South Africa, in Johannesburg where I live there is a higher surrounding of black colonies compared to other regions.

Where am I?
I am in Johnnie’s kitchen in Port Elizabeth; this is in the far south of South Africa the Cape region. I am talking to Johnnie about my journey from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.

What surrounds me?
I am sitting down at the table talking to Johnnie; there is a spoon and glass on the table it was there before I arrived. I have a packet of cigarettes on the table they belong to me.

What are my given circumstances?
When I arrived I didn’t know whether he could remember me, I think he doesn’t want me to be here. I haven’t told him I’m a prostitute it’s nothing to do with him or father, I don’t think he would care any way. I have been alone for all these years by myself and haven’t seen my family in 11 years. I have no mother she died; I think this is when she died this is when the fun and happy memories died also. My father used to play with me and Johnnie when we were younger but then he had that accident and lost his leg. I don’t think he felt the same after that.

What is my relationship?
I am Johnnie’s elder sister; I must have left when he was about 15. I do care about him a lot if father wasn’t alive I would take him with me, only if he wanted to. I seem quite harsh at times but I have to be otherwise you get hurt and people mess you around. If you hurt them first then they won’t hurt you.

What do I want?
My real reason for returning is I want that compensation money of fathers; I can’t let Johnnie find out, even though half of that money is mine. I need the money my shack is falling apart and that is all I have. I have to get that money.

What’s in my way?
I think the money is in one of the boxes; my father is a hoarder so I think the compensation is hidden within there. But Johnnie won’t let me go into my father’s room, he thinks I might upset him, but I know Johnnie is hiding something.

What do I do to get what I want?

I let Johnnie think that I’ve missed them and that I couldn’t come back sooner that I was afraid to return because the forgotten memories. I want him to feel sorry for me and make him think I’m courageous to come from so far to see them after all this time. Say I’m staying for a short couple of days, then once I’ve got the money I can go and get on with my life.

Monologue Reviewing the Storyline

Research of South Africa and the apartheid

I have done some research on where Hester herself has come from and why she went there. At the time of the play the apartheid in South Africa was in motiton meaning many blacks were colonised in certain areas. Here is a map of the Apartheid settlements.



Johannesburg in the north east area has Black Colonies surrounding it. This suggests to me a reason as to why Hester went to Johannesburg, she would not feel so socially outcasted due to her line of work. Compared to the Cape area where Port Elizabeth is this has a higher population of white communities compared to the East of south Africa.

Looking at this also gives an insight to the hideously long journey from Johannesburg
to Port Elizabeth. Then imaging it with the conditions dry and hot with no air conditioning. This really helps to hightlight the description of the train journey in the monologue.


10/2/10

I have found the a copy of the book, the play itself has only two characters, Hester and Johnnie. Previously a brief synopsis mentioned that Hester had been left home when she was 21 approxiamently and now has returned 12 years after, she has been or currently is still as prostitute.

Key points from the story

- Set in the Johannesburg vacinity
- During the 1960's (approxiamently the time of the apartheid)
- South Africa is a rather religious country even today
- Both Hester and Johnnie are Afrikans
- father is dying, but not seen
- Johnnie cared for his father

Second Reading "Top Girls" / Finding Monologue

2/3/10

Continued with round the table work now started to review the potential characters Marlene and Joyce. Notice a difference in Marlene character from beginning to end, felt that the maturity drops in the final act.
At this point we are considering which roles would be suited, both Liz and I ran through the piece playing both characters. After that I felt that I was drawn to Joyce compared to Marlene, Joyce is Marlene's unsuccessful sister.

To understand a better insight into the setup of the final Act with reviewed the video of Top Girls (1991) directed by Max Stafford-Clark. From this I was able to see the scene acted out, aswell as others interpretations of the scene.

Also I researched into Soap drama especially the scene in Eastenders between Carol Jackson and her son Billie. This gave the impression of a coffee table scenario with the build up of tension.

I wanted to get an idea of the pressures that Joyce was under;
-firstly she is not as well educated as her sister
-she bringing up a child of which isn't hers
-she is a single parent.
-she supports herself and her daughter through four different cleaning jobs.

Compared to her sister who is very much a modern professional woman, a conservative and at that time a supporter of Margaret Thatcher.



Here there is divid between the two sisters, this contrast must be apparent during the performance. The difference between modern independent and the not so.

The Hagen Exercise Character study

Who am I?

My name is Joyce I am in my late thirties, I live near Ipswich. I live with my sixteen year old daughter called Angie. Angie is not my daughter when my younger sister Marlene was seventeen she got pregnant and I said I would look after the child as if it were my own. Angie is an adventurous girl but I do feel she is not focused, especially at school she doesn’t hang around with kids her own age. The only friend I know of is a girl that lives near by called Kit she is twelve.

What time is it?

The year is 1982; Margaret Thatcher has just come into power of the government for 3 years. I don’t rate her a lot but I wouldn’t want to cast my judgment. I don’t understand politics very well as others.

Where am I?

It’s nighttime, Angie is upstairs getting ready for bed. I’m sister at the breakfast table in the kitchen my sister Marlene is opposite me; we are drinking whiskey I am smoking a cigarette.

What surrounds me?

There is a bottle of whiskey that Marlene brought over; she just took it out of her bag. The light from the hall way is shining through onto the kitchen; Marlene is filling up her glass. I have my packet of cigarettes beside my ash tray in the middle of the table. There are some old cigarette buts in the ash tray from earlier on.

What are my given circumstances?

I’m single parent I was married to a man called Frank; he seemed quite protective and didn’t like me to go out. Eventually he left me for a younger woman, I feel deep inside that it was because of Angie but I would never say. Angie’s real mother, Marlene my sister hasn’t been to visit for six years; I hate the fact I gave up my life to raise her child so she good have a life and adventures. Marlene does make me feel guilty sometimes especially when I blame Angie for the lose of my baby through stress. Angie doesn’t know that Marlene is her real mother I have kept it a secret for about sixteen years and have never told her. Unlike Marlene I do not have a well paid job or one that I enjoy, I have four cleaning jobs, it just about gets me and Angie by, I can’t find a better job because I don’t have the qualifications.

What is my relationship?

Marlene is my younger sister, you would expect there to be a close-ness after everything I’ve done but she just doesn’t seem appreciative of it. It angers me as well that I have to make up for what she never does I look after her child, I visit our mother some one who I’m surprised recognized her. She just boasts about how wonderful everything is with money and trips, she says she would help me out but I will just look weak in front of her, she would just love to see me begging.

What do I want?

I want Marlene to understand everything that I have had to give up for the sake of her career and her “glamorous” lifestyle.

What’s in my way?

Marlene turns the blame onto me, it’s always me that is made to feel guilty never her. Every time when I say something she doesn’t want to hear she changes the subject, starts talking about her, or starts crying.

What do I do to get what I want?

Sometimes I don’t always get what I want, Marlene has the ability to out smart me because she smarter then I am. All I know is snapping comments which sometimes hit a nerve however they never quite work and always seem to back fire on to me.


Monologue Hester(Hello and Goodbye)

I have found a monologue piece from Athol Fugard's Hello and Goodbye, I have not yet read the piece. However am still trying to find copies.
Key points I have found so far on Hester, early thirties, white, south African. I chose this piece as a chance of discovery of the south african accent, I am not unfamiliar with the accent as my brother law is Afrikans, and comes from a similar location that the play is set.

"Top Girls" The first reading

23/02/10

As part of the group naturalism piece I will be doing Caryl Churchill's "Top Girls". When reading the play any play in fact the first reading is very important this is where you can either have complete dedication to the piece or not so.

From the first Act I was very much drawn into the piece found it funny however did lose the flow gradually.

Rehearsal Reviews

These are the notes taken from rehearsals during the project. I have bolded areas of importance for me personally. Photos taken during rehearsals and devising.

12/01/10

First rehearsal with completed script.
- must be completely sure with the script otherwise script must be altered
- new song for rainbow crow, new tune, learn song know it
- main tain that energy
- try not to adlib

Personal improvements
As this was one of the last rehearsals it starts become very tense and with the confusion of the script and your own way of devising the intial narration one must be sure which one to go with.
Other circumstances this rehearsal lead to change of certain circumstances leading to new castings more roles. Therefore learning narration of rainbow crow personally I would prefer to go by the script seeing as this has been so late in the day.



5/01/10 - Shown to Chris L/loraine/Chris W
- Learn song completely
- neutral stance
- Always energy
- take the risk - always maintain the focus on even off stage
- No talking off stage
- Sort how the apple will be placed on and off stage
- Snake Link
- Coyote make more of a sound
- add a sound or visual for "quickly animals are coming"
- marry was the narration is to the physicality
- bring back the music
- narration for eagle
- horse spacing - sort narration overal for pigian warrior
- use the costume to house the snow fabric
- opening the clouds sound effect
- work together for billowing clouds
- narrator talk out to audience- develop echo in well
- make more of losing tail
- spin weasel
- buffalo music
- narration music

Personal Improvements
Continue to develop animal physicality and maintain both on and off stage,
aware of spacing throughout as narrator and as animal
more energy throughout.



15/12/09 - Shown to loraine

- Sort out the fabric too messy
- Further Chris Walker animal work
- Narrators in cue with eachother, no gaps, more narration
- Music for Coyote and the snake - Pick up Pace
- Narrators share with audience, move away from the side
- Deal with the singing of rainbrow crow- Discuss with Chris, animals react with rainbow crow
- Put more focus on Lakota and the Eagle
- Upstaging each other/ Notice Blocking!
- Woman in the sky
- More humour in the rabbit loosing tail
- Buffalo too many, 3 People not needed- More music in Buffalo
- Can musicians hand headdresses rather then characters
- Get sticks off stage, clean up
- Need music for returning storyteller

Personal Improvements from rehearsal
- Need to become more confident with the narration
- Aware of staging avoid blocking
- narrators sing with rainbow crow
- clearing stage correctly
- making rabbit more humourous
- Overal further animal work


Nov- Dec 09 Shown to Chris W

- fluidity with the warriors,
- too one sided on stage
- get to position early no fidgiting
- one movement
- wings need to be on time
- set a posture
- need to be on cue
- more music
- storyteller more music/magic
- still too still(hummingbird)
- Tree one movement
- music needed
- oragnise thistle bush
- more movement
- don't restrict arms too much
- flowers set pattern,simple routine
- work on coyote movement
- more music/ no dead noise
- change the levels between narrators and animals
- bring the clouds
- Use the space