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.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Monday 5 April 2010
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.
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.
Thursday 1 April 2010
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
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.
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.
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