~ Unit 12 Evaluation ~
Research
I think my research was very useful in helping me get into character and understand her situation more. I researched Dennis Kelley, the playwright, family annihilation, and male violence. These all gave me a good understanding of the play and its themes. From researching Dennis Kelley I learnt how he sees the main character and her husband. He said she is a 'lively, vibrant sort of person' and that the husband 'would probably think of himself as a pretty liberal man. Even a feminist. But when push comes to shove he isn't, he cannot have a woman being better than him.'
I researched family annihilation and learnt about the four types of annihilator mentioned in the play. And also found some examples of family annihilation here in Britain. This was useful to help understand the weight of the subject and highlight the message at the end of the play. I also think this came across in the final scene where I talk about family annihilation and its effects, and my research helped me make sure it hit home with the audience.
As a part of my research, I also looked into male violence, particularly against women. I learnt that many women experience physical or sexual assault in their lifetime, with figures from the American Psychological Association. This information helped me put into perspective how common and devastating male violence is, and this helped me shape my sense of character as well as enable me to make a stronger point through this story.
I researched family annihilation and learnt about the four types of annihilator mentioned in the play. And also found some examples of family annihilation here in Britain. This was useful to help understand the weight of the subject and highlight the message at the end of the play. I also think this came across in the final scene where I talk about family annihilation and its effects, and my research helped me make sure it hit home with the audience.
As a part of my research, I also looked into male violence, particularly against women. I learnt that many women experience physical or sexual assault in their lifetime, with figures from the American Psychological Association. This information helped me put into perspective how common and devastating male violence is, and this helped me shape my sense of character as well as enable me to make a stronger point through this story.
Planning and Production
I think that I showed good planning skills with this production, especially as this was a solo piece so I had to make most of the decisions myself. I did, however, get to work collaboratively with my classmates and teachers to get an outside opinion on certain choices. For example, I found it extremely useful to get to show the scene with the conversation about divorce in front of the class, to be able to ask what they thought of having a voiceover for husband's lines would be like. I was considering using pre-recordings but I was not sure until my peers clarified that it would be best. I think I handled the task of a solo piece well, and I was not afraid to ask for help where I needed it.
In the penultimate scene, where she discusses facts of family annihilation, I think that the cold blue lighting was a good choice as it reflected the harsh reality of the scene. Similarly, in the final scene discussing the aftermath of her children's death, the dim lighting reflects her dark mindset and how at the time it would have felt like there was no room for hope. As she talks about trying to move on, the lighting switches to a warmer spotlight, with the rest of the stage in darkness. This contrasts the blue general wash, where she knew where she stood. Instead, with the spotlight, she is trying to be more hopeful but has no idea of what lies ahead.
Throughout my performance, I believe I had a good balance of the quieter, more serious moments, and the louder, funnier ones. For example, in the opening scene, I noticed that the audience responded well to the comedic lines. In contrast, on the line 'I know they're dead' I could see that the audience's attention was heightened, although I think I could have had even more of an effect if I had paused slightly longer. With the opening scene, I had to play my character's inner monologue and reactions to the conversation in front of her, which I also had to portray. I think I did this well, as the audience could follow the narrative. I also think I managed to play the scene with her children convincingly despite the lack of other actors. I was told after the show that this was very clear. While watching it back I could hear that my projection was consistent and clear. However, I could have done a longer vocal warm up to improve my diction slightly. Another moment I thought was good was my portrayal of the husband and his emotions during the reveal of the pregnancy, I believe I showed the audience their two contrasting reactions convincingly. In the moment where she recalls the husband saying 'you're never taking my kids away from me', I paused to show her grief and how part of her believes (or at one point believed) that this meant she could be to blame for her children's death. At the end of the piece, after watching this moment back, I think I had a good crescendo of emotion on the line 'I will not have him, that man, that negation of happiness'. As I said this I pointed to the chair on the side of the stage but behind me and purposefully without looking at it. This is to refer to how her husband had a huge effect on her life, but she is refusing to let him take any more of her time.
I did, however, see some moments that could be improved. For example, when she is looking for her husband, I believe I could have made the walking back and forth more natural to fit the scene better by slowing down the lines. In the performance, it seemed rushed and the lines were almost too fast. I should have fit the lines to the movement, not the other way around. I also believe that when discussing the deaths of her children I should have been more still. I seemed fidgety at times, and if I had been grounded the moment would have been a lot stronger. During the line, 'I could've killed him, I could've-' I turn to face the audience as I cut off, but I felt I could have paused for much longer while staring at the audience as if she'd been caught with thoughts she didn't want anyone to know she had, while realising how insane she must sound. Throughout the piece, I noticed the occasional mistake in my piece with the wording of a line or a slight mumble where I confused my words, and a moment where I temporarily lost my place in the script. Despite this, I believe I successfully delivered my performance as a few mistakes in a thirty-five-minute piece with no other actors onstage is an accomplishment.
In the performance, I muddled my lines a few times. However, if I didn't know the exact wording I knew at least the gist of the line so I managed to deliver the full piece. Once, I lost my place in the story, after saying she had come to the conclusion her husband was having an affair. Fortunately, I didn't pause for too long and didn't leave a dead stage. I managed to cover it by acting surprised and confused at the news. And many audience members told me the mistake was hardly noticeable.
Technical/Practical Skills
As the lighting became progressively colder towards the end of the piece, I found that this complemented the emotions of the scenes well, and helped to divide the sections. However, it might have been even better if when referring to the husband a soft spotlight appeared on the chair to highlight those moments and the significance he has had in her life. I think that the use of the chair successfully represents how the husband and his words and actions are ever-present in her life, even after he has died, he still will always have shaped her life and who she is. This is highlighted by the chair being the only piece of set with no props.In the penultimate scene, where she discusses facts of family annihilation, I think that the cold blue lighting was a good choice as it reflected the harsh reality of the scene. Similarly, in the final scene discussing the aftermath of her children's death, the dim lighting reflects her dark mindset and how at the time it would have felt like there was no room for hope. As she talks about trying to move on, the lighting switches to a warmer spotlight, with the rest of the stage in darkness. This contrasts the blue general wash, where she knew where she stood. Instead, with the spotlight, she is trying to be more hopeful but has no idea of what lies ahead.
Presentation
A recording of my performance can be found here.Throughout my performance, I believe I had a good balance of the quieter, more serious moments, and the louder, funnier ones. For example, in the opening scene, I noticed that the audience responded well to the comedic lines. In contrast, on the line 'I know they're dead' I could see that the audience's attention was heightened, although I think I could have had even more of an effect if I had paused slightly longer. With the opening scene, I had to play my character's inner monologue and reactions to the conversation in front of her, which I also had to portray. I think I did this well, as the audience could follow the narrative. I also think I managed to play the scene with her children convincingly despite the lack of other actors. I was told after the show that this was very clear. While watching it back I could hear that my projection was consistent and clear. However, I could have done a longer vocal warm up to improve my diction slightly. Another moment I thought was good was my portrayal of the husband and his emotions during the reveal of the pregnancy, I believe I showed the audience their two contrasting reactions convincingly. In the moment where she recalls the husband saying 'you're never taking my kids away from me', I paused to show her grief and how part of her believes (or at one point believed) that this meant she could be to blame for her children's death. At the end of the piece, after watching this moment back, I think I had a good crescendo of emotion on the line 'I will not have him, that man, that negation of happiness'. As I said this I pointed to the chair on the side of the stage but behind me and purposefully without looking at it. This is to refer to how her husband had a huge effect on her life, but she is refusing to let him take any more of her time.
I did, however, see some moments that could be improved. For example, when she is looking for her husband, I believe I could have made the walking back and forth more natural to fit the scene better by slowing down the lines. In the performance, it seemed rushed and the lines were almost too fast. I should have fit the lines to the movement, not the other way around. I also believe that when discussing the deaths of her children I should have been more still. I seemed fidgety at times, and if I had been grounded the moment would have been a lot stronger. During the line, 'I could've killed him, I could've-' I turn to face the audience as I cut off, but I felt I could have paused for much longer while staring at the audience as if she'd been caught with thoughts she didn't want anyone to know she had, while realising how insane she must sound. Throughout the piece, I noticed the occasional mistake in my piece with the wording of a line or a slight mumble where I confused my words, and a moment where I temporarily lost my place in the script. Despite this, I believe I successfully delivered my performance as a few mistakes in a thirty-five-minute piece with no other actors onstage is an accomplishment.
Problem-solving
I had to use my problem-solving skills a few times in rehearsals, as well as the production itself. The first I encountered was the rather obvious fact that I am the only actor, despite there being other characters. For the first scene, I decided to use the comedic nature of the scene by playing all the characters myself. This was challenging as at first I found it difficult to follow the narrative, with my character's inner monologue running alongside the conversation occurring in front of her. Later in the script, she has a scene with her children, where the text is one side of a conversation with them. This was difficult to follow as there was no natural flow as half of the lines were technically missing, and I really had to visualise the children in this scene. I had to build my own narrative of where they were and what they were saying. Another scene that had another character was when she talks to her husband about getting a divorce. Although he is referenced throughout the play this is the only time he speaks. After showing this scene and having a discussion with my classmates, I decided to have his part be pre-recorded, so it would be clearer who was speaking.In the performance, I muddled my lines a few times. However, if I didn't know the exact wording I knew at least the gist of the line so I managed to deliver the full piece. Once, I lost my place in the story, after saying she had come to the conclusion her husband was having an affair. Fortunately, I didn't pause for too long and didn't leave a dead stage. I managed to cover it by acting surprised and confused at the news. And many audience members told me the mistake was hardly noticeable.
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