Comments for Greek Theatre Performance

You will get your marks in class! Just in case no one wanted to share those. :-)

FUNDA – Great work. Voice projection was excellent. You knew all your lines and your timing was great.
LISA - Good leadership. You lost focus during the performance and timing was a little out, however your siren was right on cue.
JEN – You looked nervous and disinterested in this role. You gave nothing beyond the given instructions.
COREY – You pushed the boundaries with your behaviour in class. You were disengaged and unfocused during rehearsals and actively disrupted your peers.
DARCY – You were completely disengaged. You did not project your voice at all. You showed no enthusiasm.
BURCU – Your projection and enthusiasm were great, you knew your lines and your timing was good.
TANIA - You participated well and knew your lines, however a little more engagement would have been welcome.
KRISTY - Good rehearsal of Prologue. You lines were good, however they could have been louder and better articulated.
JOE – Your improvisation skills are very good. You connected well with your character and you knew your cues to pause.
CHRIS – Participated well with cast. More enthusiasm and projection could have been applied.
KRIS – Good participation. Lines could have been louder with more enthusiasm.
MICHAEL – You lacked a little enthusiasm but participation was good.
PHEONIX – You were more engaged and focused. You were able to portray a character and your team work has improved.
RICKY – Good performance although quite brief, you could have extended the jealous ex-boyfriend part. Enthusiasm was great and you were well engaged.

The Ancient World - Greek Theatre

Based on notes you took and what you remember from today's lesson, answer the following questions:

1. How important was religion to the beginning of Greek theatre? Explain.
2. Who was Dionysus?
3. Describe the celebrations that took place in the city of Dionysia every year.
4. How did the Greek actors and playwrights show the audience where the action or location was, without creating sets?
5. Name four Greek writers.
6. List the problems you would encounter performing outdoors, in front of 15,000 to 100,000 spectators and how you can overcome these problems?
7. Explain the role of the chorus and why they were important.

The English Renaissance- Elizabethan Theatre & Shakespeare 1570 - 1620

Shakespeare wrote thirty six plays in only 52 years!
Shakespeare's plays and the Bible rank as the two richest sets of literary documents in the entire history of western culture
He did all this with only an elementary school education!!
The only text that exists in Shakespeare own hand writing is his signature signed 6 times and the words ‘by me’ written on his will
His name is spelt differently on every single signature
Only 230 or so plays exist from Shakespeare's time including the 38 he wrote – That is 15% of the total amount of plays that exist!
He introduced 2035 new words to the English language
Here are a few: critical, dwindle, extract, horrid, vast, hereditary, excellent, eventful, barefaced, assassination, lonely, leapfrog
Here are some words that he introduced that didn’t become used: undeaf, untent, bepray, insultment.
Shakespeare introduced some great phrases like: one fell swoop, vanish into thin air, and and baggage, play fast and loose, be in a pickle, cold comfort, flesh and blood, foul play.

Ms Marotous:

"Prithee brach dispatch with mine mess to balk fie nor impeach of a heavy housewife."

"Please, bitch hound, hurry with my food to disregard a curse or dishonor of a sorrowful hussy!"

Ms Vlahos:

"Oh my there is coil in the break. List to the catch that ne'er impeach me and I will blank a mess for you my cousin."

"Oh my there is touble in the bushes. Listen to the song that never dishonors me and I will target a meal for you my cousin!"

What did you guys come up with? Any other ones? Try adding in words like 'the', 'in', 'me/mine' 'your/thou', 'a'... just use the glossary words and fill in thy blanks with normal words to get a better flow. That was what the task was but some of you misunderstood.

Have fun! Good work!

Twentieth Century Theatre - Non Realism

Non-realism was a dramatic movement that emerged in 1885 and signaled the beginning of modern theatre. Artists reacted against representing the natural world on stage.
Modernism could be seen emerging, especially in the visual arts as abstract paintings and sculptures appeared. Playwrights and directors began to use non-realistic forms and styles in their plays such as Symbolism, Dreams and Subconscious, Expressionism, Futurism and Dada.

Although seemingly short lived, there is no doubt that these modern movements created waves, opened up a whole new world of possibilities to other artists and influenced later works.

YouTube links:
Take a look at the following links ‘The Intruder’ (yet to come), 'The Blind' and a silent Expressionist film ‘The Cabinet of Dr Caligari’ and post a comment expressing what you thought.

***Caution*** Last last video may contain some horror scenes.

Commedia dell'Arte

Sorry my post is later than I hoped to get it online. *slaps own wrist*
Wow some great entries in the last post guys! And even more fantastic work today!
Very impressive stuff. The more I guide you and the more you workshop each skit the better it will be. Some standout characters delievered by Joe, Michael, Funda and Burcu. Keep it up!
Some of you need to further develop your stance, voice, walk, gestures etc etc. Slow the voice down and work on that thick (yet clear & projected) Italian accent. I bet the year 8s are going to love it! And I'll schedule a lunchtime performance for us all to do a skit and attact a live audience just as they did so in the 16th Century!
Some info from Wiki:

Commedia dell'Arte (Italian: "the comedy of art") is a form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century and held its popularity through the 18th century, although it is still performed today. Performances were unscripted, held outside, and used few props. They were free to watch, funded by donations. A troupe consisted of ten people: seven men and three women. Outside Italy the form was also known as "Italian Comedy".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell

YouTube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP3ruJiklkk&feature=PlayList&p=143D207D7C6C615D&index=0&playnext=1 Commedia Dell'Arte screener - Contemporary Arts Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RBmE9ldaZE Pulcinella's war -Antonio Fava & Merve Engin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqI0EqaXvWI Commedia Dell'Arte with Baroque Dance