The set was finished and the running order had been pinned
up behind the set:
After each run-through we would receive feedback on how to
tighten up our performance as well as working out the kinks in scenes. Tom and
I spent time working on the joke of confusing the words “Love” and “Loathe” so
that the words sounded the same and picked up the pace so that the back and
forth of dialogue was similar to watching a tennis match.
My main piece of feedback during the devising and rehearsal
process was that I needed to perform out to the audience more, and so whenever
I came on stage I made a conscious effort to look out into the audience as a
way of reminding myself that is where I needed to perform.
Once we had done our final rehearsal, I had my face painted white,
and my lips red to create the “mask” of the lovers and then it was show time!!
Lovers makeup
Both performances were successful and incredibly well
received by both audiences. The first audience was made up of performing arts
students and so the more “risqué” moments were very well received, it had been
thought that the evening performance which was made up of parents would not
have responded as well to the “risqué” moments but it appeared that both
audiences were accepting of the “racy” nature of some of the jokes.
The full show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7lV7pkzWlo
For me I think the movement used in Commedia is critical to
making a performance enjoyable because the large movement really helps bring
the characters to life and the mannerisms such as the Lovers large arms
movements or Pantalone’s fidgety hands helped to make the audience laugh.
I think that I made a vast improvement from our first
rehearsals on Tuesday morning to our final show in the evening as I felt I was
much more comfortable in opening up my performance to the audience allowing me
act out more. I feel most of my improvement was in the sword fight between
Laertes and Angelica as I had been rather cautious in rehearsals and was unable
to really get into the role however during both performances I found myself
really becoming Angelica and by the time I had made my exit I was out of breath
from exerting myself to the fullest during the fight.
If I were to make any changes to my performance it would be
to become lighter and more fluid in my movement as once I was in costume I
found that I became slightly restricted. So if I were to repeat my performance
I would put more thought and creativity in showing the fluidity of Angelica,
such as including some turns to give her a more balletic appearance.
Commedia is a physically challenging type of theatre but it
is such an interesting art. I found the mask work to be a bit of challenge as I
struggled to find a mask that fit and so this meant I had to speak much louder
to ensure that my words didn’t get lost. However being given the opportunity to
play a lover allowed me to take on some really interesting characteristics and
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to explore the “amorous” side of a lover as well
as the “mad” side. The contrast between the two emotions was really fun to play
and the sudden change was a moment of comedy during Laertes and Angelica’s
fight.
Having spent seven days learning the art of Commedia dell’Arte
I felt incredibly privileged to have been able to take part in Commedia dell’Arte
Day.
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