- What worked well in the rehearsal process?
There was steady improvement after every rehearsal. Actually, I remember on the first day we started working on developing physicality, I didn’t know either what I should do to start process or how to do it. But as I practised more and got feedback from Ms Parr, I got to have clearer idea of what I will do and was able to sort things out one by one.
- What was challenging? How did you solve the problem?
Monologue “The heights” was quite unique. Lily tells the story she made to her friends , so there was story inside the story. I had to do storytelling from the point of view of Lily and play characters in the story she made, the nice woman and the little glass girl. I was worried because I thought that it might give confusion to the audience if transition from acting to storytelling is not natural. So for the moments when Lily was talking to the audience, I talked and behaved how Lily would do when she told story to her friend. And when the nice women was talking to a baby or for significant moments of baby and the woman, I focused on each character’s situation and emotions that should be conveyed to the audience.
It took long for me to interpret this mono in my own style. Emotions present in this mono are really hard to define as a single emotion, they were more of a combination of several similar but different emotions. So I tried to put myself in Lily’s shoes and imagined how it would be like to be sick, not to go to school, thus have no friend, and stay home all day long. Considering all of those miseries in her life, I could guess the reason she wrote this sad story of a baby girl could be related to her illness and lonely life.
- Think back on some key learning? Why might have the monologue been important to you?
I realised that facial expression is really important. Previously, I had thought that it would have better effect if I move around a lot. Sometimes, I’ll need those movement to show dramatic moment. But how I use my facial muscles is also important, especially eyes. The audience will follow where performer’s eyes go, and how performer look at something/someone will affect the audience’s interpretation of the emotion present at that moment and even the whole story.
I also learnt that I should use movement effectively for a limited number of times because when the performer moves, even though he or she might not have any intention, it gives a strong impression to the audience.
This monologue was really important to me because I learnt so much things. At first, it was even hard to think about talking alone in front of the audience. But I managed to do so. And experiencing storytelling was a good opportunity to learn intonation and varied tone. Also, I realised that I still have to learn so much more acting skills.
- List 2 or 3 things you intend to do with the skills or knowledge required today
-I tried to use facial muscles effectively to express emotions more vividly.
– Without any doll, I did mime to make people believe that there is a baby.