The children were asked to imagine themseleves in the first photo below and answer these questions. a) What are you doing here?

b) Where are you from?

c) Are you enjoying the day? Why?

d) What is your life like, generally?

The childre did a great job. For next weeks assignment (10/31/04) they have to create a monlogue based on the character, memorize it and presented in front of class. 

 

Script Analysis - Carlos Laboy, Drama Director - 11/21/04

Two questions an actor must answer are: • Who is my character? • What are the relationships between my character and the other characters in the play?

To answer these questions, you need to develop a "Character Profile":

1) Looking for clues in the script which will tell you something about your character. These clues will be found in the dialog, stage directions, author's notes, and in history and geography.

2) History and geography? Yes. The author wrote the play in a specific time, the play is set in a specific period of time and set in specific places. One can make certain assumptions about characters and relationships based upon time and place. History and geography are only the beginning of script analysis. The script provides many, many clues about your character (your character's profile) which must be uncovered.

3) Read your play several times. While you read the play, make a list of everything in the script that tells you something about your character. This will include stage directions and notes as-well-as dialog. When reviewing the dialog for things about your character, you should look for things that your character says about himself/herself as-well-as things the other characters say about your character. Keep in mind that the things said by or about your character might not be true, but at this point, you are only interested in the things that are actually said, true or not.

4) Make a list of them all. Go through the rest of the play and complete the list. The things on your list should only be the things that are actually stated in the play about your character - either as stage notes, stage directions, or dialog. When you are done you will have a list of THINGS I KNOW ABOUT MY CHARACTER . Since most characters interact throughout the entire play, you should also know things about the other characters. So go through the play again, but this time you will develop a list of THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER CHARACTERS.

 5) OK. So now you have a list of things you know about everyone. What do you do with this information? NOTHING. That's right - NOTHING. You just think about it for awhile. Put this information on the back of your head for awhile. Don't try to figure anything out yet, or make any assumptions about your character, or try to develop any action. Just let things simmer. Let your sub-conscious brain do its job. It can work very well on it's own without your conscious brain interfering with all sorts of brilliant ideas. Give it some time.

6) Now, while your sub-conscious brain is simmering, you are going to prepare another list. This list you can title "THINGS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY CHARACTER." What goes on this list? Anything you want to go on the list!!! That's right, Anything!!! There are about a gazillion things about the characters that the author did not state in the script. You, as the actor, have the freedom to make all those gazillions of things up - or at least as many as you feel are useful to you as you develop your character. For instance: • What is the name of the town, county, state where the play takes place? • What are the names of the other characters? • Are all the parents of the kids still alive? Where are they? If they died, how long ago? Did they even know their parents? • What about your parents? • Did you go to school? Where? How much education? • Did you like your brother or sister a lot? • Were they smarter, stronger, a harder worker, taller, shorter?

7) Whew! And that's just the beginning. As you progress through subsequent readings, you need to be open to other questions that arise about your character and the relationships your character has with the other characters. As new questions pop into your head, write them down too. Continually add new questions to your list. Of course, you must also answer your questions.

8) And here's another neat part of this acting stuff - you, as the actor, get to - Make up all the answers!!! That's right, You make it all up!!! If it's not in the script, then you have to invent it all by your self. However, there is one rule you have to follow: Your answers must be truthful to the circumstances of the play

9) A well written play does not have unnecessary dialog. Each word on the page is there for a good reason. If there was no good reason for it to be in there, the author should have edited it out before it was published. Dialog has a variety of functions. Some examples: • Set the time and date of the action • Give the audience important information (exposition) o Convey historical info o Foreshadow events to come o Relate events occurring off stage o Reveal info about characters not on the stage • Move the plot along • Convey characters' thoughts and intentions • Establish character relationships • Obscure the truth about characters, events, time or place, whatever. • Create a mood • Emotion • Cause one to think Your job, as an actor, is to determine how your dialog functions in the play.