In "Romeo and Juliet", Audience first saw Romeo when he fills with full of sadness. He talks to his cousin, Benvolio that he falls in love with a woman. But "she will not be hit With Cupid's arrow", which means that that woman does not love him. When Benvolio persuades him to find another beauty, Romeo says that he could not forget the one he likes. From this scene, Romeo shows his shy and his persistence of keep chasing a girl. When I first read about this, I thought that Romeo was that kind of person who always fear to show their love to others; have a crush on someone and shy to speak out. He is also the person who once falls in love with someone, it is hard to persuades him to give up. I like to make friends with this kind of person. Because he is kind to others, and when he has problems or secrets, he will shear it with his friends.
For Juliet, her first scene talks about her mom told her that she would have a party to meet with Paris, who will be his husband in the future. When she heard this, rather than accepted her mom's choice, she says that she will look to like. This shows her desire to be in love with someone, and her independent thinking. At that time period, children has to accept his or her parents' decision, but Juliet as the only daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, use an euphemistic tone to say that she will try, but she might change her opinion. When I read about this part, I noticed that Juliet is a mature person, she has her own thoughts about things. I always respect this kind of people, because no one can changes their will once they decide to do something.
Compare with the character Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is a pretty shy, he will not be the person who start a talk with strangers. Juliet is more open and more optimistic. She always yearns for love. I want to be friends with Juliet, because I think Juliet can always spreads positive motions to people around her. And she is also smart; she can help others to solve problems, and she will not involves in the struggles with her friends. Romeo is kind but because he is afraid of talking with others, it is hard for others to talk with him. But he will help his friends no matter what. Like when Tybalt killed his friends, he would fight back no matter what punishment he would get.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Notes about Topic page "Shakespeare"
There is actually a timeline for play that showing when do events happen.
By understanding writers or playwrights' purpose and format of the prologue, prologue can be easily analyzed.
Quotes from "Analysis of the "Romeo & Juliet" Prologue Sonnet": the denotation of each word and how the words create the meaning of the piece as a whole."
Prologue establishes the setting of the play.
"Romeo and Juliet” is a sonnet, which is written in 14 lines, and the format will be ABABCDCDEFEFGG.(The last pronunciation of the syllable will be same.
In Shakespeare's sonnet, usually first the first quatrain gives introductory information. The second elaborates the details on the first quatrain. The third introduces conflicts,shifts in tone or setting and the rhyming couplet.
An important step for analyzing Shakespeare's work is to understand denotation of Shakespeare's diction.
The prologue is also used as a foreshadowing to talk about the ending.
Play has to be versatile.
Before, there are only males in the play. They act both women and men.
The Theater which was the first established in England had a multi-sided structure and an uncovered "yard".
Spectators could pay for seating at multiple price levels
The Globe(opened in 1599), was later on established.
Indoor theaters can operate year-round, out of the sun, wind, and rain.
In Shakespeare's day, a penny to stand in the uncovered yard of a playhouse, or two pennies for a balcony seat.
Spectators liked to have snacks and drinks when they were watching a play.
Some comic character might be played by a popular adult comic actor or clown.
Actors usually did not aim for historically accurate costumes; they typically wore modern dress.
Costumes are a major investment of the play.
The bare stages of Shakespeare's day had little or no scenery.
Quotes from Shakespeare's Theater: But they included some vertical options: actors could descend from the "heavens" above the stage or enter and exit from the "hell" below through a trapdoor.
Beginning in the late 1800s, Shakespeare's plays inspired the creation of a wealth of replica Elizabethan theaters.
Some Shakespeare's works are interpreted on films.
By understanding writers or playwrights' purpose and format of the prologue, prologue can be easily analyzed.
Quotes from "Analysis of the "Romeo & Juliet" Prologue Sonnet": the denotation of each word and how the words create the meaning of the piece as a whole."
Prologue establishes the setting of the play.
"Romeo and Juliet” is a sonnet, which is written in 14 lines, and the format will be ABABCDCDEFEFGG.(The last pronunciation of the syllable will be same.
In Shakespeare's sonnet, usually first the first quatrain gives introductory information. The second elaborates the details on the first quatrain. The third introduces conflicts,shifts in tone or setting and the rhyming couplet.
An important step for analyzing Shakespeare's work is to understand denotation of Shakespeare's diction.
The prologue is also used as a foreshadowing to talk about the ending.
Play has to be versatile.
Before, there are only males in the play. They act both women and men.
The Theater which was the first established in England had a multi-sided structure and an uncovered "yard".
Spectators could pay for seating at multiple price levels
The Globe(opened in 1599), was later on established.
Indoor theaters can operate year-round, out of the sun, wind, and rain.
In Shakespeare's day, a penny to stand in the uncovered yard of a playhouse, or two pennies for a balcony seat.
Spectators liked to have snacks and drinks when they were watching a play.
Some comic character might be played by a popular adult comic actor or clown.
Actors usually did not aim for historically accurate costumes; they typically wore modern dress.
Costumes are a major investment of the play.
The bare stages of Shakespeare's day had little or no scenery.
Quotes from Shakespeare's Theater: But they included some vertical options: actors could descend from the "heavens" above the stage or enter and exit from the "hell" below through a trapdoor.
Beginning in the late 1800s, Shakespeare's plays inspired the creation of a wealth of replica Elizabethan theaters.
Some Shakespeare's works are interpreted on films.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
In class writing
Our group did 1 minute Romeo and Juliet Performance. We basically talk about most part of the story, but also skip some part of it; like we did not have the character Paris. In our groups, the themes are conflict, trying to make peace, revenge, cycle of killing and love.
Other groups like 2 minutes performance, they talk about pretty much the same thing with ours. But their plot is detailed. For example, they have a dance party, and also they show how they fight(The fight among Romeo, Tybalt and Benvolio.) In their play, themes that are shown are love, unrealistic fall in love, senseless deaths.
The last group is the 30 seconds one. Because they do not have much time, they only can choose one part. So they choose the falling action of the play, which is Romeo killed Paris and killed himself in front of Juliet's "corpse". And Juliet later on woke up and also suicided. The themes for them are tragedy, repeated actions, love, and everything get worse.
All the groups above have the themes of fight/conflict and love. And all of the groups have the characters Romeo and Juliet.
Other groups like 2 minutes performance, they talk about pretty much the same thing with ours. But their plot is detailed. For example, they have a dance party, and also they show how they fight(The fight among Romeo, Tybalt and Benvolio.) In their play, themes that are shown are love, unrealistic fall in love, senseless deaths.
The last group is the 30 seconds one. Because they do not have much time, they only can choose one part. So they choose the falling action of the play, which is Romeo killed Paris and killed himself in front of Juliet's "corpse". And Juliet later on woke up and also suicided. The themes for them are tragedy, repeated actions, love, and everything get worse.
All the groups above have the themes of fight/conflict and love. And all of the groups have the characters Romeo and Juliet.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Notes on r & j(performance)
2min:
Characters: Romeo, Juliet, tybalt, bevelio, friar Lawrence, the music
Themes: love, fight( man vs man)
Plot: party, dance, marriage, fight, fake death, both suicided
Narrator
30sec:
No narrator
Characters: Romeo, Juliet, the noble who loved Juliet
Themes: fight, love, tragedy, repeated actions everything got worse.
Plot: the fake death, Romeo killed Paris, and Romeo suicided, Juliet later also suicided.
Characters: Romeo, Juliet, tybalt, bevelio, friar Lawrence, the music
Themes: love, fight( man vs man)
Plot: party, dance, marriage, fight, fake death, both suicided
Narrator
30sec:
No narrator
Characters: Romeo, Juliet, the noble who loved Juliet
Themes: fight, love, tragedy, repeated actions everything got worse.
Plot: the fake death, Romeo killed Paris, and Romeo suicided, Juliet later also suicided.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Notes on R and J Act 1
Scene 1:
In the beginning of scene one, two Capulet servants talks about how they would do to the Montagues. Then, they find out that there is a Montague servant and they try to provoke the servants. After the Montague's servant feels furious, the Capulet servants fought with him(her). Then, both of the head of the servants come, Tybalt and Benvolio. They start to fight and citizens are disturbed. Then the prince come and ask them to stop. Montague asks his nephew where Romeo is, but he does not know. Then, Romeo come. Through the conversation with Romeo, Benvolio knows that Romeo falls in love with someone who does not like him. Benvolio says to Romeo that he can find a woman who loves him. But Romeo refuses.
Scene 2
Capulet has a daughter called Juliet, and Capulet wants his daughter to get married. So he asks his servant to invite all of the people on a list, to engage in a party which for his daughter. On the way to find people, servants do not know any words so he find a person on the road to read for him. And that man is Romeo. After read all of the names, Romeo notices that he will have a chance to meet the one he fells in love with.
Scene 3
Characters: nurse, Lady Capulet, Juliet
Nurse and Capulet talked to Juliet that how great the love is, and tell her that what should Juliet do to Paris at that night.
Scene 4
Main characters: Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio
Romeo started to fear the party, he said that he wanted to be a man who holds torch. But then, Benvolio persuaded him. Romeo:" I fear, too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night's revels."
Scene 5
Main characters: Capulet, Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt
During the party, Romeo just stands right there and looks at the people who are dancing. But suddenly, he saw Juliet, they suddenly fell in love. Tybalt later found out that the person Romeo is Montague, and wanted to kill him. But Capulet stopped him. After that, Romeo and Juliet had a deep kiss and Romeo left. But at the end of Scene 5, they both found out that the one they love is enemy's child. Question: Even though Capulet hears that Romeo is a virtuous youth, why he did not want him to marry his daughter? Because he is the son of the enemy?
In the beginning of scene one, two Capulet servants talks about how they would do to the Montagues. Then, they find out that there is a Montague servant and they try to provoke the servants. After the Montague's servant feels furious, the Capulet servants fought with him(her). Then, both of the head of the servants come, Tybalt and Benvolio. They start to fight and citizens are disturbed. Then the prince come and ask them to stop. Montague asks his nephew where Romeo is, but he does not know. Then, Romeo come. Through the conversation with Romeo, Benvolio knows that Romeo falls in love with someone who does not like him. Benvolio says to Romeo that he can find a woman who loves him. But Romeo refuses.
Scene 2
Capulet has a daughter called Juliet, and Capulet wants his daughter to get married. So he asks his servant to invite all of the people on a list, to engage in a party which for his daughter. On the way to find people, servants do not know any words so he find a person on the road to read for him. And that man is Romeo. After read all of the names, Romeo notices that he will have a chance to meet the one he fells in love with.
Scene 3
Characters: nurse, Lady Capulet, Juliet
Nurse and Capulet talked to Juliet that how great the love is, and tell her that what should Juliet do to Paris at that night.
Scene 4
Main characters: Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio
Romeo started to fear the party, he said that he wanted to be a man who holds torch. But then, Benvolio persuaded him. Romeo:" I fear, too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night's revels."
Scene 5
Main characters: Capulet, Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt
During the party, Romeo just stands right there and looks at the people who are dancing. But suddenly, he saw Juliet, they suddenly fell in love. Tybalt later found out that the person Romeo is Montague, and wanted to kill him. But Capulet stopped him. After that, Romeo and Juliet had a deep kiss and Romeo left. But at the end of Scene 5, they both found out that the one they love is enemy's child. Question: Even though Capulet hears that Romeo is a virtuous youth, why he did not want him to marry his daughter? Because he is the son of the enemy?
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Blog #3
When we as a group first notice that we need to use the word "fence" as an inspiration to devise a performance, we are pretty much excited about it. Everyone has different opinion on it; Someone says that we should make a comedy; another person says tragedy is better. Finally, we decided to make a play about a boy who got bullied in his previous school, and how he changed in the new school.
During the class, I was responsible for taking others' opinion and wrote it in google docs. I am also the one who wrote out our scripts based on Helen's story. During the performance, our voice was getting louder in the middle of the play to the end; we did well in introduce each characters by the narrator, and we have some hilarious plot and acting.
I think one of the defects for this performance is that ending is unsatisfactory; because it ended hastily. As a group we should come up a more meaningful end. For me, I need to work on facial expressions and emotion appears to audience. Because when the part me and Joey as gangsters went to bully Jammal, my face and voice did not look or sound like mean. Next time I also need to find a good spot, because sometimes I turn my back to the audience.
Devising and performing by ourselves, I learned that sometimes the performance will not be exactly the same as the script did. So at that moment when something was wrong, actors need to use the skill of freestyle to remedy it; because audience did not know the script, they would think that was the plot. Also, everyone's opinion is different; in order to make a great performance, people need to listen to others' idea, and compromise to the one that every people agree with.
By viewing others' play, I learn that audience's emotions or behaviors influence actors a lot. If actors do something wrong or in a awkward position, and audience laugh a bout it, it will make actors laugh, which will make them forget the script or forget the emotion he should be in. Just like in Ivan's group, when they set a really serious beginning but audience laughed, they paused and laughed. It would not as perfect as the play which they do not pause. Also, if in a play each person acts at least two characters, it needs a better description so that audience will not be confused.
During the class, I was responsible for taking others' opinion and wrote it in google docs. I am also the one who wrote out our scripts based on Helen's story. During the performance, our voice was getting louder in the middle of the play to the end; we did well in introduce each characters by the narrator, and we have some hilarious plot and acting.
I think one of the defects for this performance is that ending is unsatisfactory; because it ended hastily. As a group we should come up a more meaningful end. For me, I need to work on facial expressions and emotion appears to audience. Because when the part me and Joey as gangsters went to bully Jammal, my face and voice did not look or sound like mean. Next time I also need to find a good spot, because sometimes I turn my back to the audience.
Devising and performing by ourselves, I learned that sometimes the performance will not be exactly the same as the script did. So at that moment when something was wrong, actors need to use the skill of freestyle to remedy it; because audience did not know the script, they would think that was the plot. Also, everyone's opinion is different; in order to make a great performance, people need to listen to others' idea, and compromise to the one that every people agree with.
By viewing others' play, I learn that audience's emotions or behaviors influence actors a lot. If actors do something wrong or in a awkward position, and audience laugh a bout it, it will make actors laugh, which will make them forget the script or forget the emotion he should be in. Just like in Ivan's group, when they set a really serious beginning but audience laughed, they paused and laughed. It would not as perfect as the play which they do not pause. Also, if in a play each person acts at least two characters, it needs a better description so that audience will not be confused.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Notes about devising
Devised theater is usually collaborative.(Original scripts and writers)
It has a fixed form.
The methods of devising depend on the style of the performance group.
Having director or not may influence the play.
Different people have different definitions for devised theater.
A definition for devised theater will be everyone develops a show collaboratively.
Make one's own work.
Pro will use devised theater to emphasize social issues, create moments of revisionist history, and
deconstruct dramatic literature.
It was seen as "conversations" with audience.
---------------------------------------------------------
Class notes:
It has a fixed form.
The methods of devising depend on the style of the performance group.
Having director or not may influence the play.
Different people have different definitions for devised theater.
A definition for devised theater will be everyone develops a show collaboratively.
Make one's own work.
Pro will use devised theater to emphasize social issues, create moments of revisionist history, and
deconstruct dramatic literature.
It was seen as "conversations" with audience.
---------------------------------------------------------
Class notes:
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Experience about the two monologues
This week, we acted out two monologues which base on the plot of the "Fences"; and my monologues are about a man who is called Gabriel.
Because half of Gabriel's head was gone during the war, and he got a metal plate on his head, he was foolish all the time. My part was about Gabriel talked about how he and St. Peter ate cookies in heaven and also how happy he was when he saw St. Peter got his brother's name in the book.
The most important emotion of Gabriel is that how cheery he was all the time. when I acted out the first draft of the monologue, I tried to be happy, and did some exaggerate body movements in order to show how happy Gabriel was. But I felt awkward and nervous when I was on the stage, I did not smile at all. Also at the beginning of my monologue, I did not stage well so I just stood there and grabbed my sleeves. But after I sit down on the stage, I felt much comfortable so I spoke fluently.
During the second monologue, instead of standing there and holding my sleeves, I actually ran to the center of the stage and then sit there, made eye contacts with audience and I think the most improvement for me is the volume of the sound. There is line which Gabriel said:“St. Peter would go off to sleep and tell me to wake him up when it's time to open the gates for the judgement.” Because this is a secret, I tried to whispered instead of talking.
By performing this monologue, I realized that it would be much easier if a person was not getting nervous or awkward on the stage. Also, audience might influence actors. So during the play, if an actor make some mistake, do not laugh at him or her. Because that will make him or her feel sad and it also might distract him or her.
For me, the difficulties are I will not express my emotion if I feel embarrassed or awkward on the stage. Also, I could not smile in front of people. I could only smile or laugh when my friends around me.
My classmates did pretty well on the monologue! One thing is that they can control their feeling and show it to audience. Like I felt how sad Rose was when my classmate said words with trembling sounds. One thing that is difficult for them is to memorize the script(monologue). Sometimes they forgot the next words, and then they had to go over it again. When they did the second time, it would not be better than the first time. Because they would be more nervous.
Because half of Gabriel's head was gone during the war, and he got a metal plate on his head, he was foolish all the time. My part was about Gabriel talked about how he and St. Peter ate cookies in heaven and also how happy he was when he saw St. Peter got his brother's name in the book.
The most important emotion of Gabriel is that how cheery he was all the time. when I acted out the first draft of the monologue, I tried to be happy, and did some exaggerate body movements in order to show how happy Gabriel was. But I felt awkward and nervous when I was on the stage, I did not smile at all. Also at the beginning of my monologue, I did not stage well so I just stood there and grabbed my sleeves. But after I sit down on the stage, I felt much comfortable so I spoke fluently.
During the second monologue, instead of standing there and holding my sleeves, I actually ran to the center of the stage and then sit there, made eye contacts with audience and I think the most improvement for me is the volume of the sound. There is line which Gabriel said:“St. Peter would go off to sleep and tell me to wake him up when it's time to open the gates for the judgement.” Because this is a secret, I tried to whispered instead of talking.
By performing this monologue, I realized that it would be much easier if a person was not getting nervous or awkward on the stage. Also, audience might influence actors. So during the play, if an actor make some mistake, do not laugh at him or her. Because that will make him or her feel sad and it also might distract him or her.
For me, the difficulties are I will not express my emotion if I feel embarrassed or awkward on the stage. Also, I could not smile in front of people. I could only smile or laugh when my friends around me.
My classmates did pretty well on the monologue! One thing is that they can control their feeling and show it to audience. Like I felt how sad Rose was when my classmate said words with trembling sounds. One thing that is difficult for them is to memorize the script(monologue). Sometimes they forgot the next words, and then they had to go over it again. When they did the second time, it would not be better than the first time. Because they would be more nervous.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Fences monologue
Gabe( Page 26 )
Monologue:
Gabriel: I'll take some biscuits. You got some biscuits? Did you know when I was in heaven... every morning me and St. Peter would sit down by the gate and eat some big fat biscuits? Oh yeah! We had us a good time. We'd sit there and eat us them biscuits and then St. Peter would go off to sleep and tell me to wake him up when it's time to open the gates for the judgement.
Gabriel: Troy... St. Peter got your name in the book. I seen it. It say... Troy Maxson. I say... I know him! He got the same name like what I got. That's my brother!
Character Gabriel:
He was the the main character Troy Maxson's brother. He got serious injury on his head so he got a metal plate on it. Because of the injury, his IQ( intelligence quotient) and EQ(emotional quotient) was somehow lower than the normal people. Troy in some way took care of him, but Gabriel was sometimes scared of him.
Emotions expressed in monologue:
In this monologue, Gabriel supposed to be confused when he said half of the sentences, then he supposed to be suprised of the things that he suddenly recalled. Also needs to show how happy he was when he was talking about eating biscuits with St. Peter.
Monologue:
Gabriel: I'll take some biscuits. You got some biscuits? Did you know when I was in heaven... every morning me and St. Peter would sit down by the gate and eat some big fat biscuits? Oh yeah! We had us a good time. We'd sit there and eat us them biscuits and then St. Peter would go off to sleep and tell me to wake him up when it's time to open the gates for the judgement.
Gabriel: Troy... St. Peter got your name in the book. I seen it. It say... Troy Maxson. I say... I know him! He got the same name like what I got. That's my brother!
Character Gabriel:
He was the the main character Troy Maxson's brother. He got serious injury on his head so he got a metal plate on it. Because of the injury, his IQ( intelligence quotient) and EQ(emotional quotient) was somehow lower than the normal people. Troy in some way took care of him, but Gabriel was sometimes scared of him.
Emotions expressed in monologue:
In this monologue, Gabriel supposed to be confused when he said half of the sentences, then he supposed to be suprised of the things that he suddenly recalled. Also needs to show how happy he was when he was talking about eating biscuits with St. Peter.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Romeo and Juliet Review
Romeo and Juliet Review
Title: Romeo and Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare
Date(reviewed date): 9. 1st. 2017
Location: Edgerton Park
Director: Raphael Massie
Major Actors: Romeo-Steven Lee Johnson, Juliet-Courtney Jamison, Mercutio-James Udom, Tybalt-Claire Warden, Friar Lawrence-James Andreassi, Nurse-Gracy Brown
The play mainly discussed about a love story between two houses which feuded for a long time. Romeo, the heir of Montague, accidentally sneaked into a banquet and fell in love with the daughter of the hostile house, which is the house of Capulet. The next day, with the nurse's help, Romeo and Juliet got married in front of Friar Lawrence, who is friend of them and want to solve the contradiction between the houses. Later then, Romeo met the cousin of Juliet, Tybalt, and she wanted to duel with Romeo. When Romeo refused it, his friend Mercutio thought Romeo was disgraced so he fought for him. "Accidentally", Mercutio got killed by Tybalt; Romeo was furious about this so he rushed to Tybalt and killed her. Because of the behavior of this, Romeo got banishment. At the same time, Juliet was informed that she would be married to another noble who she did not like it. So she feigned death during the wedding day and asked Friar Lawrence to tell Romeo the truth. However, Romeo did not get the truth and he thought Juliet actually died. So he went to the coffin of his wife. In front of the corpse of his wife, he suicided. When Juliet woke up and found the corpse of Romeo, she suicided also. This event brought reconciliation for two houses.
There are couple themes which appear in the play Love is definitely the most important one. It first appears at the banquet, which Romeo instantly fell in love with Juliet. Later on, the short conversation between them also shows the themes. Love is throughout the play till the end which they both suicided. Also themes like friendship and violence express in the play. Friendship occurs typically at the part that Mercutio fought for Romeo. Violence also mentions in the play. From the beginning till the very end, it shows from the fight, conversation, and the relationship between two houses. Director Raphael Massie also notes that our world right now also spread with anger and bigotry, and he wanted to use this play to recall others' humanity.
By using fit background music, costumes, and light, this play brings a deep impression for audience. Every characters wear the appropriate costumes. For the nobles, they have the fancy clothing. In order to embodying the beauty of Juliet, she gets an alluring skirt. The sound is also a important part for this play. When the play wants to build a cold atmosphere, then the sound of lightning rose. In the play, in order to let audience identify the important part of play easily, the lighting takes the responsibility for it. For example, before the banquet, the stage looks dark and only has a few beams of light. But when the main characters talk, the light will then concentrate on them. On Romeo, all the staging can best be described. After the party, when he walked on the path alone, the light follows him. Also there are some bird tweets when Romeo walked in the morning. Nurse and Lady Capulet are standing at the opposite. While Nurse is talkative, Lady Capulet does not speak a lot. While Lady Capulet refused Juliet to meet with Romeo, Nurse supports her.
In my opinion, Gracy Brown, which is the actor of nurse acts the best in the play. Through her words, body movement and facial expression, the character nurse looks more like a actual person compared to other actors. For example, when Juliet sent nurse to talk with Romeo and she came back, she walked really slowly, looked tired, and waved fan endlessly. Through the act, audience could understand that nurse pretended that this job was hard and she was proud of herself and wanted some rewards.
It is a fantastic play, I love the plot of the story and the act of the characters. Romeo and Juliet's death as a finishing touch is surprisingly but it is a good ending. Because in the play, when people die, there will be angels around them and put on pure white clothing for them; they look peacefulness and I think Romeo and Juliet will find their happiness in the heaven. By watching this play, I learn that every characters are connected to others. If one character wrongs, it will influence others. Also, I notice that staging like lighting and sound, which I ignored them before, is a really important part; without them, the play will not be perfect.
Title: Romeo and Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare
Date(reviewed date): 9. 1st. 2017
Location: Edgerton Park
Director: Raphael Massie
Major Actors: Romeo-Steven Lee Johnson, Juliet-Courtney Jamison, Mercutio-James Udom, Tybalt-Claire Warden, Friar Lawrence-James Andreassi, Nurse-Gracy Brown
The play mainly discussed about a love story between two houses which feuded for a long time. Romeo, the heir of Montague, accidentally sneaked into a banquet and fell in love with the daughter of the hostile house, which is the house of Capulet. The next day, with the nurse's help, Romeo and Juliet got married in front of Friar Lawrence, who is friend of them and want to solve the contradiction between the houses. Later then, Romeo met the cousin of Juliet, Tybalt, and she wanted to duel with Romeo. When Romeo refused it, his friend Mercutio thought Romeo was disgraced so he fought for him. "Accidentally", Mercutio got killed by Tybalt; Romeo was furious about this so he rushed to Tybalt and killed her. Because of the behavior of this, Romeo got banishment. At the same time, Juliet was informed that she would be married to another noble who she did not like it. So she feigned death during the wedding day and asked Friar Lawrence to tell Romeo the truth. However, Romeo did not get the truth and he thought Juliet actually died. So he went to the coffin of his wife. In front of the corpse of his wife, he suicided. When Juliet woke up and found the corpse of Romeo, she suicided also. This event brought reconciliation for two houses.
There are couple themes which appear in the play Love is definitely the most important one. It first appears at the banquet, which Romeo instantly fell in love with Juliet. Later on, the short conversation between them also shows the themes. Love is throughout the play till the end which they both suicided. Also themes like friendship and violence express in the play. Friendship occurs typically at the part that Mercutio fought for Romeo. Violence also mentions in the play. From the beginning till the very end, it shows from the fight, conversation, and the relationship between two houses. Director Raphael Massie also notes that our world right now also spread with anger and bigotry, and he wanted to use this play to recall others' humanity.
By using fit background music, costumes, and light, this play brings a deep impression for audience. Every characters wear the appropriate costumes. For the nobles, they have the fancy clothing. In order to embodying the beauty of Juliet, she gets an alluring skirt. The sound is also a important part for this play. When the play wants to build a cold atmosphere, then the sound of lightning rose. In the play, in order to let audience identify the important part of play easily, the lighting takes the responsibility for it. For example, before the banquet, the stage looks dark and only has a few beams of light. But when the main characters talk, the light will then concentrate on them. On Romeo, all the staging can best be described. After the party, when he walked on the path alone, the light follows him. Also there are some bird tweets when Romeo walked in the morning. Nurse and Lady Capulet are standing at the opposite. While Nurse is talkative, Lady Capulet does not speak a lot. While Lady Capulet refused Juliet to meet with Romeo, Nurse supports her.
In my opinion, Gracy Brown, which is the actor of nurse acts the best in the play. Through her words, body movement and facial expression, the character nurse looks more like a actual person compared to other actors. For example, when Juliet sent nurse to talk with Romeo and she came back, she walked really slowly, looked tired, and waved fan endlessly. Through the act, audience could understand that nurse pretended that this job was hard and she was proud of herself and wanted some rewards.
It is a fantastic play, I love the plot of the story and the act of the characters. Romeo and Juliet's death as a finishing touch is surprisingly but it is a good ending. Because in the play, when people die, there will be angels around them and put on pure white clothing for them; they look peacefulness and I think Romeo and Juliet will find their happiness in the heaven. By watching this play, I learn that every characters are connected to others. If one character wrongs, it will influence others. Also, I notice that staging like lighting and sound, which I ignored them before, is a really important part; without them, the play will not be perfect.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Monologue
When I came to Cheshire as a freshman and recalled a little bit of how to play the clarinet, Ms. Digiacomo put me into the Orchestra ensemble; and here was what happened. It was 6:30pm on Tuesday, so I did what Ms. Digiacomo told me, go to music room, assemble my clarinet, and then just joined them. It was pretty simple, huh? But when I got there and opened the door of music room, I saw thirty or forty people staring at me at the same time. It was too awkward so my face flushed and I could not speak any of the words, so just standing there, holding the door like a hotel guard. Then, Ms. Digiacomo introduced me and find a seat for me. Later on, everything was going to be all right; I tried to pretend I was playing with them, but actually was just holding the clarinet and blew it whenever the sounds rose. When I looked at the clock, and found out that my nightmare almost ended, but suddenly, I woke up with a start when Ms. Digiacomo called my name and said:" Hey David, can you played the rest part for us?" Gosh, it is 6:20pm, I have to go to the practice.
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