Party

• Themes: Friendship, Family love, exploration.
• Where: On cruise
• When: Noon(One day)
• Who invited: Friends, parents, teachers
• Decorations: Shells, Blue coloring things.
• Food: Pizza, Sushi, Chinese food, fruits and vegetables, bbq
• Special: Each room is underwater so that when people wake up they can see lots of fish around them.
• Entertainment: Video games, Cinema, Cafe, aquarium
• Activities: optional: Diving.
• Costumes: Casual

Notes on Elinor Fuchs' article "Visit to a Small Planet"

Play:
Language is the only part of the world.

 People cannot focus too tight on language.

Should not focus on details too much, but also should not lose details.

Play has unknown. Depends on the writer, the world will be different.

When people decide the characteristics of the world, people need to use actual evidence in the world to support it.

There are also some hidden facts or things below the actual "planet", it should be noticed and find the relationship between its and the actual world.

Music/Sounds also play an important role in the "planet". Sometimes it represents one's characteristics.

There are different rules in the planet, readers should notice that while they are reading.

What kinds of patterns do the figures on this planet arrange themselves.

Each characters have their distinct characteristics.

Costumes are also an important part in the play.

Different characters will have different interact with others.

Readers should also notice the social classes in the play.

What kinds of language does the play use?

Worlds stand or fall on your answer.

Don’t forget to ask what changes in you.

Dramatic worlds also speak to each others.

Every assumption you make about a character must reflect the conditions of its world

Characters mean only as they inhabit, enact, fulfill, engage a succession of sites, actions, and objects under a specific set of conditions

Everything in the play is necessary; nothing is useless.

 Become curious as each element.

People can construct meaning in this world in many ways.

Blog #7

For the 10 main characters for Romeo and Juliet, we chose: Romeo - red heart, Juliet - white heart, Nurse - lantern, Friar - cross/crucifix, Tybalt - knife, Mercutio - alcohol bottle, Lord Capulet - stack of money, Lady Capulet - jewelry, Paris - gold brick, and Apothecary - drugs. Personally, I will change Apothecary to the prince - crown. I chose Romeo and Juliet because the story mainly talk about them. Nurse is Juliet's friend and the one who takes care of Juliet. Friar is the friend of Romeo and he helped Juliet to escape. Tybalt and Mercutio are also in the 10 main characters because without the death of them, Romeo would not be exiled. Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet are important because they were both strict on Juliet's marriage. Paris is also important because without him, Juliet would not escape from the marriage and leads to the death of her and Romeo. Prince exiles Romeo, so he is one of the main characters. In these characters, we did not put Benvolio and Romeo's parents. Because we think those characters do not make any big influence on Romeo and Juliet. For Romeo's parents, they do not care of Romeo.

For Romeo, we choose a red heart for him because he loved someone before, he killed Mercutio because Mercutio killed his friend. Juliet is a white heart because it shows that she is pure, never has a relationship with a man before. For Nurse we chose a lantern because she is the one who always lead Juliet, just like a lantern in the midnight. Friar is a crucifix because he is a friar in church. Tybalt gets a knife because he is the one who always wants to fight with others. Mercutio gets a alcohol bottle because he is sometimes crazy. Lord Capulets gets a stack of money because it shows his wealthy. Lady Capulet has jewelry because she is always luxurious. Paris has a gold brick because it shows his social class and how rich he is. Prince has a crown because he is the prince.

For Romeo and Juliet, it could have a heart pattern on their back to show that they fall in love. For nurse we can create a scene which Nurse carries a lantern and wait for Juliet to come back home. Friar always in the church so he could carry a crucifix. Tybalt has a knife when he fights with Mercutio. Mercutio could be drunk and with an empty alcohol bottle. For Lord Capulet, we can create a scene that he and his business partner has a deal and Lord Capulet takes out a lot of money. In order to show Lady Capulets is luxurious, she could show her rings or necklaces which have a lot of diamond or things on it. For Paris, he could tell Lord Capulet that he would gave him a lot of gold brick if Juliet marry with him. Prince can have a crown on his head to show he is a prince. These objects can clearly show each character's personality. So it is easy for people to know one's characteristics.

I think Joey could be Tybalt and Mercutio because he could show anger easily. Leslie could be the nurse, Juliet, or Lady Capulet because she is good at showing one's emotion. Jack could be Prince and Paris because I think he could show the righteousness of prince. For me, I think I could be the Lord Capulet and Friar Lawrence. Because I think I could comfort people easily.

Meaty Paragraph

   In general, Lord Capulet causes the tragedy. Because he was the one who asked Juliet to marry with Paris and Juliet had to make a fake death in order to escape. In the book, when Capulet said to Juliet that:"“Thursday is near, lay hand on heart, advise. And you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend;", Juliet was desperate. Then she decided to find friar, but if it still did not work, she would suicide. This quote shows that because the command from his father would break up the love between her and Romeo, she decided to find a way to escape the wedding; which became the fake death in the later parts and it leaded to the death between Romeo and Juliet. Without the command from the Lord Capulet, the tragedy won't happen. If Lord Capulet is more merciful or caring to his daughter, his daughter will not choose the extreme way to escape the marriage.

Les Miserables Review

                                                                Les Miserables Review
Title: Les Miserables
Author: Victor Hugo
Date(reviewed date): 10. 7th. 2017
Location:  The Bushnell Theater in Hartford
Director: Laurence Connor and James Powell
Major Actors: Jean Valjean- Nick Captell, Javert-Josh Davis, Fantine-Melissa Mitchell, Little Cosette- Zoe Glick/ Sophie Knapp, Marius- Joshua Grosso, Bishop of Digne-Andrew Love.

   The play starts on a slave ship. The protagonist, Jean Valjean, was on the trip as a slave for 19 years.  Right now it is the time to release him but warden Javert thinks that Jean Valjean is still dangerous so he gives Jean Valjean a parole. When he was starving and lied beside the Church's door, the bishop then saw him and gave him a supper and made him a bed to sleep. Although Bishop was being nice to Jean Valjean, his values and beliefs were already distorted. He stole the silver in the church and fled away. However, the next morning he got caught by the police and took back to the church. But the bishop said that silver were gift for Jean Valjean, and told him that he even forgot one more silver. When police left, bishop told Jean Valjean that he just wanted him to be a man who always says the truth. After Jean Valjean heard that, he repented in front of Jesus and decided to become a honest person in the future. When he was back, he became a mayor of the city and a successful business man, no one knew he was a criminal before. Then, the scene switched to his factory. Two woman was brawling and one of it was Fantine. Every women in the factory was jealous of the beauty of Fantine so they excluded her; the foreman of the factory liked her and wanted to slept her. Because Fantine rejected the foreman, she was fired. Because she was penniless and she had to raise her daughter, which is Cosette, she became a whore. She refused all of men who came here. One day when she refused a noble, Javert showed up; now Javert was a police in the town. The noble complained that Fantine insulted him and attacked him. Javert then accused her and tried to arrest her. Fortunately, Jean Valjean was just walked by and saw this. He recommended that Fantine used to be his personnel so he saved her. But Fantine suffered a lot of pains mentally and physically, she died quickly. Before she died, she begged Jean Valjean to raise the poor Cosette, and Jean Valjean agreed. When Cosette became a teenager, she fell in love with a boy who named with Marius. And Marius is a young man who wanted to overthrow the government and set people free. During the war, all Marius's friends died but he was saved by Jean Valjean. When he recovered, he married with Cosette. When he heard that he was saved by Jean Valjean and ran to visit him, he was dying. When he died, Fantine was beside him and they went to heaven. 

   The main themes in this play will be love, unfairness between different social class, and ethics. There are many different kinds of love in the play. The love between mother and daughter will be one. And the love between Cosette and Marius will be one. Jean Valjean seen Cosette as a child is another one. Unfairness also appears many times. On the slave ship, just because Javert think he was dangerous, he could not be totally free. Also, because Fantine was a whore, Javert did not listen to her words. Ethics is also one of the important one. When Jean Valjean was forgiven by the bishop, his moral principles changed. When he heard that others would replace him to be a slave, he told others he was the escapee.

   This is a musical. Every actors' lines were song out. And they have an orchestra to play the music. Sometimes the music is sad, but sometimes is cheerful. Stage lighting is also an important part. The light will concentrate on the main character or the person who is talking. When someone died, the light would then fade from him or her. Costume also plays an important role. When Jean Valjean was on the slave ship, he wore a dirty clothing, which represents he was a slave. The costumes help audience to understand the play.

   My favorite character is the male innkeeper. The main reason is that he makes audience laugh. When he came to the stage, the music changed. Before it was a sad music, but after he stood on the stage, it changed to a funny style. Also, when he said he was a honest man but he was actually not, the extreme change makes audience laugh.

   I really loved this play. The orchestra was fantastic and stage lighting makes the play even more better. The story was sad, but I can feel the love among the characters. Jean Valjean used to steal things or being dishonest, but after he was forgiven by the bishop, he decided to be a honest person and wanted to make a contribution to the society. This play tells me that even the bad guys will change their behavior and beliefs, so we should trust people around us.

In class writing

Part one --

In Act 3 Scene 1 who is really responsible for Mercutio’s death: Mercutio, who provoked the fight, Tybalt who stabbed him, or Romeo who got between them? Use specific evidence (direct quotes) from the play to back this up. 
In my opinion, Mercutio should be responsible for his own death. Because in the Act 3 Scene 1 he kept trying to provoke Tybalt. "And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow." This quote was directly spoken after Tybalt said to Mercutio and Venvolio that he wanted to talk with Romeo. He wanted to fight with Tybalt but Tybalt did not want to have struggle with him. When Romeo came And met Tybalt, he wanted to solve the problem peacefully; while Tybalt wanted to fight with him. At that moment, Mercutio could not control himself. "O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Alla stoccato carries it away." He thought it was a shame to solve the problem between Capulets and Montagues peacefully; so he took out sword and fought with Tybalt. During the fight, Romeo tried to stop them, but suddenly, Tybalt stabbed Mercutio. If Mercutio could understand Romeo wanted to solve the problem peacefully because Tybalt was his cousin in law, he would not die.

How would you stage this as a director? Be specific.
When Mercutio and Benvolio talked before Tybalt came in, they should talked about how brave they were, and what would they do if they met Capulets. When Tybalt came, rather than having argument with Mercutio, he should be patient and have a good tempered until Romeo came. When Romeo came in, Tybalt should show the emotion of anger and voice should be louder, while Romeo's words should be soft  in order to show that Romeo did not want to fight. Mercutio at this time should be impatient, and described Romeo as a coward and took out his sword to fight with Tybalt. When they are fighting, the music should be a fast tempo music piece and it should show the anger between both Tybalt and Mercutio. After Tybalt stabbed Mercutio and flew away, Mercutio should be a little bit crazy, and yelled out  its all the fault of these two familes.  Then, Romeo got furious and fought with Tybalt. He should stabbed Tybalt really hard.

Notes on R & J Act 3

Scene 1:
At the beginning of the this scene, Mercutio talks about how bad tempered Benvolio is. Then, Tybalt came. He tried to find Romeo. When Romeo came, he did not want to fight with Tybalt, but Mercutio got mad. He took out his sword and fought with Tybalt. Unfortunately, he got stabbed. Tybalt then ran away. Before Mercutio died, he said that he died because of this two families. Romeo was sad and he thought the beauty of Juliet made him weak. When Tybalt was back, Romeo took out the knife and killed him. Then prince and Capulets came. Lady Capulets wanted Romeo to die. Then, prince exiled Romeo.

Scene 2:
At the beginning of the scene. Juliet was waiting for her husband. But nurse brought the bad news. Romeo was banished and Tybalt was killed by Romeo. Juliet became a little bit crazy. She said she was glad that Romeo was alive, Tybalt did not kill Romeo. When Juliet wanted to suicide. Nurse said she knew where can find Romeo. She would find him to comfort Juliet.

Scene 3:
At beginning of the scene, friar brought the news of the banishment to Romeo. Romeo cried and said this was not a mercy, it was even worse than death, because he could not see Juliet anymore. Friar started to comfort him. At that time, the nurse came. She told friar that Juliet was doing the same thing just like Romeo did. Romeo felt really bad because he killed Juliet's cousin, and he wanted to suicide. And friar stopped him, he started to curse Romeo, because he was crying like a lady, and did not do anything. Then, he found a method, which was later announced the news of the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, and tried to cancel the banishment. From this scene, we can clearly see that friar is a peacemaker, he tried to do things for two families, also for his friends, Romeo.

Scene 4:
Paris came to propose marriage. And Juliet was not there. In order to bind the noble Paris with Capulets, Lord Capulets said that Juliet would agree his command to marry Paris. And they chose to marry on Thursday, which was 2 days after. From this scene, I would say Capulet was a cold-blooded person. If he really loved Tybalt, he would not need to saying that people would thought they do not care about Tybalt if they god married on Wednesday.

Scene 5:
This is the scene that especially showed the hatred between Lord Capulet and Juliet. The scene began with Romeo and Juliet standing together. Romeo did not want to leave but it was time. When Romeo left, Lady Capulet came. She told Juliet that she would have a marriage with the noble Paris. Juliet did not want to and she begged Lord Capulet. Lord Capulet was really mad and he cursed her really hard and said she had to marry Paris on Thursday. When Capulets left, nurse told Juliet that it was a probably good choice to marry Paris. Because of this, Juliet hated the nurse also. I think Lord Capulet seen Juliet as a tool. He did not consider Juliet's feeling. Juliet also felt desperate because even her confidant betrayed her.

Blog #6

In my opinion, Friar Lawrence is a peacemaker. At the beginning of the Act 2 Scene 3, he spoke to himself. In his words, he mentioned that: "Two such opposed kings encamp them still in man as well as herbs, grace and rude will;... Full soon the canker death eats up that plant."(p.77) I think this sentence implied about the two family, Capulets and Montagues. Lawrence does not think the hatred between two families is a good thing, because the results of them will like the plant that was eaten up by the canker death.

Also in page 80, Lawrence said that: " But come, young waverer, come go with me, In one respect I'll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove To turn your households' rancor to pure love." From this quote, it clearly states the fact that Lawrence is a peacemaker and he wants to do something in order to improve the relationship between Montagues and Capulets.

In the Act 2 Scene 6, when Romeo said that he just wanted the holy words from Friar Lawrence so that Juliet could be his wife, Lawrence stated that:" These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness, And in the taste confounds the appetite. Therefore love moderately: long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow."(p. 101) This sentence showed that Lawrence is a knowledgeable person. Just like fire and powder, the violent delights will have violent ends. For the person who know about this, it is hard for them to become a troublemaker. Because there is no way for them to do things that go against their personal faith or concept.

Lawrence is also a traditional friar. At the beginning of Act 2 Scene 6, he praised how graceful the Earth is. "The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb; And from her womb children of divers kind. We sucking on her natural bosom find;"(p. 76) And he will say "Benedicite" just like other friar in religious communities. Also, at the end of Act 2 Scene 6, he said that :"You shall not stay alone Till Holy Church incorporate two in one."(p. 102) I think as a sincere friar like him, it is impossible for him to be the one who breaks the peace in Verona.

Lawrence is not only a friend of Romeo, but also a teacher. He always teaches Romeo some life philosophy. Like in page 79 he will censure Romeo for his instant changing love. "Young men's love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes." Also the quotes in page 101, which is the same quote in paragraph three, teaches Romeo that even in love, do not be impatient. Keep the tempo stable so that it will not ruin the love. I think for the one who is a teacher of others. They will not be a troublemaker because teachers always want to give his or her students a good impression.

Notes on R&J Act 2

Scene 1: When Mercutio and Benvolio tried to find Romeo, Mercutio talked about Rosaline, wanted to made Romeo mad but Romeo did show up. So they left.

Scene 2:
Romeo went to find Juliet. When he was hidden, he heard that Juliet was talking about him; so he jumped out. And Romeo said he could be the one who was not Romeo. Juliet does not want Romeo to swear. They set the time for tomorrow to have a secret rite.

Scene 3:
Romeo came to meet Friar Lawrence(Father in religion).  When Romeo told him about he and Juliet, the daughter of the rich Capulet, Friar first blamed him, because he switched his love so quick. But then, Friar agreed about the rite because he thinks this marriage will help to solve the hatred between Capulet and Montague.

Scene 4:
In the beginning of the scene, Benvolio and Mercutio are talking about where Romeo is, and then Romeo come. Then they had a conversation.(I don't quite understand there). Later, the Nurse come. Mercutio and Benvolio made fun of Romeo and Nurse, and they left. Nurse thought Romeo would be a good husband for Juliet. Then, Romeo asked nurse to tell Juliet meet with Friar Lawrence at afternoon.

Scene 5:
At first, Juliet was waiting for nurse to come back. She wanted to know about the information about marriage. When nurse came, she pretend it was a long and hard journey. When Juliet begged her, she finally said that She would be a wife. Juliet was ecstatic.

Scene 6:
Romeo and Friar was waiting for Juliet. When Juliet came, Romeo rushed to her and kissed her. Friar was impatient so he asked them to follow him.

Blog #5

If I am going to stage the play, I think one of the most important elements is the color.  The consumes and buildings of this two families should be totally different; because that can show that two families actually stand in the opposite. For example, when Montagues are wearing black or represents black, Capulets should wearing white. Also, in order to show the similar class status, both Montagues and Capulets should be wearing fancy clothes, as a symbol of wealth and status. I think actors can speak British English, because it is easy to distinguish the royal accent and normal people's accent. When they are talking, they should add sir in each sentences, in order to show that they are civilized. When the members of two families meet, they should have disdain on their face, and also from the words, show that they are enemies. Some small props can help a lot to distinguish two families, like having a badge on their clothing or having their logos on their cars or buildings will make audience much easier to determine whether the character is a Montague or Capulet. Style of music also helps to distinguish Montague and Capulet. For example, when Montagues come to the stage, music can be rock music; but when Capulets come, music can be changed to Jazz music.