Reflection on performance

Short reflection due: what were your personal strengths and weaknesses in this project (review the video to assess your performance). 200 words. Post on blog

For me, one of the strengths is that I use some body languages and some facial expressions. In scene 2, when Mom brings the bone soup to Caroline, I did not have one. So I am awkward and stares at Caroline's soup. Also, when mom is nagging about I am not the right one to be married with, I look down and stares at the table in front of me because I suppose to show the "guilty" feeling.

The weaknesses are obvious. First, I can barely hear myself. Second, I did not do well when I have to reciting lines and using body language at the same time. In the beginning of the play, because my voice suppose to be low and with no energetic in it, its hard to hear my words in the video. I think I need to adjust the volume to a point that it fits the melancholy mood and audience can hear me clearly. Another place I did not do well is the conversation between me and Mom. It is the part when mom changes her opinion and asks me to give the teddy to Caroline. After she calls me Caroline's fiance, I should be surprised. I did surprised, but I surprised because I forgot my lines. Because I forgot my lines, I had to pay most of my attention on recalling so that I did not have a lot of movements and that part was not very fluent. In order to improve it, the very first thing I need to do is to memorize my lines as more as I can do. By doing this I will not be forget my lines during the performance. Furthermore, I think I need to write down the movements and body languages that I will use in performance. And I will practice the movements more and more so that eventually it becomes a muscle memory.

Blog - what do you need to revise on your drafts

Blog post due -- what do you need to revise on your drafts to show more clarity, conviction, commitment, emotion, and overall strengthen your performance. Be specific on what you need to revise and why. 300 words. Due by midnight

For our group, our themes are love, struggles between parents and child, and identity. In order to show the identity, we give Eric a monologue to show how does the identity affect characters in US. While we have that monologue, we do not actually have an ending for that. I think we should add one more scene for the conversation between Mom and Eric. By doing this, I think the story line will be much more clear. Also, we can use this scene to show the theme: struggles between parents and child. Because at the beginning of the story, Mom has a huge argument with Caroline that Eric is not the right person to marry. So in scene three when Mom accidentally breaks the teddy bear, which was a gift sent by Eric, mom and child's relationship are at rock bottom. But in our original drafts, this does not have a conclusion, and mom and Caroline's relationship just suddenly becomes better at the final scene. This is too abrupt and I think we need a transition. By adding one more scene after Mom's monologue, it will be much better. After the monologue, Mom can just directly contact Eric. During the conversation, Mom can give a new teddy to Eric and ask him to give it to Caroline. This act can be seen as Mom accepts that Eric is her son in law. And the relationship between parents and children will be better. This also shows the family love in Caroline's family. At the beginning of the story, Mom does not accept Eric is because she wants her daughter to have a better life. But later on she finds out that Caroline truly falls in love with Eric, so she compromises herself and accept Eric. Buying a new teddy bear shows that Mom now accepts US's things, which means she accepts her daughter's identity.

Blog on how to best perform your scene

In our scene, one of the most important themes is relationship between parents and children. In Caroline's Wedding, Caroline always has some struggles with her mom. Sometimes she is playing naughty and does not listen to what her mom is saying. Talking about her mom, her mom is an old-fashioned lady. She thinks what Caroline's behavior is too "American". In scene two, mom chattered a lot about Caroline is too "american, and spends too much time with Eric. Also, Eric is a character that elicits all of this. Because in mom's opinion, Eric is not a good choice to be Caroline's husband. However, Caroline thinks totally the opposite way. By strengthening this aspect, we can easily show the struggle between parents and children. In order to highlight this scene, we also adds act like breaking cups/plates, tearing off the teddy, and pounding table. Because these acts can be seen or heard, audience can easily feel the struggle between mom and Caroline. Another important factor is the teddy bear. In our story, Eric gives the teddy to Caroline as a present and Caroline sees it as the most precious thing. In our scene three, Mom will bring the bone soup to Caroline, while Caroline keeps playing with the Teddy. Then Mom gets mad and tries to take away the Teddy. During the struggle, they will break the teddy. This signifies as the relationship break between parents and children. Caroline should also scream and run away, because physical act is always easier to show the struggle. At last, mom will give Caroline a new teddy bear at scene 6 and Caroline will accept it. This will show that the relationship between mom and Caroline is reconciled or even better than before.

In-class writing on character analysis using Uta Hagen's 9 questions

1.  WHO AM I?  

 I am Eric, a  26 years old Bahamian who stays in US for many years. I am the main character Caroline's fiance. I love making friends, and I love staying with Caroline. I am scared of loneliness, and I hate the feeling when someone does not trust me. I graduated from the college and find a decent job. I do not have a typical enemy, but Caroline's mom sometimes is really annoyed. I love Caroline, she is going to be my wife. 


2.  WHAT TIME IS IT?  

It is 8 in the morning, and this is in 21st century. Few hours later I am going to the wedding.


3.  WHERE AM I?  

I live in Brooklyn, US. It only takes me about ten minutes to drive to Caroline's house.

4.  WHAT SURROUNDS ME?  

Surrounding me there is a cat, who is already 6 years old. A king size bed for me and Caroline. A lovely garden for Caroline if she wants to plant flowers and plants in the future. On the table there is a wedding ring, later on I will give it to Caroline.


5.  WHAT ARE THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?  

Few days ago I just talked to Caroline's mom, I promised her that I would take care of Caroline. Later in this afternoon its my wedding! In the future me and Caroline will live in our apartment, but we will definitely visit mom.



6.  WHAT IS MY RELATIONSHIP?  

Caroline will soon be my wife, and her mom will be my mother in law. I will also have a sister-in-law named Grace.  



7.  WHAT DO I WANT?  

I want to promote the relationship between me and mom. I also want to be a good husband in the future. Furthermore, I hope to have a foothold in US as an  Bahamian.



8.  WHAT IS IN MY WAY?  

 Right now the obstacle is that Caroline's mom does not like me. She thought I had a bad motivation in getting married with Caroline. But I just loved her, she was the first one I met in US and she helped me a lot.

9.  WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT?  

I already talked to her mom and told her that I truly loved Caroline. In the future, I will visit Caroline's mom more frequent. And I will cook for her, since she said that men could not cook.