blog, bloggity, bloggin’
Well, it’s been quite sometime since i have posted my last blog….i think the main attribute to that was my intense ice skating schedule, and for that, i apologize. In the mean time, here’s everything i will be covering:
Vaudeville–video
Vaudeville–performance/creation of
Port Orange Family days Pantomime
Moby Dick costumes
Princess of Mars
Karagoz puppetry
sweeney Todd
Districts:
student directed scene
set design
pantomime
Sooooo….i guess I’ll start off with the most recent thing, Districts. I’ve been working on all my events for weeks, and i was optimistic on making my last districts the best. When i got there, it was confusing and scary because of several horrible events like forgetting an extension chord, losing my set deign binder, a rather sloppy pantomime, and a student directed scene t hat would have looked better if i had all my actors fully devoted. It’s weird that when you have to depend on people your events usually come out worse than when you don’t. Every year, my individual event that had nothing to do with another person comes out well, and i get a critic’s choice on that one. I found out through the grape vine that this year i got critic’s choice on my set. And i’m fairly certain i got an excellent on my Student Directed scene and pantomime. We didn’t hear anything about those two.
My student direct went somewhat well, but the two people who didn’t really memorize their lines that much (Allie and Scarlett) brought the scene down a notch because they forgot their lines and fumbled them….but everyone in the room laughed–including the judges. I thought there were times when it may have been over the top, but it turned out well. The judges didn’t mind (or at least said so) that I used girls to play guys. they liked a lot of the gags and timing of my actors and LOVED shay. I was very optimistic. I think it was two or three times better than cat on a hot tin roof last year. I think this was partially because of my choice of actors and the fact that this was a comedy. I just really wanted to redeem spruce creek after i dropped the ball of us ritually getting critic’s choice in student direct.
No one came to watch my scene design, which i guess was okay, but i expected at least one person from my troupe to be there….i did fine though, i always start out my presentation fast and somewhat scared/nervous. a good portion of that was attributed to forgetting the extension chord and having to rush over there in 1 minute to not miss my event. So after my presentation, i got nervous because i thought the judges were weary about my design cause they asked some kind of detailed questions. i was very intimidated too because this year they were actually familiar with the play and at least one of them had actually been to the steel pier of New Jersey–where this takes place. they said it was beautiful over all, and it looked like the actual place, but they wanted me to be more metaphorical about it, or at least try to bring that more to the set. I didn’t agree with their concept of the play where they wanted everything to be more of a haze or dream, because i think that’s what the Broadway version was like, so i wanted to steer away from that, to try to make it a more concrete vision rather than an illusion. But you can’t argue opinion. They didn’t like my floor plans–and that was completely understandable. They said i could get a program off of google for free because all i heard were one that ere like $1000, but they said that once i get my floor plans down i would be an unstop-able set designer.
The pantomime now, has had several problems, namely, Anthony. I don’t know why i work with this boy, he barely listens, he can’t stand doing something the way i ask–regardless of whether i’m directing or not. It was originally going ot be Seashell, Kasey and Scarlett. Kasey had problems as well, she seems too reserved and doesn’t get into the performance as much. She would do things not as well as they should, she would get sloppiest and sometimes she just wasn’t fast with the moves. Scarlett at least got into the performance. But it just would have been easier and better if i just had Seashell stay with her part, i think everything would be better had she just stay in districts–oh, i also would have been able to do a duet acting event with her. but hey….you win some and you lose some. Overall, our troupe did a great job. so far, i heard we got 3 critic’s choices and i honorable mention. I just wish there was some other incentive this year to have worked hard because we’re not doing state. I know last year oodles of people were motivated for that prime most amazing experience. I think more people would have worked harder knowing that that was waiting for them when they’re done with all this hectic drama. Overall, I did get to see some good theatre and experience part of it, and for the last time, proudly represent Troupe 2461
