Week Thirty-Two: Rock of Ages Performance

Singing and Movement Evaluation:

Rock of Ages

     For this assignment we were tasked with combining our skills, in both our singing and dance movement lessons, to give a performance of the famous song “Built this city on rock and roll” from the landmark musical “Rock of Ages”.  In this performance we were to explore our understanding of both the physical and verbal details within our own performances.  Verbally exploring the story behind the lyric of the musical number and seeing if we were capable of projecting such details on stage.  As well as physically exploring a specific type of character we were giving in the rehearsal process.  All these technique were to be explored and presented for the main performance, but was to add as many details as possible to ensure that there was story within the performance. 

Strengths

     During both the rehearsal and performing process I felt my key strength was my physicality in our dance routine.  Having previously worked in other dance routines I felt my key strength is memorising my set movements on stage.  The reason being why I feel this is a key strength, in taking part in the performing arts, because this technique of having physical practise becomes a muscle memory, therefore making my performance feel and seem more natural on stage.  This strength also comes in handy when it comes to my acting in the course, as relying on muscle memories can create a positive outcome in both rehearsals and the main performance. 

     Another practical side to this assignment which I felt was a good strength was our task of creating a character for the main performance.  The idea was to create a character suitable to my performing role in this musical number.  Having been given the performing role of a ‘rocker’, it was my task to create a character that had a suitable origins story and decent characteristics that would suit a plot line within the lyrics of the song.  The story within the lyrics focuses on a city where the citizens are divided and want to have their own groups of people, the ‘rocker’ and the ‘protesters’, to claim the city for themselves.  One side of the party, we have the ‘rocker’ who claims to have built the city themselves, therefore strongly feel they have the right to stay, and claim the city, and “rock on” essentially.  Whereas on the other side of the parties, we have the ‘protesters’ who are the citizens who have had enough of listening to the ‘rockers’ music and aren’t going to take it anymore, therefore they want there to be no more ‘rock and roll’ and want the city to be more civilised and decent.  The character I created had a rough origins story, concerning an abusive father figure, and a mother figure that was never there for him.  This origin, I feel, suited the purpose of the story within the lyrics, as my character strongly wanted to prove his point and stand strong against the protesters.  This all helped for when it came my physical performance, as I strongly felt I was capable of physically projecting an aggressive emotive with a slight mix of enjoyment, as my character wasn’t pleased with his life, but at the same time enjoys every minute of being on stage with other ‘rockers’. 

     Therefore I feel that learning the physical movements and projecting characterisations within the physical side of the performance was a massive strength.  I also strongly feel I would be capable to project more characterisation in other future musical performances with assistance of choreographed movement, as I would be able to present more detail to an audience.

     My physical strengths aside, more of my strengths I feel came from the verbal side of the performance.  My first strength, which I feel confident enough to present to audiences in future musical performances, was my learning of the lyrics in this assignment.  I had known another version of the song, so when receiving the lyrics for this assignment I had a slight struggle as I worried that I wasn’t going to be able to learn this set of lyrics in time for the performance.  But my worries were proven wrong, as during the rehearsal process we repeatedly listened to the movie version of the musical number, with professionals singing the piece, and this helped vastly.  Having already been told what our type of character we were playing, if we were a ‘rocker’ or a ‘protester’, and we were also told about what type of musical tone our voices was, whether it was high or low pitch.  Thus meaning we knew how to sing this musical number and we all managed to learn the entire song of by hand, singing in the right tones and pitches and staying in the right characters.

     So my key strength in the verbal side of the performance was learning the lyrics and mastering the correct tone and pitch I was meant to perform the musical piece in.  I felt I managed this well enough during the early stages of the rehearsal process and during the main performance.        

Weaknesses

     During the main performance I feel there were a few minor weaknesses in which only slightly affected my own performance.  But offered a majority of targets in which will come in handy to ensure that future performances can go successfully.  The first area in which I feel could have been improved, involved the staging of the performance.  While during the rehearsal process we created a set plan of how we were to be staging the performance, the down side, I feel was rehearsing on a different stage, so when it came to the main performance I feel we needed a little more rehearsal on that particular stage.  With the use of higher and lower levels on the main stage, I feel some of us performers struggled as we were slightly worried about the space we used.  As some of us were limited by the higher levels of the stage, and the performers at the front were concerned about coming too close to the audience.  But on the up side to this minor error was the fact that it made the performance, in the audience’s eyes, seem a little more natural and all over the place, as it has been depicted in other professional’s performances of the musical number.  As the story depicts two groups of people constantly arguing about who takes over the city, it made sense to present the performance as a mess on stage.  The only down side was that I might of slipped a few out of character facial expressions as I had a slight panic during the main performance.

     But I do see this as another positive opportunity to take notes for when it comes to future performances.  As we should have more focus during final rehearsals and study all possibilities for presenting a detailed physical staging of the main performance.

     The only slight error I think occurred during the verbal, singing, side of the main performance was the fact that I feel I should have taken more breaths during singing.  Having not taken enough deep breaths in between note changes, I feel might of cause slight moments when my voice cracked and became out of tune in some areas.  This area I feel can be improved but me taking more focus sessions when I focus on my own voice and see if I can take in the right amount of deep breaths to make my singing performance as successful as possible.  Whilst aiming to do focus sessions, for future reference, I think I should also focus aim to look at my speed of singing the lyrics, as there were certain moments in the last minute rehearsal and in the main performance when I was slightly ahead to the musical and other group members.

     Therefore my main aim for future performances is to look into more of my own singing of the performance, so then I can ensure that I know how to successfully give a detail and clean verbal performance in this musical number.       

Did you fulfil your last target?

     I strongly feel I succeeded in fulfilling my last main target of working on my pronunciation, as I feel I gave enough detail in the main performance, verbally, that the audience understood the concept and story behind the lyrics of the song.  As well as accomplishing in giving a decent amount of detail within the entire performance, verbally and physically.

     More on the verbal side of the performance, I feel that receiving a plan of how to perform this musical number was extremely helpful.  Knowing exactly how to present this particular type of character verbally helped me create the character, for the movement side of the performance, and give an extra bit of detail, in order to succeed.

     Having a new set of target makes me strongly feel that I can accomplish them, having enough focus to ensure that any other future performance in musical theatre can go to success as equally as these assignment pieces.  

What target can you set for future reference?  How will you achieve these?

     Of course my main targets if set focus session on my own performance.  By looking into more detail of my own performance makes me strongly feel that I can accomplish the best I can for my performance.  By testing my limits, singing wise, I feel I can push boundaries to see if I am capable of extending to my set tones and pitches by my teacher, to see if I can create a detailed verbal character amongst many others.  Whereas with the physical side of the performance I feel I only need slight practice in changing stages so when it comes to the main performance I will be able to give the right amount details in my own character’s physicality.  Presenting my own characters origins and what the true meaning of this performance is; physically and verbally presenting the moral messages hidden within the lyrics of this musical number.  All these targets I feel I can achieve for future reference so I can give as equal amount of detail in my musical theatre performances, as I do in the acting performance’s.

     Taking on these assignments has been an incredible experience and has allowed me to see what it is like to take on many different types of performing roles in the performing arts industry, and I am sure that the techniques I have learnt and the targets I have set will come in very handy for the future in the performing arts and in musical theatre.

Week Thrity-One: Junk Evaluation

Performing Scripted Plays Evaluation: ‘Junk’

Monday 2^nd June 2014

 

Overall –

     In summary I feel we succeeded in presenting an entertaining and interesting story.  I strongly feel we succeeded with the first two performances, with each cast member inputting strong characterisation into their performances, to present an understandable storyline with intriguing characters.

     However I do feel that the third performance could have increased the details within our performances, and storytelling, had it not been for a distracting audience.  But I do see this as an opportunity to take the next steps towards improving and learning, from any mistakes made in this assignment piece, and improve for future reference.

Strengths –

     What I feel I succeeded most with throughout this project, was the rehearsal process and creating my own version of the character ‘Vonny’.  By doing some background research into what type of environment these particular types of characters (squatter) lived in, I managed to create an origins story suitable for my character.  Beginning with very little detail of my characters past, from the original script, and novel, I feel I managed to achieve in creating a character decent enough for this play.

     I also feel I achieved in understanding the majority of the details within the script.  This backed up my understanding of my character.  In understanding my characters current thoughts and feelings towards other characters, I feel I succeeded in portraying these emotions on stage, whilst keeping my characters ambitions for his future alive in his motivations.  An example of ‘Vonny’s’ thoughts and feelings towards other characters standing out in particular, was during ‘Gemma’s’ change in attitude towards all the characters on stage, therefore I would have to portray the strong overcoming emotion of disappointment as well as frustration.

     My final point is of how I strongly feel in achieving new techniques, which helped me vastly throughout the rehearsal and production process.  In particular was a new found technique of learning lines, using a technique which requires me speaking my lines out loud repeatedly in a slightly robotic voice, which then makes my lines become more of a muscle memory, therefore when it came to the main performance I felt pretty confident in delivering my lines.  The second technique was my presentation of my character on stage, using the “meisner” technique, where the main aim is to present my characterisation through the method of thinking through what the other characters perspective, therefore any sudden shock emotions of my character don’t backfire on my personal emotions.  Therefore thinking of the other characters emotions enthralled me to give a stronger performance.

Weaknesses –

     One area in particular I see as an area for improvement, is the distraction I received from the third performance’s audience.  The main issue I feel occurred in the third chowing of the play was a distracting audience.  With the audience entering a serious amateur dramatic production, the audience resulted to some unnecessary laughter, which caused me to lose track of my lines and not put enough characterisation in my characters monologues.  Although I do see this as a good learning point for future reference; in the sense of having to stay focused throughout the production and performing process and not get too distracted by audience members, so I can give a detailed performance.

     By taking in these notices from this minor error I feel I can achieve more detail, should this scenario ever occur again in future projects.

Notes –

     In conclusion I see this project as an excellent learning stepping stone towards future performances.  Having learnt new techniques, in the rehearsal process, and took on board areas for improvement in the production process.  Learning new methods in rehearsals has allowed me the opportunity to present an extra amount of details in my performance as ‘Vonny’.  As well as learning methods to take in the right amount of research to add extra realism to the main performance. 

     Also with taking in areas for improvement, it has given me targets to be improved to achieve the best I can for future projects.  Targets such as, staying focused throughout the production and performing process to keep the performance alive, and entertaining, for the audience.  As well as not getting too distracted during the main performance. 

     With these targets set I feel positive in setting goals to achieve them and achieve a good performance to my potential in future performances.