With only two days to go until my performance, I have asked certain questions to myself, with help from my lecturer, to clarify exactly what dimensions my solo presentation will take.
I decided to ask myself a list of questions regarding my performance that I was unsure about and, with the help of my lecturer, clarify these issues .
I asked the questions
- Was I right performing a personal routine, by my own method of getting ready in the morning (eg, cleaning my glasses, putting creams on my feet for excema) or should I do the routine very plainly, only involving aspects which everyone does?
- Secondly, should each section of my monologue still be acted with a different tone of voice or at the same level? Do I need to create a rhythm in the monologue or does it come about through the actions live?
- Would it be a good idea if I paused from exhaustion less in the piece, and just tried to get on with the activity? Perhaps not pause at all after the start of the monologue, just completing an activity?
- Should I incorporate a lesser gap or none at all at the end of the monologue? When the thoughts get quite intense, and the time spent stating the emotions becomes shorter maybe not take a pause? – in the conclusion of the monologue in which I discuss loss of life and of love. I’m thinking I wouldn’t have time to to digest the information as the thoughts are coming too fast?
The answers to these questions can be located on this link –
Queseitons and answers to clarify the performance
I also clarified with my tutor about the use of a mirror. I pondered on having my back to the audience and letting them see the reflection of me through the mirror. I thought it displayed the fact that sometimes you might find you stare into the mirror and see your real emotions, no longer being masked. I thought it further portrayed the prime notion to the audience, that when the character looks into the mirror they realise their loss. However, this method didn’t display any emotion to the audience and also , in aiding the naturalness of the scene, portrayed that when completing the activities the loss doesn’t move me at all.
I considered using the audience as a metaphorical mirror. The emotions would then be very clear to the audience and I would always also be directed towards them, without the need of any props to obstruct the audience’s view. We all look at the inner reflection of ourselves and sometimes don’t see quite what we want to. However, it was decided that this construction would be abandoned as I couldn’t imagine how looking at the audience would communicate to it that it is a mirror of a character.
I have finally decided to add more props to the scene- tissues, dvd’s, a mattress, sweets, laptop) go give the impression that the audience are viewing my bedroom.