As I walked into the theatre, I was really quite excited!! It was quite Shakespeare-ish and great to just look at. However, I really disliked the play. I don't like that type of dark humor like that. It's just my opinion. I was not impressed, really. However, I liked the design elements, which I was critiquing this time. So, although I hated the acting and the director's choices with actors, I liked the design elements.
I liked the stage. It was quite colorful, really. And It was pleasant to look at. I also loved the thunder and lightening effects as the step-mother would enter the room. That was a great effect. The costumes were also quite good. I liked those. They fit each character very well. Especially the step-mother and Toinette. "Mommie" was quite the gold digger and really looked the part of the beautiful, high-fashioned young woman. She actually reminded me of Anna Nicole Smith! haha.
Angelique's costume was quite fitted to her character too. She was just this little bubbly, somewhat annoying little daughter. She was dressed it with tights and a dress that matched. It was appropiate for her character, most definitely.
Both doctors were fabulous. Especially Dr. Purgeon. He was my favorite character. He was dressed as a real doctor, as was his nephew. That helped create the authoritative doctor figure he was.
Argon, I believe his name was (the sick, old man), was greatly dressed. I thought he would somewhat of a Scrooge-like character because of his costume. He was really, in my opinion, the best dressed for his character. He was the sickly, never-get-out-of-my-pjs type of old man. Greatly put together by the costumer. Kuddos to them!
The sounds for the thunder and the music was just the right volume, too. I liked the thunder and lightening. That was my favorite effect. It was put together and timed just right. It was obvious that lots of work had been put into it.
Even though I didn't like the acting or dark humor the director created, I liked the design elements. It saved the show for me.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Directing
I think this was a fabulous play if not one of my favorites now. It stands up amongst that of Frost/Nixon. For my part I looked at the directing. The three things that I am going to talk about is the casting, blocking, and sound.
As for the casting I don't think that the director could have done a better job of picking the actors for this play. Each and everyone of them did and outstanding job. The one actor that I thought the director messed up on at first was the nephew of the Doctor. After a few lines and seeing the movement of the play, he was outstanding in his gestures and chicken howling. This proves not to take first impressions of people and actors.
The second thing that I looked at was blocking, the one time that I liked how the director used blocking was when Argan was mad and the wife's boyfriend had to leave in means of going through the door with Argan standing in it with his back to the audience. We didn't need to look at Argan's face to know his anger, we could see it in the other actors facial expressions. This was set up to resemble that of a mirror.
Finally, this brings me to sound. The director was also in charge of the sound design. I feel that he knew that if the sounds were off, it would show, and the show would not be as funny as it should be. An example of the sounds were Argan passing gas, and the thunder when the wife was coming. each had to be precise to go along with the actors movements and did in this production.
Again, I thought this was a wonderful play to see and am glad I got the chance to see this directors point of view of what he was wanting to express.
Brad
As for the casting I don't think that the director could have done a better job of picking the actors for this play. Each and everyone of them did and outstanding job. The one actor that I thought the director messed up on at first was the nephew of the Doctor. After a few lines and seeing the movement of the play, he was outstanding in his gestures and chicken howling. This proves not to take first impressions of people and actors.
The second thing that I looked at was blocking, the one time that I liked how the director used blocking was when Argan was mad and the wife's boyfriend had to leave in means of going through the door with Argan standing in it with his back to the audience. We didn't need to look at Argan's face to know his anger, we could see it in the other actors facial expressions. This was set up to resemble that of a mirror.
Finally, this brings me to sound. The director was also in charge of the sound design. I feel that he knew that if the sounds were off, it would show, and the show would not be as funny as it should be. An example of the sounds were Argan passing gas, and the thunder when the wife was coming. each had to be precise to go along with the actors movements and did in this production.
Again, I thought this was a wonderful play to see and am glad I got the chance to see this directors point of view of what he was wanting to express.
Brad
Friday, June 5, 2009
Extra Credit: Imago Theatre's Production of Simple People
So you guys really missed it if you didn't go see the Imago Theatre production of Simple People. It was fantastic!! I loved it so much!
The characters were written so vastly different. The script was able to get down to the heart of life and the harshness of the economy. It was really good. The characters, although mentally crazy, had the right words to help the common man, like us college students, to understand what it's like to be an adult and then to lose everything you've worked so hard for.
The set, however, was my absolutely favorite of the whole production. It was completely plain. SUPER plain. Just plain tables and white walls, plain cots, plain white rooms. It was so absolutely simple and plain, it was so interesting! Psychology....
The costumes, on the other hand, were designed for the characters, most definitely. One character's was colorful, displaying her personality before and after she became a crazy alcoholic. Milo, my favorite character was dressed so crazily, yet it really fit his character. The costumes seemed to reflect who they were before their downfall and yet, still who they were.
The acting was quite professional. Each actor was very much a character. We were able to see a couple of the actors after the show. They were so vastly different then their character. It was really cool to see real acting instead of just people up on stage reciting lines.
The director was also really great. She said hi to the three of us after the show and gave us fliers and talked to us about auditions and shows and the such. She seemed very smart and knowledgeable. Her work on the production also showed that. She definitely knew what she was doing. She was able to create organized chaos, entertainment in a plain space, and interesting characters so vastly different from the actors. I would love to study under her since she seemed abstract, but able to communicate it to people who are not. She did a fabulous job!
The stage was really just a black box. It was flat with raised seats in front of it for the audience. It was plain, simple, and yet interesting to look at. It was quite deep, too. I believe there were props set back stage for the actors to use, and because the stage was deep, there was room for all those props. They were really big and bulky, like suitcases and blankets and such. The stage, really, was just plain and big. It was used very well though with high, constructed walls with cots and lunch tables in the space left in the front of the stage. I liked it a lot. It was different, in a good way.
Overall, I loved it. I would like to see it again, too! And I definitely suggest that everyone go see it.
The characters were written so vastly different. The script was able to get down to the heart of life and the harshness of the economy. It was really good. The characters, although mentally crazy, had the right words to help the common man, like us college students, to understand what it's like to be an adult and then to lose everything you've worked so hard for.
The set, however, was my absolutely favorite of the whole production. It was completely plain. SUPER plain. Just plain tables and white walls, plain cots, plain white rooms. It was so absolutely simple and plain, it was so interesting! Psychology....
The costumes, on the other hand, were designed for the characters, most definitely. One character's was colorful, displaying her personality before and after she became a crazy alcoholic. Milo, my favorite character was dressed so crazily, yet it really fit his character. The costumes seemed to reflect who they were before their downfall and yet, still who they were.
The acting was quite professional. Each actor was very much a character. We were able to see a couple of the actors after the show. They were so vastly different then their character. It was really cool to see real acting instead of just people up on stage reciting lines.
The director was also really great. She said hi to the three of us after the show and gave us fliers and talked to us about auditions and shows and the such. She seemed very smart and knowledgeable. Her work on the production also showed that. She definitely knew what she was doing. She was able to create organized chaos, entertainment in a plain space, and interesting characters so vastly different from the actors. I would love to study under her since she seemed abstract, but able to communicate it to people who are not. She did a fabulous job!
The stage was really just a black box. It was flat with raised seats in front of it for the audience. It was plain, simple, and yet interesting to look at. It was quite deep, too. I believe there were props set back stage for the actors to use, and because the stage was deep, there was room for all those props. They were really big and bulky, like suitcases and blankets and such. The stage, really, was just plain and big. It was used very well though with high, constructed walls with cots and lunch tables in the space left in the front of the stage. I liked it a lot. It was different, in a good way.
Overall, I loved it. I would like to see it again, too! And I definitely suggest that everyone go see it.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Extra Credit: Seussical the Musical
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I had so much fun!!! Mike, Nici, and I went to see Seussical the Musical at Clackamas High School. The script was quite good. It was so sweet and definitely had the Dr. Seuss rhymes and phrases throughout the play. The script was well put together. It had a story line, a plot, but stood fast to the Dr. Seuss way.
The acting was really good. Every actor in the musical was excited and energetic. There was not one person on stage that wasn't filled with energy. The main characters also fit their parts. They were amazing! They were funny, exciting, and full of character. No one was flat. Everyone had energy just bubbling out of them. It made me excited and enjoy the show even more.
The director did a fabulous job. He casted just right. Especially The Cat in the Hat. He was absolutely hilarious. I had laughed so much by the end of the show at just him, I was crying. The director also was good at designing the stage and tying it with the characters and their costumes. Great script choice, good blocking, great choreography.
The design on stage was amazing!!! They had The Cat in the Hat flying!! It was so awesome! I had a lot of fun just looking at the stage. There were so many bright, radiant colors. The special effects, like the screens with Dr. Seuss fish and swirls and such were great too. It was really cool.
The stage was put together great! It was a proscenium arch. In fact, it was huge! There was so much space it was somewhat unbelievable but there were so many different things happening, like the set pieces changing, people flying, screens going in and out, they needed the space, for sure.
Overall, it was a great play!! I had a lot of fun and am really happy I got to see it.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Extra Credit: Fiddler on the Roof
So pretty much, Debra did an amazing job!!! I was in Alisha's directing class last term with Debra and she had talked about her jr. production of Fiddler on the Roof. So Nici, Mike, and I went to go see it. I was really impressed by the jr. high that put this on. They were so adorable! All of them did so well in it.
The main characters were chosen perfectly, especially Tevye. He was only in eighth grade, but acted on college level. He really took on the character, including the accent. He just let go of himself and danced and sang fantastically. It was absolutely amazing. I was, and still am, so impressed!!! The girls in the play were adorable too. They fit their characters great!! Each girl had different personalities, and through their characters they shone through.
Debra did an amazing job as director. She chose great actors, including the extras. She also choregraphed. The dances were fantastic. It was really entertaining!! I had a lot of fun! Debra made great choices. I'm glad I got to see the play.
The stage space... interesting. It was set in the gym, since the middle school doesn't have a real stage. It was a procenium arch, really. The stage was great. There were so many different pieces. I had a lot of fun watching. The interesting thing were the lights. They had three sets of lights. There were two sets of lights set up on the left and right sides of the gym. They also used two spot lights since the side lights didn't cover the whole stage. The spot lights would go on and off and different times. Sometimes it got annoying then I just had to remember it was a middle school, and it's really not going to be perfect. They really did the best they could with the lights.
I love the story of Fiddler on the Roof. The script was great! It was just about the same as the original, since this one was the jr. version. It was great though, for a middle school. Just the right education level and yet, still intelligent. They had a full Jewish/Russian wedding. It was awesome!!! They really worked hard on making the play believable. Their hard work really paid off too.
I'm really glad we went to go see it. If you didn't, you really missed out!!
The main characters were chosen perfectly, especially Tevye. He was only in eighth grade, but acted on college level. He really took on the character, including the accent. He just let go of himself and danced and sang fantastically. It was absolutely amazing. I was, and still am, so impressed!!! The girls in the play were adorable too. They fit their characters great!! Each girl had different personalities, and through their characters they shone through.
Debra did an amazing job as director. She chose great actors, including the extras. She also choregraphed. The dances were fantastic. It was really entertaining!! I had a lot of fun! Debra made great choices. I'm glad I got to see the play.
The stage space... interesting. It was set in the gym, since the middle school doesn't have a real stage. It was a procenium arch, really. The stage was great. There were so many different pieces. I had a lot of fun watching. The interesting thing were the lights. They had three sets of lights. There were two sets of lights set up on the left and right sides of the gym. They also used two spot lights since the side lights didn't cover the whole stage. The spot lights would go on and off and different times. Sometimes it got annoying then I just had to remember it was a middle school, and it's really not going to be perfect. They really did the best they could with the lights.
I love the story of Fiddler on the Roof. The script was great! It was just about the same as the original, since this one was the jr. version. It was great though, for a middle school. Just the right education level and yet, still intelligent. They had a full Jewish/Russian wedding. It was awesome!!! They really worked hard on making the play believable. Their hard work really paid off too.
I'm really glad we went to go see it. If you didn't, you really missed out!!
Extra Credit: Steel Magnolias
So while I was enjoying an afternoon at a coffee shop, I saw a little article in a small newspaper about Steel Magnolias, so my dad and I went to see it.
The theatre was quite small. It was just a little black box theatre with old theatre seats. It was quite a good stage space though! It worked for the stage. The stage was raised about 3 feet off the ground, much higher than the theatre seats. But it was great, it worked.
The script was pretty good. Not as awesome as I thought it would be. It was a bit hard to follow since it was mostly just a bunch of gossip and you really had to think about the story and follow their words and stories. It was sometimes a bit too crazy to understand.
The set was well designed. It was colorful and was used great throughout the play. The whole stage was used. I actually really liked the stage. It was a hair salon, with real salon chairs and sinks and the characters' hair was really done on stage. It was really cool!!!
The acting was really believeable. Except for one girl. She was just "acting" instead of taking on the character. It was really, really distracting and annoying. I remember thinking "JUST BE THE DANG PERSON!!" It was so annoying I just wanted to shout at her and tell her to stop being cheezy.
Let's see.... what else??? The director did very well. She piked just the right actresses and blocked great! I really enjoyed her work. She did a great job with the design team, and the actresses.
Overall, I really enjoyed the play. It was quite awesome. Except for that one actress's cheezy acting, the production was put together great.
The theatre was quite small. It was just a little black box theatre with old theatre seats. It was quite a good stage space though! It worked for the stage. The stage was raised about 3 feet off the ground, much higher than the theatre seats. But it was great, it worked.
The script was pretty good. Not as awesome as I thought it would be. It was a bit hard to follow since it was mostly just a bunch of gossip and you really had to think about the story and follow their words and stories. It was sometimes a bit too crazy to understand.
The set was well designed. It was colorful and was used great throughout the play. The whole stage was used. I actually really liked the stage. It was a hair salon, with real salon chairs and sinks and the characters' hair was really done on stage. It was really cool!!!
The acting was really believeable. Except for one girl. She was just "acting" instead of taking on the character. It was really, really distracting and annoying. I remember thinking "JUST BE THE DANG PERSON!!" It was so annoying I just wanted to shout at her and tell her to stop being cheezy.
Let's see.... what else??? The director did very well. She piked just the right actresses and blocked great! I really enjoyed her work. She did a great job with the design team, and the actresses.
Overall, I really enjoyed the play. It was quite awesome. Except for that one actress's cheezy acting, the production was put together great.
Extra Credit: Wicked
Late in coming, I know but this is the extra credit blog on Wicked Alisha said that I could do.
Well, lets start of with the stage space. Anyone who has been to a production at Keller Auditorium, has no doubt found themself in awe at the size of the audience. A grand total of 2,992 people can see a single show. That is about 5 times the amount of seats our College Theatre can seat. The stage is a proscenium arch, and in this particualr production the picture frame idea was accented by a border around the procenium.
The script was also amazing. I loved not only the songs but the words spoken, also. I remember Glinda going on and on about what Elphaba is, in some not so nice terms, and all Elphaba had to say is Glinda is blonde. That humor made for a fun night and only added to the great story that was being told. Of course, the songs were fantastic. I doubt anyone will ever forget the song "Popular" after seeing the show, especially if like me they were wondering the Glinda was accidently going to impale her head on the shoe heel when she did her little kick during the number.
The design was great all around. Wonderful costumes that were unique while still going well together. They stuck to color schemes that worked and it was a great watching the lighing and special effects as the stage progressed. I must admit that the only thing I had a problem with were some of the chorus songs. I was pretty high up and some of the words were lost. I wish they had put mics on at least some of the chorus memebers so that it did carry up to my seat audibly.
Well, this is a Broadway Across America performance, so as you can expect, the acting was magnificent. The actors did their job amazingly. There isn't anything negative that I can really say about it. We even had an understudy the night Nici and I went, but had we not been told ahead of time, we never would have known. I think that they all stepped up and into their roles fantastically and would have loved to been able to see it again.
The director did a great job with his choices. I loved watching the entire thing and was a bit disappointed when it was all over. The only problem that occured was in some of the blocking. At one point oin the shwo the character of Fiyero did this little turn and he did something upstage with is back downstage that completely blocked the movement. I am rather disappointed in that, especially since I never found out what he was supposed to have done.
Well, lets start of with the stage space. Anyone who has been to a production at Keller Auditorium, has no doubt found themself in awe at the size of the audience. A grand total of 2,992 people can see a single show. That is about 5 times the amount of seats our College Theatre can seat. The stage is a proscenium arch, and in this particualr production the picture frame idea was accented by a border around the procenium.
The script was also amazing. I loved not only the songs but the words spoken, also. I remember Glinda going on and on about what Elphaba is, in some not so nice terms, and all Elphaba had to say is Glinda is blonde. That humor made for a fun night and only added to the great story that was being told. Of course, the songs were fantastic. I doubt anyone will ever forget the song "Popular" after seeing the show, especially if like me they were wondering the Glinda was accidently going to impale her head on the shoe heel when she did her little kick during the number.
The design was great all around. Wonderful costumes that were unique while still going well together. They stuck to color schemes that worked and it was a great watching the lighing and special effects as the stage progressed. I must admit that the only thing I had a problem with were some of the chorus songs. I was pretty high up and some of the words were lost. I wish they had put mics on at least some of the chorus memebers so that it did carry up to my seat audibly.
Well, this is a Broadway Across America performance, so as you can expect, the acting was magnificent. The actors did their job amazingly. There isn't anything negative that I can really say about it. We even had an understudy the night Nici and I went, but had we not been told ahead of time, we never would have known. I think that they all stepped up and into their roles fantastically and would have loved to been able to see it again.
The director did a great job with his choices. I loved watching the entire thing and was a bit disappointed when it was all over. The only problem that occured was in some of the blocking. At one point oin the shwo the character of Fiyero did this little turn and he did something upstage with is back downstage that completely blocked the movement. I am rather disappointed in that, especially since I never found out what he was supposed to have done.
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