Mannequin

What is the story about?

The story of Mannequin is a romantic comedy that resolves around a man named Bob, a adult with an imagination of a lost child, who falls in love with an female shop-doll mannequin (Cagla Kuru). When bringing her to his room, however, his former partner, Flo (Nancy Bostock), bursts in the room to find Bob with the mannequin, which later leads to a love triangle. The script itself is adapted to the theatre play called Beer Girl (2009) written by American playwriter Walter Wykes.

My character and Personality

My character, Bob, is depicted to be quiet funny, alongside being an adult with the mind of an 10 year old child, as Flo calls on by saying "If you acted like a adult every once in a while, I wouldn't have to nag", which suggests his childish-like-personality resulted in the end of his relationship with Flo. He is also suggested to be an love interest of Flo and Mannequin. It is also occasionally shown that Bob can be quite hasty when falling in love with another women because, Bob immediately asked if she wanted children together. In order for me to understand my character and his actions in the script, I had to do certain gestures in the script to get an understanding. Furthermore, when we had Dominique as a replacement teacher for one day, people in my class had to get in groups of three's and ask certain questions through Stanslovaski's acting skills; this had gave me an creative idea on how to play the character.

What went well

Originally, our script had been about a train accident in London, and my character was named Pete, an egotistical man who was prepared for his football tryout and during the choas all he cared about was his knee, and not the dying student. The rest of the story focuses on a Estonian biology students, near death. Because we didn't like the script, Sean created a new script, to which we both liked. I believe what went well was that the way we had formed character. This is because, the story is a romantic comedy, it somehow suited me, due to my comedian-like personality. Furthermore, Nancy, another actress, had really gave in character, as her voice was commonly the reason why she gave me an idea to be the character myself; this would have to require me to listen to the words coming out of her mouth, and adapt myself to how I'm going to deliver the lines to my character.

Issues

While preparing for the performance, the group had a couple of issues. Isabel was formerly the mannequin in the play, but she felt a little uncomfortable with the role as Mannequin, and left the group, leaving Louren Anderson as the replacement. However, because of her absence, the role was given to Cagla instead. Also, my absence on Wednesday while preparing for the Thursday performance was an issue because the performance was scheduled for Friday. There was a little worry in my group, as we had realised that, we had to make sure we have to learn our lines properly. The effect of the final performance was that there was a moment where we had listened to each-other in what we are saying to make the acting more realistic. This had required some characterisation. The performance is completed successfully nonetheless. This is because, the views from the people who witnessed the performance from Thursday, I had made it my task what to do in order to form character; this would require me to listen what my partner is saying for me to give me voice of the character. The next time when we are performing a piece, I will have to not be laid-back, because that was one of the issues that I had to overcome.

Lesson with Joanna (Jazz dancing)

During the lesson with Joanna, I have been recently learning how to jazz dance. When I first entered into Musical Theatre, I was really stuck on what to do, and I had no idea about the movements whatsoever. Eventually, I had developed on the dance sequence and I got the hang of the dance, to which I can dance with confidence.

Steps on the dance sequence

1) Step with your right leg to the left side forward and with your left leg step on the right side forward x2.
2) Sweep back with your left legs right backwards, and sweep the right leg, left backwards.
3) Bend your right knee, and move your shoulders backwards while clicking.
4) Behind step together, while moving left.
5) Spin left once, with the left knee tucked in to the right.
6) Move sidewards five times to the right.
7) Spin right once, with the right knee tucked in to the left.
8) Go down on the floor, as if you're nearly tucking, except right knee forward and left knee back.
9) Roll over to the left side with you putting your legs out.
10) Get up and take five steps back.
11) Spin right with you right leg more up.
12) Click twice and get on the ground.
13) Roll over twice.
14) Behind step back.
15) Two steps to the left, and leap.
16) Sweep back with your left legs right backwards, and sweep the right leg, left backwards.
17) Move to left side, by spinning.
18) Move to right side by spinning.
19) Step back 5 times, and perform your own sequence.

This song "Fever" by Michael Buble is the music that was used for the controlled assessment. The music was calm and natural; plus, the music suits the music, as it had a soft effect on our dancing. The overall dance in my opinion is developing greatly. On the other hand, I do believe what I could do with improving is getting the dance sequence in time with the music, so that way I do not rush myself or rush others for them not to be on time.

Lesson with Dominick

Lesson with Dominick 

While in lesson with Dominick, we have been learning dance sequences for the dances. So far, i have done okay on Thursday, although what I needed to work on at that time, is the fact that I need to be on time with which part I switch and turn around, alongside the fact that I need to put my legs straight.

Dance sequence with me and Ada.

1) Reach to right side and lift your left leg on the left side and put your right arm, on the right.
2) Put your right leg forward and left leg back, put your left hand on in front of your head.
3) Kick up; right leg first then left.
4) Turn behind and lift and kick behind with right leg.
5) Salute back and forth.
6) Kick again with same movement.
7) Butterfly.
8) Go behind Ada.
9) Move your right around and back, and do the same with left.
10) I move to the right side, while Ada moves left.
11) Lift right knee, move your head left, then left knee, move your head right.
12) I move my right leg around clockwise.
13) Move three times, then enter into a lunge that will finish the dance sequence.

Action
How precise I was with the moves.

Dynamics - (Sharp and Soft)
The movements that were used in the performance was clean; it was not messy and the movement were clearly seen to be sharp in terms of how we use our arms and legs.

Action 
The action on my performance with Ada was quite excellent in my opinion; we had the timing, and the look rightly perfect. An example is when we kicked in the end it gave a dynamic and sharp movement.

Space - (Controlled-i.e. timing)
The space was not an issue during the performance as the both of us were in the same direction, but only we planned to meet each-other for effect. It was very controlled and we didn't have an issue where we didn't end up accidentally kicking or bumping into each-other, the space was subtle. Furthermore, we visualized how we were going to perform without bumping into each-other because the result of bumping into each-other with mess up our routine.

Relationship - (when it worked - when I felt at each-other)
The relationship during the performance was satisfying. This is because, me and Ada's job was to look at each-other at several occasion. The maximum times we were looking at one another was 2-3 times. To extend my sentence even more, I'm going to talk about how it worked; the both of us maneuvered many sequences, and the elements alongside the teamwork me and Ada put in was what really made our sequence work. In my opinion of this, I actually believe me and Ada had managed to make a success in the lesson, and the sequence that were taught by Dominick.

Wednesday Lesson in Musical Theatre

Musical Theatre Lessons

Warm-ups

During the first lesson with Alex, the Musical Theatre (MT) class and Performing Arts (PA) did a warm up, where we worked on our posture; we had to bounce up and down and swing our arms left and right while keeping our head, back, and shoulder sloppy. Then, we had to slowly get up in ten seconds to stand straight without sorting out our shirts and hair (e.g..) so we wouldn't break our posture. Afterwards, we worked on breath techniques; Alex had told us to find a focus point on the wall, and breath three times without moving our shoulders; after that, we had to make a sound as long as we can. This process had helped me develop my voice for me to project our voices, and gives me a strong idea to get used to the idea how to prepare for an acting career.

Singing - Hosanna

Also, we had did a exercise where we first and second year did a warm-up on our singing vocals. Another song we started on was "Hosanna". The song itself was quite harmonious and felt the same all the way through.

Dance

While singing the song "Christ you know I love you", I had finally learnt to dance while getting into the music. At the same time, while in the lesson with Joanne, I know now what dance comes in during the song.