Tuesday November 29- Presentation

At the end what we decided to do was do a preview of the play to the audience and finish it in the scene were Pantalone tells Columbina about Capetano. Then, they would break characters, narrate the end of the story and explain about the trip to Buenos Aires and about the fundraising we will do. I think in overal the presentation was very good. I really enjoyed seeing Vincenzo, Alex, Augusto, and Alessa act. I think they had an advantage because their characters had more funny moments. There were moments in the play were it was extremely amazing and funny, and there were other moments that we had to work on. For example, some things we should work on are the lovers scene were they meet; I think it is too slow. Also, the last scene with Columbina, Pantalone, and Zanny (Nicholas) also needs work because it is too slow and it seems as if the actors don't know what is going on in the scene. However, there were moments that were very funny like the witch scene with Capetano and when people actually tried to interact with the audience and tried different things. For example, there was a part where Vincenzo asked a girl in the audience if she wanted to marry him and she replied no. Something he hadn't done before was respond by saying "Me neither" which was hysterical and people couldn't stop laughing at this.

I think that if we had more time we could have done a better job because the actors could have perfected their personalities and their physicality and with this in mind, they would have interacted more with the audience and really get into the scene and their characters. What happened was the people didn't commit that much, so the final result was not amazing, however I thought the presentation went very well.

A problem we had was that Isabella wasn't there, so we had to explain to Andrea Claux about the witch's characters and the two scenes she appeared on. She was very good. She understood what she had to do, her personality, and she did her best having in mind that she had to learn all this that same day.

Finally, I really enjoyed being in the point of view of the director. Even though I like more acting, because I didn't identify with any of the Comedia characters, I thought it would be a good opportunity to be director. I really enjoyed it because my ideas and my vision was part of the play and you have an amazing feeling when you see something you have created go very well and with the little time we had to prepare and the different problems we had on the way, I think it went very well.

Monday November 28-Last day to practice for Performance:

Today in class we did the "Chismoseando" scene and the "Marriage" scene and then we  focused on perfecting all the scenes. I really think the class was very productive because while doing the two scenes that we had left, the directors, including me, would cheap in with ideas, so the scenes were a mixture of ideas from all the directors. This is actually very good because we are all adding different things to the scene that makes it better and funnier. In this rehearsal, I realized how the different directors work. Mary and I are the type that sits down and looks at the scene and while the scene is going we will come up with new ideas or a different way to do a certain action. We like to see things from a holistic point of view, and analyze the whole stage and all the characters. On the other hand, Fernanda and Antonio like to be close and personal. They like to be inside the scene to be able to analyze the personalities of the characters and the actions. They are more concentrated on the relationships between characters on stage and on perfecting those. I think we make a very good group because we all have something new to bring to the table. Moreover, we had time to go through some of the scenes, however I don't know what happened but nobody was in the mood, nobody knew what they had to do in every scene and we were constantly telling them what to do when supposedly they already had to know the purpose of each of their scenes. I was really mad because we are going to present tomorrow and they should know all of this. We told everyone to meet in the class at lunch time to do this and I'm going to tell the directors to not cheap in with anything and just let the actors do what they know they have to do.

At lunch time, we tried to do the escape scene but I don't know why the actors were all stressed out and didn't understand what they had to do and the directors were repeating  what they had do do a thousands times and changing it, which didn't help, so Ms. Morrison decided that we were going to present the play from the Prologue to when Vincenzo convinced Elena Luisa to run away with him and then the zanies would narrate what happened next, however I don't like this ideas at all; we have to finish the entire play. Today I'm going to talk with everyone via our Facebook group and see what we are going to do about this because the play is tomorrow. Also, something that didn't help us at all was that Alessa was not in school, so she only had a vague idea of what she has to do in some of the scenes. I already send her an inbox asking her if she is going to be tomorrow in school and to look for me so that I can explain to her her purpose in the other scenes she hasn't practice yet. I am really stressed out at this moment because the presentation is tomorrow and the play is a disaster. Everyone, including me, are scared because they don't know if this will be a success or a complete and utter disaster.

Wednesday November 23- Practice Play

So today in class I was in charge of finishing the poster. Everything was already done except for the picture so I very quickly, took a picture of Vincenzo and Elena being very romantic and the picture is so cliché that it is very funny. I mailed it the teacher and she printed them. What I did was give them away to students and teachers to promote the play and for them to know that there was a play.

Later, because we didn't have time to practice in period 1 because we had the debate in the morning, we decided that we had to meet at break time.The fact that it was the last day to practice and we were missing to of our actors didn't help us a lot and all the directors were very stressed. We started directing the actors to do the escape scene. We explained to them the purpose of the scene which is for the zanies to pack their bags while the lovers are staring at each other with love because they are too in love to be able to pack. Pantalone is also in the scene, however he doesn't notice this because he is staring at Columbina's ass. When the witch makes him get out of his trance and he realized what is going on, Vincenzo's dad, takes him away and Pantalone grabs Elena and puts her with Capetano, shouting that this is outrageous and that she WILL marry Capetano. This is the climax, so it really had to be over the top and dramatic, however the actors weren't really in the mood and because they were not sure of what happened in this scene, it did affect their performance, however, I am certain that they will do better in the actual performance because having an audience practically obligates you to do your best and really get into your character. Also, they now know what actions have to happen in the scene, so they will be alright. 

However, we didn't have time to do the last scene of the play were they find out Capetano is lying and the wedding scene, so we are very stressed, however now the presentation is on Tuesday so we do have 1 hour and 30 minutes on Monday to do the scenes we have left and to do a full run through. I really hope to see the actors in their characters on Monday. All the directors, including me, have been pushing them to see videos about their characters and see their physicality, so I hope I can see progress in this on Monday.

Finally, we, the directors, are working much better because now we are mixing our ideas in the scenes instead of doing separate things. This is helpful because we are all contributing to all the scenes and adding different ideas from different people in the same scene, which make the scenes in general better.

This is a copy of the poster we were giving to promote the play to the school:

IB Theatre class invites you to their performance of “Kioskeros”

When: Tuesday November 29 at lunch time

Where: Drama class

Time: 9am

          

Synapses: In the streets of San Isidro, there are two kiosko families" the Arakaki and the Lexo. Both families are rich and the competition between the kioskos has created tension between the families for centuries. But not the only son of Doctore Lexo: Vincenzo and the only daughter of Pantalone Arakaki: Elena Luisa, are "in love". Their relationship grows stronger, using the San Isidro parks as the only place they can meet and the workers of the shop for messaging. Suddenly, the new "verdulero" Pdro arrives to town and with the help of the evil witch he is able to convince Pantalone to marry Elena Luisa with Pedro because of the quality of his fruit business and his supposed virility.          

Comedia Play- Blocking (Thursday November 17)

Today we worked in blocking. Mary and Antonio worked with the lovers scene; the one in the park and the one in front of the kiosks. Fernanda worked with Isabella and Pedro in the scene where the witch convinces Capetano to follow her plan. I worked in the first scene.

Basically the play begins with Doctore and Pantalone coming out of their kiosks to leave the garbage. Since the moment they come out, the tension is palpable. They walk slowly in their characters showing the hate they have for each other and increasing the tension each time more as they come closer, however they don't speak at all. They do a circle looking at each other and go back inside their shops. We blocked this with Augusto and Sebastian and it came out amazing the first time we did it. It's a very simple action they have to imitate so they didn't have any trouble. They had some trouble not laughing, but in this few weeks they will not think it is funny anymore and they will not laugh, so that is not a problem.
Moreover, after they go back into their shops, "chicha" music will start and the servants and zanis will go in. We blocked this entire part. So Alex (zani) goes in acting all peruvian latino like and starts calling Daniela (Brighella). Daniela comes out and they start interacting with each other in a peruvian like way. Alessa (Columbina) comes out with potatoes and starts calling Nicholas (zani) and Nicholas comes out. They start interacting in a peruvian way for a while until Alex comes in front and starts flirting with someone in the audience and goes and sits down beside her. Then they start saying the prologue which is as follows:

Brighella: Two kiosks, both alike in dignity


Zanni 1: (In fair Lima, where we lay our scene),


Columbina: From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,


Zanni 2: The Arkaki and the Lexo families


Columbina: Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.


Zanni 1: From forth the fatal loins of these two foes


Brighella: A pair of star-crossed lovers risk their life,


Columbina: By consuming their love 


Zanni: in the parks of San Isidro


Brighella: Teach their families a precious lesson:


Zanni 2: the meaning of unity


Zanni 1: Ending in a grand chicha fest, 


All the servants: Where pisco, dance and life fill their veins.

Alessa had the idea to imitate the prologue of Romeo and Juliet and we thought it would be funny and interesting because the story is very similar to that of Romeo and Juliet.

Isabella's and Pedro's scene is already done and it is very good, it just needs a little editing on the lines and on the purpose of the scene, but it is very good.

The lovers scene is amazing! Vincenzo and Elenaluisa are perfect for the lovers. They know their characters personalities perfectly and they know how they would react to certain actions. It is actually amazing to watch because it is so funny. They have incorporated all the cliché moments that you would see two lovers doing which makes the scenes so funny! This scenes don't need any editing, they are amazing as they are.

The next class we will keep blocking the scenes we have left and keep working on making better the ones we already have. I will bring all the peruvian props I have. Based on todays class, I am very happy with how the play is turning out. It is extremely funny to watch and I hope this hard work will continue this following weeks.

Comedia dell' Arte Play-Blocking Scenes- Thursday November 17

Monday November 14- Comedia Dell' Arte Outline

So today in class we had time to get talk with all the directors while the actors explored their characters and their personalities. Antonio Pinto had the most amazing idea to base our story in Peru and make everyone like typical peruvians with all their traditions, costumes and over the op personalities. So the lovers were going to be latin lovers and the story was based in San Isidro and this owners of kiosk's hate each other because they are competition. So everything was going to be based in peruvian culture and basically what we are doing is making fun of the peruvian personalities, the way they talk and act, and if the characters are able to portray this side of peruvian society, not only will the play be extremely funny, but many people will feel connected with it because the majority of students in this school have seen this attitudes and personalities in the streets of Lima, so it would be very fun to watch.
Moreover, we also wanted to create what you normally listen and see in the streets, the combi people shouting, the venders in the streets and what they shout, the way people shout from one side to the other, all the traffic and everything, and we also thought of using chicha music which is typical peruvian music and it would be very funny because we are not showing our Peruvian lives, we are showing how the majority of people in Lima are and how they act. We are from the upper class of Lima, however we see this scenes in the streets all the time. We see it not from their perspective but from an outsider perspective, however we understand it and are comfortable with it because we have lived our entire lives here, its part of us in some way, so we thought it would be very interesting to show this side of Lima, which if we really exaggerate it, it could be very funny and I don't think anybody is going to feel offended because we are portraying it as a positive happy aspect not a negative one.
We only have a general idea of what will happen in each scene, however we are going to add more characters to each scene and more action, however we are going to do this while we create the scenes.


Here is the outline given to all the class:


   Elena Luisa: Lover

                   Vincenzo: Lover
                   Alessa: Columbina
                   Pedro: Capetano
                   Nicholas: Zani
                   Alex: Zani
                   Sebastian: Doctore
                   Daniela: Brighella

                   Augusto: Pantalone

                   Isabella: Witch

Story:
In the streets of San Isidro there are the two kiosko families, the Arakaki and the Lexo. Both families are rich and the competition between the kioskos has created tension between the families for centuries. But now the only son of Doctore Lexo, Vincenzo, and the only daughter of Pantalone Arakaki, Elena Luisa, is “in love”. Their relationship grows stronger, using the San Isidro parks as the only place they can meet and the workers of the shop for messaging. Suddenly, the new “verdulero” Pedro arrives in town. The witch hates both families because nobody buys her "chifles" because of the kioskos, so she creates a plan to make Pantalone believe that Pedro is rich and will bring prosperity to him and to her daughter, when the truth is that he is poor and will only bring disturbance to Pantalone. Pantalone is decided to marry Elena Luisa with Pedro because of the quality of his fruit business and his supposed virility and richness. Now the only people who can save the day are the shopkeepers who will have to use the little intelligence they have.


Plot:
                                  

Prologue	The zanies explain very shortly the main plot of the story based on the prologue of Romeo and Juliet. Very Peruvian props in. Zanies appear from the audience and from different parts with chichi music as background music. They present the story and promote their kiosko. They don't fight but the tension is seen and created by the characters.
Scene 1: Lovers fall in love	Lovers come out of their kiosko’s shouting that they are going to the park like typical Peruvian people. Find their selves they flirt but they say it’s too dangerous so they go to the park. So they are twitter painted. Retardedly in love. Dancing at the same time. They are in love with the idea of falling in love.
Scene 2: Capitano and the Witch	Crazy witch that hates families because nobody buys her chifles. Pedro is her “bitch” and the witch uses him for revenge telling the family that he is rich and is very strong and the perfect man for the female lover. Slips because of the witch on top of Pantalone and presents them.
Scene 3: Pantalone and Columbina	Pantalone and Columbina flirt. Tells about marriage of her daughter.
Scene 4: Capitano and Lover	Pantalone presents Elena with new husband. Celebration. Elena talks to the audience and is sad.
Scene 5: Lovers	Talk about misfortune. And try to run away. The witch listens and tells the parents where they are going to meet.
Scene 6: Escape scene	Zanies help. Try to escape, but parents find out. Banned.
Scene 7: Zannies, Brighella and Columbina scene	Chismoseando in the street.
Scene 8: Capitano and lover	Zanni, Brighella and Columbina start bothering Capitano and they find out he is an imposter and tell Pantalone and Doctore.
Scene 9: Wedding scene	Traditional Peruvian wedding.

           

Comedia Dell'Arte Project

So yesterday the teacher presented to us the project we have to do to conclude this topic. We have to present a Comedia Dell'Arte play. There will be four directors and then the rest of the class were going to represent each a character of Comedia.
I decided I wanted to be a director because I have already experienced acting and I am incredibly interested in directing. I really want to see a play for the perspective of the director and portray my vision into the play. I think it's amazing that I will be able to experience a play from the point of view of the director, it is an incredible opportunity that I am not going to waste.
The other directos are Antonio Pinto, Mary Stoddard, and Fernanda Barhumi and each one of them can bring something amazing to this performance.
Fernanda is very creative and she always has unique and different ideas that could give an imaginative sense to the play.
Mary is also amazing at directing and portraying different visions and themes she has in mind and Antonio is a movie addict. He actually wants to study to be a director and he has an amazing eye for performances which will also help.
I have been acting for the past 4 years, so I can connect both perspectives and help the characters with their personalities and their gestures.

Yesterday I sent an inbox to all of the directors so that we can post ideas in there and create the outline for Monday.

These are the characters:
Isabella: witch
Elena Luisa: lover
Vincenzo: lover
Alessa: columbina
Pedro: capitano
Javier: doctore
Nicholas: pantalone
Alex:zany
Sebastian: zany
Daniela:brighella