Bob Chanda - Tulia March 2

Bob Chanda’s Critique and mine March 3, 2011
Mine first
• Mica, I know I told you the music was ok, but the first tune was not loud enough.
• Opening and the first scene has to grab the audience.
• Carson, don’t close your eyes – and you lost the vocal variety you had yesterday, but made up for it by being a great guard. Rehearse your vocals.
• I am right LOATHE – Shylock stay seated until you have said this sentence. You are saying you don’t want to go, so sit for a sec.
• Hannah & Mica , We will have rain and thunder in the café scene before the Lorenzo scene. Hannah, run out, put the tables on top of each other. Remember it is raining so put a dishtowel over your head. The rain was unexpected. After Antonio’s scene with the umbrellas, the sun comes out with the café scene, so come back out – wipe the tables and put the chairs and table back out. Wring out the rag. BE EVIDENT in the scene. I want you on stage all the time because you have such an expressive face. Do not stay in the wings.
• Chris – magnificent job as Arragon. You were amazing.
• Shylock, we need to milk the scene when you find out Jessica is gone. Then when you cross to the café scene, almost do it at a run – an attack.
• Carson, magnificent in jail and trial scene.
• Molly – look at the speech with precedent.
• Chris and Molly – great job with the book.
Chanda
• Even though actors were gone, Chanda gave suggestions when you return, so it was not a mistake of the alternate, it is a suggestion for you.
• For sooth I know not why I am so sad – said to S & S without a pause in the sentence or a pause before.
• Need to see the bond between Antonio and Bassanio. We should see a light going off in your face, Antonio.
• Everyone – be as natural as possible.
• There was a diction problem today. Hit consonants, end of words, and do not drop the end of sentences.
• Shylock, remember the religious prejudice.
• Bassanio – diction
• Antonio, we need to see the moment you decide to give money.

• Bassanio, justify why you need to ask for money through dialogue. It should be difficult to ask for money.

• Shylock, your whole life you and your family have been spit on; your religion has been defiled. You despise Christians. Put back in “I hate him for he is a Christian.” It should be restrained anger. Being a usurer is the only occupation Jews were allowed to have.

• Antonio, your whole life you have despised Jews because they charge interest on loans. You believe it should be Christian charity.

• EVERYONE, instead of using Shylock during the trial scene, we need to use Jew.

• Shylock, in Launcelot/Jessica scene, we need to see the anger when you see Launcelot, a Christian, hugging your daughter. You believe that all the Christians in Atlantic City have conspired to take your daughter and money away.

• Jessica, we need to see you stay a little longer in your house. We need to see the decision to leave. The stealing must be a BIG deal.

• Shylock, initially you are joking when you offer the pound of flesh.

• The Jessica/Lorenzo scene needs to be more passionate. As I said in the earlier critique – yesterday’s, I want you to have lunch or a drink in the café prior to your scene at Shylock’s house.

• Portia, rail against your father’s will. You are angry.

• Portia and Nerissa, we need to see the decision that you are going to be men.

• Shylock, what is the end of the game in your Jewish speech? You are justifying what you are going to do.

• Everyone, let your body and your frame of mind move your body. – Chanda

• EVERYONE – no backs to the audience. Do not speak upstage.

• Casket scenes should be full of tension. Bassanio’s – take your hat off. Give it to Gratiano. Take your handkerchief out. Wipe your head. Arragon and Moroccan – figure it out. Should be different.

• Bassanio – reading the letter. He reads the first part, then crosses DCS and makes people noises, puts it down, brings it back up. Portia crosses to him.

• Shylock, everything that has happened to you, your family, your people culminates in the jail scene.

• The trial scene should revolve around Shylock. We need to see his face and Antonio’s face.

• All the Christians believe that Shylock will cave in and are surprised when he won’t. Bassanio is sure he will take the money because what have we always heard about Jews? There must be heat in this scene and it needs to build.

• Why does Shylock insist on the pound of flesh? This is one time the law is on Shylock’s side. He has been treated unfairly all his life and generations before him. He is adamant – NO.

• Mercy speech – She is making an impassioned plea. It must be heartfelt and she needs to convince him

• When Bassanio says to curb this devil, he is doing it out of desperation. Bassanio, be invested in this.

• We need to see Antonio make the decision why he is willing to die.

• The audience needs to see the personal story behind all the characters.

• Portia, we need to see the moment you see an escape. Nerissa points out to you what you had forgotten. We must have a palpable feeling from the audience when they know there is no help.

• Shylock, we need to see the gradual progression that everything is going to be taken from you. What does it mean in – I am content.

• We need to see Portia and Nerissa decide to be men.

• Shylock, when you are converted, we need to see the anguish that you have nothing – no money – no family and you will be an outcast within your Jewish family. The audience must go on this journey with you. The ending must pull us through.

• In the ending, obviously Antonio, Salarino, Salerio, Gratiano, Balthazar and Bassanio are ecstatic. This must be over the top. The Duke is satisfied and on to the next crisis (perhaps smug). Portia is thoughtful. Jessica is heartbroken. Lorenzo is worried about his wife. Hannah is joyous. Ty is praying. Carson is doing his job, but smiles. Nerissa is happy because Gratiano is happy.