Critiques from District - April 1, 2011
David Stevens’ and mine
Rehearsal Saturday evening at 8PM. Rehearse your accents. If you have lost your accent tape, see me or text me. Sunday’s rehearsal will be long. If you need to leave early for church, let me know. Love you guys! REMARKABLE performance! Even if we had not advanced, I was SO HAPPY because you invested everything you had and created the world of Atlantic City. I am going to ask that you keep working and improving you role in this journey. We will face more difficult competitors as we travel, so we have to keep improving.
Saturday evening, we will concentrate on the trial scene. Sunday, we will go through the play with the changes. We need to see the moments and still be under 40. READ all the critique and see what you can add.
Everyone • Great intensity at the beginning.
• ACCENTS were not consistent – he stressed that this might be a determining factor with whether we advance. CONCENTRATE on this.
• HATS need to go on the hatrack. We will put an additional 4X4 behind it to hold other hats if we run out of space. PLEASE use the hatrack- no hats on tables or underneath chairs.
• Good job of playing the moments.
• Be careful not to push characters for laughs or be overly dramatic. One critic judge I had said – don’t play sadness- feel sadness or tragedy and let it come out from your soul to be displayed to the audience. That must be true for comedy. Be so invested in your character that he does funny things without realizing they are funny. That is just the way he/she is.
• I want to see newspaper reading in the middle of USC .
• Be confident – crystal clear – in your character. Once you have decided how your character is – commit to it fully 110%. A great example we have is how Randall and Michelle commit to the dance. They are energetic, have fun, and they don’t worry about how the audience sees them.
• Watch angry voices that they do not become ”warbly” – out of control is what I think he meant.
• Ensemble was wonderful!
• Trial people, make a bigger deal of reacting to the scales and the sharpening of the knife.
• Trial scene – beginning was good, but ending was not strong. EVERYONE, think what you can do to make this stronger. How do we build intensity from Portia’s entrance to bear your bosom to Portia’s Jew. Reaching the solution should take more time and build in intensity.
• There needs to be more fear and craziness in the trial scene.
• Build up to the baptism.
• Let’s work more on atmosphere. I felt it when Lorenzo goes to Jessica’s house – from all the men. Jared, wear your jacket in this scene. Everyone make use of the weather.
Antonio But therefore go – he loved the moment
Michelle and Randall Loved the spontaneity of the dance
Sponge line – he loved Randall’s actions.
Nerissa Work on the character to be strong physically. You might rework your character sketch. For this to have been your third performance – you have been so successful.
Arragon Don’t be aggressive – make big choices. Again, become that character with all the eccentricities and make people laugh because that is what you are. Don’t lose the air kiss. You have come such a long way – great job. Not a direct address to audience. Remind me to reblock this. Casket men in an angle.
Shylock Real beard? Hmm. We will have to spend a lot of time to make this work.
Tiredness – cannot remember what he said, but we can see your character make the journey and to me, it is realistic for you to be more confident and full of energy at the beginning and gradually become more tired. No black panels.
I am a Jew – toward S & S
Speak no more – lower and measured.
Make a bigger deal out of the scale and sharpening the knife. Look at Antonio
Think about the flesh.
Show relief when you are not condemned to die.
Build up to I am content – struggle to say it.
I am a Jew – pleading for forgiveness.
Moroccan Loved your energy – work on not pushing too hard. Let the character create the humor without knowing he is funny.
Portia Make the slap meaningful. Move away from the Moroccan.
Lower voice in trial scene.
Launcelot Vocally make it big. Work on diction and vocally variety. Loved your character.
Savannah Look at the line “Fortune …crossed” line. If luck is with me, you will no longer have a daughter.
Be thoughtful and take a moment. We have the time. Be more excited about Lorenzo when you are on the ladder.
Casket men Great job. Don’t change a thing. BUT enter behind Shylock’s house.
Moroccan men Someone catch the skull. Do not make it bigger. Stay the same.
Portia and Bassanio Great job being lin love
Gratiano Great job throughout. He loved the delivery about your wife.
Bassanio Live in the moment of discovering that Portia’s picture in the casket.
Lorenzo Need to see your face with the letter.
Antonio and Shylock Slap was great.
Antonio Don’t overreact to pain and fear. Internalize it and let it come out as emotion. Be in the character. Don’t play sad. Fight to live. We need to see you make your decision to relent and accept your fate.
Greater relief when Portia discovers the solution.
Portia and all in the trial scene except for Jessica and hannah When you laugh – make it real. Not playacting a laugh
DUKE Great job! So proud of you! Measure your last words.
Lane Light on Nerissa and Gratiano USC during Bassanio’s casket scene.
Mica, Lane, & Cole Coordinate lightning and thunder. We need lightning with Lorenzo’s entrance and after Bassanio’s casket scene.
