Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Streetcar Interpretation Reflection
The interpretation of A Streetcar named Desire did a good job reflecting Tennessee William's tone of the play. Stanley was played well as someone who didn't put up with being pushed around. Blanche was perfect. She portrayed someone who acted over the top and fake. From a distance, she seemed like a little girl. Up close, you could see by her dark eyes that she was not with it. I thought Stella was played ok. She doesn't change a lot during the play. She's more of a monotone character so her acting is also monotone. I did not like the acting of Mitch. He seemed sporadic. one moment he was happy, the next he was upset. He wasn't shown in the movie like he was shown in the play. It was harder to follow Mitch's actions in the movie.
The directing of the play was done well. I felt the pacing was right. Each scene ran smoothly into the next. I wish there was more use of New Orleans. Stanley and Stella's house was designed like I thought. Cluttered with stuff, and somewhat claustrophobic, it was clearly a place Blanche wasn't used too. You could see how uncomfortable she was. The movie followed the play well. Every scene in the play was in the movie. The scene where Mitch and Blanche go dancing is a bit confusing. I found it hard to understand why Blanche wasn't letting Mitch kiss her. I was a bit confused by the entire scene. Other than that, the movie did a very good job interpreting the play.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Streetcar Musings
What character do you like best? Why?
During the play, I didn't like any of the characters. The two main characters - Blanche and Stanley are not very likable characters. She obviously lies throughout the entire play but you feel bad for her at the same time. She is very insulting and tries to be all old-fashioned when she is actually the opposite. The worst thing she did for herself was insult Stanley. When she did that, she ruined her chance of a new life. As soon as she called him a polack and a pig, he tries to get rid of her the whole time. Stanley is an angry person. He didn't like Blanche from the start (understandably) but he pushed it too far. He looked through her private property like it was his own. He ruined her life when he exposed her lies. In the end he rapes her, that is the worst thing anyone could do to anybody. From then on, I despised Stanley. He is the most awful character in the entire play. He basically made her already strained mind go completely crazy. The other characters in the play were not as well developed but thinking back on it, my favourite character is Stella. She tries to please both Stanley and Blanche. She has to run back in forth between the two the entire play. I felt bad for her. She lives with an abusive man. She has to care for her sister the whole play. Stella is one of the few truly nice people in the play. To top the whole thing off, she is pregnant. She is getting beat by her husband while she is pregnant. That is awful.
Worst Character? Why?
The worst character in this play is definitely Stanley. He doesn't give Blanche a chance. He is a crude, angry, stubborn, and mean. For the first half of the play, I thought he wasn't a bad guy. But when he uncovered Blanche's lies, he did it in the worst fashion. If he had any decency, he would have told Blanche and Stella what he found out before even thinking of telling Mitch. He should have let Blanche told Mitch herself. If she had done that, Mitch would have been less angry that she lied .Stanley's actions do have some justifications though. Blanche basically strolled into his house, drank all of his whiskey, and insulted him. She sad the place was dingy and tried to redecorated it. I would have felt angry too if someone came in my house, secretly drank my drinks and insulted my home. Blanche also insulted him, calling him a pig and a polack. That is what really made him angry. From then, he became more and more rude to her. He should have gone to jail. Stella should have left him right then. No one should live with a man that assaults people like that.
Character you can relate to? Why?
I don't relate to any of the characters. All of them have a dark side. Blanche pretends to be old fashioned but really is completely crazy. Stanley overreacts with everything. Stella pretends nothing is wrong. Mitch seems like a nice guy but turn dark in the end. The other characters (Steve, Pablo) are less developed but seem similar to Stanley. I can't relate to any of these characters. I'm not haunted by death. I don't go searching through the luggage of a person I've just met. I wouldn't stay quiet if I was part of an abusive relationship. I don't have a sick mother or anything like that. I never truly felt related to any of the characters during the reading.
Writing style - analyze. What worked? What didn't?
I enjoyed the writing style of Tennessee Williams. The point of each line is clear. The only writing that I thought bogged down the flow of the play was the incredibly long descriptions of the set. I found the stage directions had little to do about the stage but more about the character that is entering. The information found in the stage directions should have been more present in the dialogue. If the play was being watched not read, it would be difficult to know what the character is thinking. Other than that, I found the writing style worked well with the tone of the play. It has a somber tone to it. It is not a happy play so the writing is done in a more somber style.
Would you have liked something else happen in the play? What? Why?
I felt the play included all the parts that it should. There was little more that could have happened that would have benefited the story of the play.
What is the relevance of the title?
The title "A Streetcar Named Desire" means nothing to the audience for the first bit of the play. It is only when the true side of Blanche is revealed and her story told. When the audience finds out that Blanche has been lying the whole time and that she had many affairs with men does the title make sense. The streetcar is sort of a choice, Blanche could have taken the streetcar that her family familiarize her with. The one of old-fashioned ideals or she could have taken the streetcar of desire. She chose the streetcar named desire. And she ended up poor and without a home. The title is very relevant to the play.
Discuss light/dark motif
I did not completely understand the dark/light motif. The part I understood was that Blanche wanted to hide her age from Mitch. That was the only thing I understood from it. She always had to be under shaded light, never bright lights.
Discuss the role of music in the play
The music worked well with the play. It reflected the tone of the play. When Blanche was happy, the music was happy. when she was in trouble, the music reflected that. I think the music reflected Blanche's state of mind. When she was thinking about the death of her boyfriend. The Varsuviana plays until a gunshot goes off. This proves that the music is directly related to Blanche.
How did you feel at different points of the play? What changed?
Before each character began to reveal themselves, I didn't think their was a big problem in the house. It was when Stanley began to invade Blanche's privacy and find out her secrets did I feel worried for Blanche. When Mitch came into the picture, I thought he was Blanche's chance for a normal life. As the play wore on, I realized that it wasn't going to work. Blanche was even more unstable than I previously thought. Stanley was tearing down her barriers until she was left defenseless. Mitch left her, Stella called the mental hospital, it was over for Blanche. At that point, I knew that it was the best thing to do. Blanche was crazy, crazy from the beginning but she didn't realize it till the end.
Did your opinions of any characters actions change over the course of the play? Why? How?
I felt bad for Stanley at the beginning. Blanche was rude to him and treated him like a servant. He immediately stopped that. I thought Stanley was a nice guy. Even when he was finding out things about her, I was thinking that it wasn't a bad thing. It was only when he went and told Mitch everything that I didn't liek him. If I was Stanley, I would have confronted Blanche first and then decided by her reaction if it was right to tell Mitch.
During the play, I didn't like any of the characters. The two main characters - Blanche and Stanley are not very likable characters. She obviously lies throughout the entire play but you feel bad for her at the same time. She is very insulting and tries to be all old-fashioned when she is actually the opposite. The worst thing she did for herself was insult Stanley. When she did that, she ruined her chance of a new life. As soon as she called him a polack and a pig, he tries to get rid of her the whole time. Stanley is an angry person. He didn't like Blanche from the start (understandably) but he pushed it too far. He looked through her private property like it was his own. He ruined her life when he exposed her lies. In the end he rapes her, that is the worst thing anyone could do to anybody. From then on, I despised Stanley. He is the most awful character in the entire play. He basically made her already strained mind go completely crazy. The other characters in the play were not as well developed but thinking back on it, my favourite character is Stella. She tries to please both Stanley and Blanche. She has to run back in forth between the two the entire play. I felt bad for her. She lives with an abusive man. She has to care for her sister the whole play. Stella is one of the few truly nice people in the play. To top the whole thing off, she is pregnant. She is getting beat by her husband while she is pregnant. That is awful.
Worst Character? Why?
The worst character in this play is definitely Stanley. He doesn't give Blanche a chance. He is a crude, angry, stubborn, and mean. For the first half of the play, I thought he wasn't a bad guy. But when he uncovered Blanche's lies, he did it in the worst fashion. If he had any decency, he would have told Blanche and Stella what he found out before even thinking of telling Mitch. He should have let Blanche told Mitch herself. If she had done that, Mitch would have been less angry that she lied .Stanley's actions do have some justifications though. Blanche basically strolled into his house, drank all of his whiskey, and insulted him. She sad the place was dingy and tried to redecorated it. I would have felt angry too if someone came in my house, secretly drank my drinks and insulted my home. Blanche also insulted him, calling him a pig and a polack. That is what really made him angry. From then, he became more and more rude to her. He should have gone to jail. Stella should have left him right then. No one should live with a man that assaults people like that.
Character you can relate to? Why?
I don't relate to any of the characters. All of them have a dark side. Blanche pretends to be old fashioned but really is completely crazy. Stanley overreacts with everything. Stella pretends nothing is wrong. Mitch seems like a nice guy but turn dark in the end. The other characters (Steve, Pablo) are less developed but seem similar to Stanley. I can't relate to any of these characters. I'm not haunted by death. I don't go searching through the luggage of a person I've just met. I wouldn't stay quiet if I was part of an abusive relationship. I don't have a sick mother or anything like that. I never truly felt related to any of the characters during the reading.
Writing style - analyze. What worked? What didn't?
I enjoyed the writing style of Tennessee Williams. The point of each line is clear. The only writing that I thought bogged down the flow of the play was the incredibly long descriptions of the set. I found the stage directions had little to do about the stage but more about the character that is entering. The information found in the stage directions should have been more present in the dialogue. If the play was being watched not read, it would be difficult to know what the character is thinking. Other than that, I found the writing style worked well with the tone of the play. It has a somber tone to it. It is not a happy play so the writing is done in a more somber style.
Would you have liked something else happen in the play? What? Why?
I felt the play included all the parts that it should. There was little more that could have happened that would have benefited the story of the play.
What is the relevance of the title?
The title "A Streetcar Named Desire" means nothing to the audience for the first bit of the play. It is only when the true side of Blanche is revealed and her story told. When the audience finds out that Blanche has been lying the whole time and that she had many affairs with men does the title make sense. The streetcar is sort of a choice, Blanche could have taken the streetcar that her family familiarize her with. The one of old-fashioned ideals or she could have taken the streetcar of desire. She chose the streetcar named desire. And she ended up poor and without a home. The title is very relevant to the play.
Discuss light/dark motif
I did not completely understand the dark/light motif. The part I understood was that Blanche wanted to hide her age from Mitch. That was the only thing I understood from it. She always had to be under shaded light, never bright lights.
Discuss the role of music in the play
The music worked well with the play. It reflected the tone of the play. When Blanche was happy, the music was happy. when she was in trouble, the music reflected that. I think the music reflected Blanche's state of mind. When she was thinking about the death of her boyfriend. The Varsuviana plays until a gunshot goes off. This proves that the music is directly related to Blanche.
How did you feel at different points of the play? What changed?
Before each character began to reveal themselves, I didn't think their was a big problem in the house. It was when Stanley began to invade Blanche's privacy and find out her secrets did I feel worried for Blanche. When Mitch came into the picture, I thought he was Blanche's chance for a normal life. As the play wore on, I realized that it wasn't going to work. Blanche was even more unstable than I previously thought. Stanley was tearing down her barriers until she was left defenseless. Mitch left her, Stella called the mental hospital, it was over for Blanche. At that point, I knew that it was the best thing to do. Blanche was crazy, crazy from the beginning but she didn't realize it till the end.
Did your opinions of any characters actions change over the course of the play? Why? How?
I felt bad for Stanley at the beginning. Blanche was rude to him and treated him like a servant. He immediately stopped that. I thought Stanley was a nice guy. Even when he was finding out things about her, I was thinking that it wasn't a bad thing. It was only when he went and told Mitch everything that I didn't liek him. If I was Stanley, I would have confronted Blanche first and then decided by her reaction if it was right to tell Mitch.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Monologue Reflection
I think I could have done a better on on my monologue. I wasn't very happy with my finished project. Since I rewrote my monologue 3 times, a didn't have it memorized as well as I could have. I felt okay performing it but I still was a bit nervous. I thought compared to the other monologues, mine was a bit weak. I performed it as best as I could but I still didn't like the final result. I don't really know why but I have always preferred dialogues compared to monologues.They have always seemed more exciting to me. I was definitely more nervous than I would be if there was someone on stage with me in case I mess up.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Reflecting On The Past...
I liked the previous writing exercises where we made up everything. The exercises where we had a set character were not as fun. The worst part about writing is the reflection. I despise reflections.
Some of the movie clips were interesting but others I found boring. The ones I found interesting were the ones that seemed to put a lot of emotion into. The Jaws one I thought was particularly good because it seemed that he was really reliving the story. The ones that were monotonous were not interesting to me. From the clips, I learned that you have to be emotionally invested into your story.
Writing my monologue was difficult because I had trouble initially thinking of a good story. I had many ideas and wrote them all down. I wasn't happy with any of them. I had 5 monologue ideas but I didn't like any of them. Eventually I chose one monologue to memorize. I'm still not happy with it though. Its like writing a story, I'm never fully satisfied with it. I constantly made tweaks and changes to the monologue, making it hard to memorize.
I am worried about performing my monologue. I'm thinking "what if I forget a line" or "what actions should
I do during the monologue." I'm nervous. Usually in a theatre performance, there is more than one person. It is a lot easier to memorize lines when you have cues from other people. in this case,all attention is on me and I can only rely on myself. I am not very confident with my monologue. Hopefully once I have memorized my monologue I will be more confident.
Some of the movie clips were interesting but others I found boring. The ones I found interesting were the ones that seemed to put a lot of emotion into. The Jaws one I thought was particularly good because it seemed that he was really reliving the story. The ones that were monotonous were not interesting to me. From the clips, I learned that you have to be emotionally invested into your story.
Writing my monologue was difficult because I had trouble initially thinking of a good story. I had many ideas and wrote them all down. I wasn't happy with any of them. I had 5 monologue ideas but I didn't like any of them. Eventually I chose one monologue to memorize. I'm still not happy with it though. Its like writing a story, I'm never fully satisfied with it. I constantly made tweaks and changes to the monologue, making it hard to memorize.
I am worried about performing my monologue. I'm thinking "what if I forget a line" or "what actions should
I do during the monologue." I'm nervous. Usually in a theatre performance, there is more than one person. It is a lot easier to memorize lines when you have cues from other people. in this case,all attention is on me and I can only rely on myself. I am not very confident with my monologue. Hopefully once I have memorized my monologue I will be more confident.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)