Costume Designer for the Play

Recently, I took on the job of costume designer for the high school's spring play, "The Real Inspector Hound" with Lydia Spilsbury. Although it's hard to fit another thing in next to everything else I'm doing, it's actually quite fun. Today, I drew designs for all of the characters in the play. I also raided my closet and found the perfect outfit for Sydney (who plays Felicity in the play). Lydia and I were previously having a hard time trying to figure out what she could wear. We did spend a lot of time up in the costume department and we picked out a wonderful cocktail dress, however Sydney's character is meant to be in a tennis outfit the whole time. The maid's costume is almost done, all we need is a bonnet, which I fashioned out of a headband and some white cloth I had lying around. Beatrice plays a very flamboyant woman with a whole lot of sex-appeal, which makes her costume very important to her character. Luckily enough, Beatrice's mother had a red cocktail dress with black beaded mesh lying around, so we simply agreed to let her wear that. The men in the play are much simpler. Birdboot and Moon (played by Luke R. and Jared) are two drama critics watching the play being staged (so it is as if the real audience is watching two plays in one). Dressing them will be quite easy. All we need are ties, jackets and nice pairs of dress pants. Major Magnus Muldoon (played by Garage) doesn't have any specific requirements regarding dress code, but I was thinking about having him wear a jacket and a nice pair of pants and having an old blanket covering his legs (as he is in a wheelchair for most of the production). Simon (played by Xan) will be wearing a pair of dress pants, a collared shirt and a sweater. Inspector Hound is a different story entirely. His outfit is meant to be quite ridiculous. He (being played by a she - Nandi) will be wearing a trench coat, rain boots, a pair of baby floaties, and maybe a pair of rain pants and a nice collared shirt. Working so closely with actors and the director (Ms. Hargreaves) while at the same time not being involved in acting in the play is quite odd, but I've found it enjoyable as well. I like watching as my piers find themselves in another piece of theatre. Having artistic direction is also very fun. I get to dress the actors as I see their characters develop onstage. This allows for some changes as the characters become more and more thought out. I've put some images for thought and what I got my inspiration from, below.

1920s Cocktail Dress

1920s Cocktail Dress

A photo o the entire cast (-Simon)

Slightly similar to what Beatrice will be wearing (Cynthia)

The entire cast from a showing of the play

Another version of the play

Cast photo of what looks like a high school production of "The Real Inspector Hound"

Birdboot and Moon watching the production

1920s Tennis Outfits

Cast photo of "The Real Inspector Hound"

1920s Tennis Outfits

GISS Conference

Participating in the GISS conference this year was phenomenal. I hosted two students from Maputo, Mozambique and I got to meet a lot of very interesting people. Meeting Spencer West was probably the highlight of the conference (in my mind). I even got a picture with him (above). I think the magic of the GISS conference is getting to meet so many peers who are just as interesting in the same kinds of issues as I am. And, we get to have great discussions and even argue over controversies.
So, the Key Note Speakers were probably my favorite part of the conference. Apart from Spencer West, I also got to meet (and hang out with) Cassandra Lin, who is truly a phenomenal person. Justin Bedard's activity was also really interesting. Although I would've liked to get to know why he was so active in the Jump! Foundation instead of getting us all to bond. The Kenyan Panel wasn't that great, in fact, they were quite boring, but that's probably because I already knew a lot about what they were talking about.
The service day was great because we got to go out to a beautiful area and work with a project called Plants for Life. It was fascinating because this one man (the owner of the area) had bought this land 15 years ago, torn down all the eucalyptus trees growing on the property and planted trees and plants indigenous to Africa. He took us on a tour, and his knowledge of every single plant on his property was truly remarkable. So, after he gave us a tour, we got to plant trees and contribute to the beautiful landscape.
Meeting people like Cassandra Lin, who's only 14 years old and has already gotten her home state of Rhode Island, to make it a law to recycle cooking oil so that it can be turned into biofuel, is truly inspiring. It's also a but of a bummer. As an 18 year old, I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. But that's the beauty of the GISS conference; it give you hope that you can and will get somewhere in like and change the world in one way or another.

Marich IC Trip 2013

Fringe Performances

Getting to perform in front of an audience in full costume and makeup is the best part of acting. Audience reactions are extremely helpful in telling us actors how we're doing in our performance and what kind of things we can improve on. That's the beauty of the stage, we get to to it several times, on different nights, with different audiences. We performed two nights; Wednesday Feb. 20th and Thursday Feb 21st. Wednesday's performances weren't as good as Thursday night's. It was a little disappointing because people in the audience weren't laughing at our jokes. The problem was that the jokes had to do with Shakespeare and several of his plays (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet). Some of those plays are quite well-known and so are the characters we parodied, such as Lady Macbeth from Macbeth and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. However, others weren't as well-know and so some of the jokes went over people's heads. My role (as Lady Macbeth) was entertaining because I was playing an alcoholic woman, so I substituted whiskey with Apple Juice, which was... interesting. In all I think I drank two bottles of apples juice over both nights. It was fun at first, but then I just go really full. But, it did help me get into character, so it was useful in that regard. The Fringe Festival is always A LOT OF FUN and this year was no exception.

Fringe Rehearsals

On Monday, Feb. 18th, we had our last day of Fringe Rehearsals before our group rehearsal on Sunday (right after the GISS conference), so it was a big cramming day. We had already figured out our blocking so it was mainly about characterization. For me, getting into character was fun because I was playing an inebriated woman. So basically I just went around stumbling and saying really dumb things. Playing Lady Macbeth in a play other than Macbeth and as a relatively different character than she is usually portrayed as was very interesting. Doing research on the character was fun, but also very familiar. So, instead of looking at ways Lady Macbeth was portrayed in that past, I looked up famous alcoholics such as Dianna Ross, Tracy Morgan, Betty Ford etc. I found out what made them tick and why they started drinking. Mostly, it's about depression and basically not having any reason to live a full life. I decided to really push that idea with Lady Macbeth. As this play was a comedy, she also had to be funny. So, I was playing a drunk, out of control woman. Acting opposite Mico for most of my lines was also really rewarding seeing as he is fully immersed and a wonderful actor. He really got into character with Gertrude and it allowed me to respond to the lines he threw at me in much more of an "in character" fashion. Having better actors to act opposite of is extremely important because I find it truly improves performance. For example, I felt at my best in Arabian Nights acting against Lydia and Nikita than anyone else who acted opposite me. Working with others who truly get into character and put their all into the role helps me get into character. Rehearsals were very, very fun and so was working with such an amazing cast.

The Script (for the Fringe Fest)

I just recently finished writing the script for the Fringe Festival I'm participating in. Usually, the Fringe Fest is a way for IB Theatre students to complete their independent projects. However, since I'm IB 1 and still participating in the Fringe Fest, it doesn't count for a grade, and therefore I can use it for CAS. So, I've actually written scripts before (film scripts), but never a play, which is different. Although I didn't have the original idea (Luke and I found a video on youtube.com and used the idea), I did add some lines here and there and write the whole thing down on paper. It's a very interesting script. It's called "The Real Housewives of Shakespeare" and it mocks the reality television shows that have been so popular of late. I enjoyed writing the script because my main passion is writing. Here is the rough draft of the script:

Opening:

All five/six women sit at a dining table. They are yelling/arguing with one another quite intently. After 5 or so seconds, the scene freezes. Titania, queen of the fairies stands up and begins to speak.

Titania: I control the weather, no man controls me.

She sits back down and freezes. Goneril stands up.

Goneril: My sister got dad’s love, but I’ll get the last laugh.

She sits back down and freezes. Gertrude stands up.

Gertrude: When it comes to love, I like to keep it in the family.

She sits back down and freezes. Juliet stands up.

Juliet: Like it is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Darn right I’m the sun. The world revolves around me.

She sits back down and freezes. Lady Macbeth stands up.

Lady Macbeth: I can get blood on my hands, but not on my dress. (She brings her hands up to her face and starts making scared noises.)

She sits back down. The scene starts back up again. Goneril stands up and walks out to stage right.

Goneril: So, I invited all the ladies over for a dinner party. It’s time we got this all out on the table. I refused to be ignored any longer.

She goes back to the table and sits down. They all start arguing again. Lady Macbeth walks out to stage left.

Lady Macbeth: I know what she’s doing. We all know what she’s doing. She’s trying to get us to admit that she’s the best female character in the canon.

Gertude joins Lady Macbeth.

Gertrude: She’s not the queen. She’s garbage.

They both go back and take their seats. The arguing starts up again. Someone knocks over a candlestick. Goneril raises her voice.

Goneril: Oh my God, don’t do that! My daddy gave me that!

Titania and Juliet giggle. Goneril brushes it off.

Goneril: Not that I care about him. (She starts crying.)

Gertrude stands up.

Gertrude: As I was saying, I am the most deserving of this honor. I am the only one at this table who has ruined the lives of not one, not two, but three men in one foul swoop.

Everyone rolls their eyes.

Gertrude: And that took a lot of organizing!

Lady Macbeth: Oh my god, all the men in your family are weak! Now, Macbeth, that was a challenge.

Goneril: Oh you mean the guy who’s afraid of a little blood? (pause) Or was that, knocking?

Titania knocks on the table and Juliet stops her. Titania looks at her questioningly.

Everyone freezes except Titania.

Titania: She’s always talking about how strong Macbeth is. Woops, not supposed to say it, cause of the curse. (sarcastically) Okay… (laughs sarcastically). I’ll curse her.

Everyone unfreezes.

Juliet: Seriously though, I’m the only person at this table who’s given their life up for love. Because I believe in the power of love.

Everyone rolls their eyes. Goneril makes a “blah blah blah” symbol. Titania shushes Juliet.

Titania: Ladies, do you want to know what I do when I am feeling a little bit angry?

Gertrude: Fall in love with a donkey?

Goneril turns to her and says: Oh my God!

Gertrude: I know!

They start to laugh. Titania joins in sarcastically.

Titania: Ha ha ha ha, no. I go out, and I dance, a ringlet to the whistling wind.

Juliet (to the audience/to herself): I don’t even know what a ringlet is… Do you know what that is?

They begin to argue once more. Gertrude slams her hands on the table and stands up.

Gertrude: Ladies! Okay, Queen of the fairies, you are not the only queen at this table!

Titania: Um… okay?

Gertrude: I’m the best damn Queen this canon has ever seen!

Titania: Gertrude, seriously, once more time and I will come to your house and I will cause a storm on it.

Lady Macbeth: Yeah, Gertrude, you went a little too far with that one.

Titania: You think it’s rotten in Denmark now? Just wait until the nine men’s maris is filled up with mud… with mud. I will do that. I’m not scared to do that to Denmark. ‘Till the crows are fated with the murinflock.

They begin to argue again. Suddenly Goneril begins banging her hands on the table.

Goneril: I am the favorite! I am the favorite! I am his favorite!

She gets up and pushes the table over. Everyone stops and stares as Goneril runs off crying.

Gertrude turns to the audience, while in her chair.

Gertrude: And I thought Hamlet had daddy issues.

Everyone walks offstage. Then, after a few seconds, Lady Macbeth comes back on and sits down.

Lady Macbeth: I have a really big heart. A really big heart, and nobody gets it. Everybody thinks, “Oh I’m evil”, “Oh, she’s evil.” (she gets choked up) But there’s a lot going on inside here. There is a lot going on inside.

Juliet comes back out, sits down and begins to cry dramatically.

Titania walks back out and starts laughing.

End.

Arabian Nights & Fringe Fest

I performed in the school play, "Arabian Nights", from Thursday Nov. 15th - Saturday Nov. 17th. The rehearsal process was extremely exhausting and overwhelming, but once we got to the performance days, everything came together. Getting makeup on was certainly an experience and by the end of the night, we all felt as though our faces were melting. Overall every night had a few slip-ups, but I think our best performance was on Friday night. Although we actually had a bigger audience on Saturday night, I think we were all a bit tired by then so we weren't at our absolute best. I certainly think my best performances as Amina and the Second Sister were much better on Friday. Lydia and I had so much fun being evil sisters, but on Friday Lydia fell down the stairs (and she's afraid of heights - yikes!) and my cape got caught on the steps. Overall I felt like I had a great experience doing the school play this year. I made wonderful friends and really bonded with people I've never talked to before. The relationships I formed are something I hope to have happen again next year. I'm also taking part in the Fringe Fest again this year. Luke Reid, Lydia Spilsbury and I are putting on a short 5 min play called "The Real Housewives of Shakespeare". We think it's going to be a lot of fun and we're all really excited. I'm adapting the play from a video I found on youtube, so technically I'm "writing" the script. There are 5 Shakespearian female characters that we're exploring. Lady Macbeth, Goneril, Titania, Juliet, and Gertrude will all make appearances. Auditions are Thursday and Friday! I'm excited to find our actresses. Yay!