Frankenstein

This play seems very interesting and I am excited to audition for it!  This could be another great experience since I may not be able to be in plays in the future and I should enjoy them when I have the chance to do so.  I haven't really seen a clear vision about it after the first time I read it, but I have an interesting idea on what to do with the lights and the set.  For the lights I was thinking one of those lights that go on and off very fast and seem that what is going on is in stop-motion.  This would make the "coming to life scene" very dramatic.  Also, I would also would like a lot of sparks and sound effects to go with it.  Since the stage is not that big I was thinking in making the floor area part of the stage.  The floor are (where the seniors sit at assemblies) should be Elizabeth's house and the doors on the sides should be where Dr. Hellstrom and Henry come in.  The stage it self could be Victor's lab, it would be good since there is a lot of space to move for the characters and for the equipment.  This would help the mood of the scenes.  As for the part I could do, I am not so sure.  Gorgo would fit well with my zani experience, but maybe I can do another character so I can try different characters and have a balance.

TGAF

The performance on TGAF I considered it to be an epic fail.  It was not rehearsed enough and we had the inconvenience of not having Isabella on stage.  This was good practice to see what Pedro, Pinto and I could come up in basically 10 minutes, but it didn't work out that well.  I tried to be as physical and loud as possible, but the crowd was making too much noise and not paying attention.  This distracted me a lot, but it is good that I have lived through it so I can deal with it in the future.  The worst part of it all was when the MYP Students came in and started following us because they didn't know what to do.  The positive thing is that I am now going to SAAC AGRENTINAAA!

Comedia

After the performance we did on "Vincenzo and Elena" I believe that my knowledge on Comedia has increased drastically.  Since I was a Zani character, it was important for me to interact with the audience and use physical movements.  It all depends on the body.  The stance, the walk, the purpose, the emotion, and everything has to be portrayed through the body since your face is covered in a mask.  The performance went alright, but think I did a solid job.  The thing that I can improve on is the interaction with the audience since I only did it briefly.  In other words, in the performance, I pestered the audience but I never really reacted to what the audience said to me both verbally and non verbally.  This was great practice for the SAAC auditions.

John Malkovich

After watching the play I wasn't impressed by the performance's hype, but I did like it.  I was surprised that everyone that I talked to disliked it and thought it was crap.  I do agree that the blocking wasn't great and the opera was way too long, but I did like John Malkovich's acting was great and he was very funny.  People may say that I may not know much about theater and John Malkovich and the truth is... I don't.  I wasn't very familiar with John Malkovich before this performance and I consider myself a person that enjoys watching theater.  I don't really have the experience or the 'theater greatness' to criticize a play that I was entertained by.  For all the time that I was there I was entertained and in general I thought that it was a good but not great performance.

Fools Reflection

After bowing in front of the audience on Saturday night I realized that the play was over.  It was an interesting feeling because even though I was happy of the outcome, I am sad that it is over.  Honestly, it was something in my life that had wanted to do, but I never had the chance to do so.  I can finally say that I did this and I am happy that for once in my life I did something that I truly wanted.  I have always had a passion for theater, but I have always second guessed myself.  Am I not good enough? What will others think of me?  A lot of my friends were surprised when I joined the play since they didn't know that I liked it and they thought I only took the course for an easy grade.  However, I really like theater and it was nice to do something that I truly enjoyed even if my friends didn't like it.  Why would I care?  As for the play itself, I was really surprised that it went the way it did.  By the end of the last rehearsal I wasn't sure if it was going to be funny or not because I had seen the play so many times that it became boring.  What was key for me was to practice with my hair and costume because I could practice my walk and stance, which was something I wasn't able to do before since I wasn't used to walking around with a cape.  Honestly, Thursday was my favorite day because I was so surprised that it went that well and even though I believe my Saturday performance was better, Thursday was a special day for me.  It was special because of the nerves and it was my first time on stage on a actual play and when everyone laughed at me, the feeling was priceless.  Friday was the day that I least liked since that was when I was feeling sick.  I didn't go to school that day and just after the performance I went to the bathroom to throw up.  My voice was lost, the audience didn't laugh as much as the first night, and although the performance wasn't bad, that night was hell for me.  Finally came Saturday, which was the best dramatic performance I have had in my life.  I didn't have a voice, but I managed to pull it through since my character was funnier with the lower voice.  Although my best performance was on Saturday, that Thursday night will be one of those moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life. 

final monologue presentation reflection

Nicholas Arnovitz

Reflection

            Although I wasn’t delighted with the idea of the combined monologue, I believe that the performance went very well.  I think it went well since we practiced a lot before the performance and saw each other perform individually, so we both got feedback from both the teacher and the partner.  Also, since we worked together two years ago in a short scene called “Long Island Iced-Tea” I think that help since we already have some experience together.  I was surprised that there were a lot of people since I thought that there were going to be many workshops and presentations going on.  I was very nervous at first, but in the end it was good for me since it is a preview of what the play audience is going to be like.  In the end the most important thing was to practice in front of each other since it gave us confidence and we told each other what we should work on.  I am very glad I could be a part of GIN through theatre since it’s a worldwide event.   I think that our combined monologue stood out since it was the longest and was different to all the others because of how mine started and how we both “interrupted” each other.    

play reflection

Play Reflection

            I think that the play is going all right, but it could be much better.  I am starting to feel nervous because the play is soon and this is the first production that I am in.  It is necessary to practice and to recuperate my confidence since this play has great potential and it can be very funny.  The only problem that I have is that there is not a great atmosphere with the cast.  There are some that seem very negative mood and that affects all the play since this brings all the play down.  It is very important to have everybody 100% committed to making this play a success because if not you shouldn’t have signed up for this in the first place.  However, in the final two weeks I am hopeful that we have a moment of brilliance and bondage.  I am an optimistic person, so I do believe that the play is going to turn out well, but we have A LOT of work to do.  As for myself, I have to work more on my dramatic pauses and my facial expressions.  I have to stop second guessing myself and start experimenting different expressions and ideas that I have.   

Combined Monologue

Cake. I want cake. There is one thing in the world that I want, its cake. You never realize how awful and terrifying the world really is until you experience it yourself. You never think about yourself being in a position in which you’ll suffer every day of your goddamn life. I haven’t eaten real food in over a month and there is one wish that I have… it is cake. . I know for a fact my life has been taken away from me and I know I won’t get out of here alive. If I had a choice it would be chocolate, but it would make my mouth thirsty.. but I don’t care since it would be my last meal. I was sold to a man yesterday. First one ever. Apparently he was the highest bidder, but what does that matter, they all treat us like shit anyway. If we don’t please them enough, we get the beating. That smell of chocolate fudge that makes you crave for more sweetness. And the taste of joy and happiness nourishes me. Many people wouldn’t understand since cake isn’t exactly a meal, but I would really want some cake. This one night however, I will never forget. I was walking back to the brothel after receiving a beating from the man who bought me and I found a little girl crying hysterically on the footsteps of this apartment building.  She wasn’t crying because she was forced to have sex unwillingly, she wasn’t crying because she had been beaten up, she wasn’t crying because she was stripped naked and chained, she wasn’t crying because her “so-called” parents had shoved a baton down her throat to get her to do it, she was crying because after her rehabilitation she had nowhere else to go, other than to return to those parents. I haven’t been fed in this place for weeks, there is a hole in my stomach that can no longer be filled. I cannot express the pain that I feel since outside there are children playing and having fun when I am stuck here working, living in misery. We are slaves, pushed around, beaten up, forced to work all day long. You’re being used and exploited and all for money. Hell on Earth. They make me work on this sweatshop, they starve me, they abuse me, they take advantage of me, the make me work like a dog and all I ask is for a piece of some god damn cake! No one gets out of here alive. I don’t expect to get out of here alive. Now that I think about it this piece of cake would really make me thirsty.. so a glass of coke would also be nice. Or maybe a glass of clean water for once, since it is the last meal I will have. I miss the feel of the sun warming my body. I used to sit beside this beautiful magnolia tree in a park a few blocks down from my house. I’d put my sunglasses on and just lie there on the grass, feel the breeze on my arms and I’d fall into such a deep sleep. It’s been so long though, I can barely remember what it feels like. I want to go home, I want to see the smile on my parents’ faces. But I’m stuck here, I’m a slave now and I can’t be saved. Imagine, all your freedom, just taken away from you, in one second. And in one second, you’re life is over. 

Reflection Cake

Cake Monologue

            The monologue will be presented on Friday 2:30 on the Center Stage for GIN.  The monologue that will be presented in the Center Stage is a combined monologue between Daniela Chavez and myself because we are tackling similar Global Issues.  I am not exactly thrilled with the idea of the combined monologues, but it will be interesting how it plays out.  Ms. Morrison said in class that I am supposed to make my character more like a little kid, which I agree to some extent.  I understand her point of view and I will try to make my attitude and stance more playful and childish.  By making this approach I will attract the attention of the audience more effective.  Ms. Morrison also told me that she wants me to be angrier and make my monologue based on anger.  However, I read my monologue and realized that there was something that wasn’t right since my whole point was to make a sad kid begging and basically “fantasizing” about cake.  I changed the line that says, “I cannot express the anger that I feel” since what this boy is really feeling is pain and despair.  I changed the key word “anger” to “pain” to make my monologue change its purpose.  The reason I did this was because I think that it will fit better with the story and help myself.  Also, when I see the other monologues (no disrespect) I often feel that they are over-acted and too over the top.  If I made this kid be angry and make it too much about anger it was going to end up being too overacted.  What I saw in the monologues in class, the most effective monologues were the ones that were just spoken since the words were the most powerful element, not the motions.  The words of the monologue are what the monologue’s message is.  My final decision is to make a child to be sad and be in pain “fantasizing” about cake.  I am going to make an honest approach, not over-acted. 

Monologue Improved

I want cake.   There is one thing in the world that I want, its cake.  I haven’t eaten real food in over a month and there is one wish that I have... it is cake.  If I had a choice it would be chocolate, but it would make my mouth thirsty... but I don’t care since it would be my last meal.  That smell of chocolate fudge that makes you crave for more sweetness.  And taste the fresh sugariness that nourishes me. Many people wouldn't understand since cake isn't exactly a meal, but since I know this is my last one... I would really want some cake.  I haven’t been fed in this place for weeks; there is a hole in my stomach that can no longer be filled.  I cannot express the anger that I feel since outside there are children playing and having fun when I am stuck here working, living in misery.  Hell on Earth.  They make me work in this sweatshop, they starve me, they abuse me, they take advantage of me, they make me work like a dog and all I ask is for a piece of some GOD DAMN cake!  

(Pause) Now that I think about it this piece of cake would really make me thirsty... so a glass of coke would also be nice.   Or maybe a glass of clean water for once, since it is the last meal I will have.  

journal 2

Journal

Monologue

I want cake.   There is one thing in the world right now, it's cake.  I havent eaten real food in over a month and there is one wish that I have... it is cake.  Many people wouldn't understand me since cake isn't exactly a meal, but since I know this is my last one... I would really want some cake.  If I had a choice it would be chocolate, but it would make my mouth thirsty... but I dont care since it would be my last meal.  They make me work in this sweatshop, they starve me, they abuse me, they take advantage of me, they make me work like a dog and all I ask is for a piece of some GOD DAMN cake!  

(Pause) Now that I think about it this piece of cake would really make me thirsty... so a glass of coke would also be nice.   Or maybe a glass of clean water for once, since it is the last meal I will have.