Week 6 - Week commencing 27th October

This weeks progress

I am really impressed with how well we have done this week, I really feel as though we have achieved a great deal. One of main aims this week was to crack the contrasting couples scene, as it is something we have struggled with as a group, we sat down as a group and wrote both couples scenes together, we were struggling with couple 2, the old fashioned lovey dovey couple the most, as it had felt too naturalistic before but we found that once we sat down and discussed ideas we managed to create two really strong characters in the form of Fred and Barbara, who have only really been dating for 2 weeks and have confessed their love for each other, which contrasts to the other couple, couple 1 Tony and Jessica who are on the brink of a break up. See written script below.

Contrasting CouplesTony: So are you just going to give me the silent treatment then? That will really sort this out! (Jessica huffs and turns around) Fucks sake.
SWITCH
Circus music plays again until stood behind chair looking at each other, music stops.
Fred: I love your skirt, it really complements your eyes (pulls out chair) Oh I like those earrings.Barbara: Oh well you should, you bought me them. (laughter)
SWITCHCircus music plays again until stood behind chair looking at each other, music stops
Tony: Look right, it was a mistake. I was drunk and she means nothing. I’m sorry. (pause) I was only inside her for 5 seconds!
SWITCHCircus music plays again until stood behind chair looking at each other, music stops
Barbara: I know it’s only been 2 weeks but I feel like we are soul mates.
Fred: All my life I’ve felt like there’s been something missing, but now I’ve found you I feel like everything has fallen into place.
SWITCHCircus music plays again until stood behind chair looking at each other, music stops
Tony: I’ll do anything, please forgive me, I can’t live without you…
Jessica: Shut up Tony. You’re pathetic. I don’t care what you did because you know what? I fucked your dad.

SWITCHCircus music plays again until stood behind chair looking at each other, music stops
Barbara: I just always want to look into your eyes so I can see into your beautiful soul.

Fred: Oh Barbara
Barbara: Oh Fred
Both: I love you so much

 We really want this scene to be very fast paced in the switch over between the two couples, so the idea is to have the each couple performed at one end of the stage to the other, so that during the change over there is this aspect of running to the next scene as it were. Additionally by having us change costume of stage, and in a fast paced manner, there can be this aspect of comedy and melodrama in the way we get dressed in a rushed fashion. Additionally I feel as though the audience will highlight the play within a play aspect of this by seeing us physically change characters in front of them. Also with Sally passing us costume and telling us to switch, will highlight her high status in this piece as well as her control over myself and Beth D as the "Actors". 

My ideas

This week my imagination has run a little wild and I have come up with a few ideas that I pitched to the group. 

1. In regards to the new parents scene, I was thinking that it is a little too literal to have a very similar warm hearted scene following the old couple scene, so I was thinking to really turn it on its head we could have this aspect of the young couple putting up this facade of a happy young family with a new baby in the foreground, but behind closed doors in the background, not everything is as it seems. In that there is some level of domestic abuse between the parents, but flipping the audiences presumption of the abuse being aimed at the female, when in fact the female is abusing the male. I think if we flip it on its head there will be more of a response from the audience, in terms of shock, which is obviously a reaction we want. I think this could work really well if we want to create this aspect of highs and lows throughout the piece. 
2. A smelly man monologue. I was thinking it might be nice to include a monologue that involves a man who is perhaps large in weight and stature, and smells terrible. I think it would be nice to have this insight into a lonely persons life and perceptions of their surroundings, in that perhaps when they walk down the street people shout at how much they smell. I think initially the audience will want to laugh at this character, but perhaps as he goes into the monologue the audience will feel empathy towards him.
3. Another idea I had was possibly having myself and Beth D holding a placard at the beginning of the piece saying "Actor". Obviously this is a Brechtian technique, but will also highlight the play within a play element of the piece, if we include Sally perhaps removing and/or giving us the placard when she is in control and telling use what to do. Additionally we could keep these placards throughout the piece for transitions into and out of character. 
4. Originally when Beth L was involved in the project she wanted a middle aged couple scene, which I thought was a little broad, and worried would be a little to literal and naturalistic, when we need to keep this piece heightened throughout. So I came up with an idea to include a chavvy lads scene, that could include some sort of rap, that would be quite disgusting in content and would leave the audience squirming. I believe that this would be a good scene to include as it adds another contrast to the piece, as well as a another set of humorous characters. 

Room bookings for next week