Reflection on the First Draft of the Devised Theatre Project
The devising process was challenging. The beginning of the devising process was hard because all our members are more like a listener rather than an initiator. It was also difficult when we suddenly had too many thoughts. However, after we decided the direction of the short play (add "overprotected" as the implied meaning of "Fences"), we are then able to add ideas and mingle them together without dramatic conflicts.
Before talking about the role I played in devising process, it is important to understand how we devised our show. We first wrote down the elements that we thought might work for the word "Fences", and then pair some related elements that can evoke strong feelings or which we thought is interesting. Using the paired elements, we were able to decide the direction of the show. After that, we talked about the characters and a vague plot and recorded the essentials. After the characters were set and distributed, we wrote the characters' possible lines individually. Based on Jacob's writing, we built more characters by considering the relationship between each character. In class, we discussed the staging and blocking.
Throughout the devising process, I contributed in developing one of the big directions, which is using “Fences” as a symbolic feature that implies parents overprotection. Besides nailing down the plot, I also helped to develop the staging. For example, where our members stand to show the conflict between characters and how children from different families turned out different but remain commons.
I think our theme of the story is meaningful; the symbol “Fences” is well related to the topic of overprotection. However, the restricted time limits the development of the story. To drive the audience into the story faster, we have to use a narrator. To show the conflicts without mediation, we decided to use monologues instead of movements. All the sacrifices are made because we want our audience to understand the conflicts in the easiest way. Overall, the time limit makes the plot of the story too confined. If we can have a longer story, we can have Aaron to persuade Jacob in different situations, and change both Jacob and David’s mind over time. In the end, both of them feel hard to breathe being fenced in a small area. A good raising action, how Aaron persuades Jacob, can lead to the climax that Jacob chops off those fences and let David himself decide his life. The ending thus can be David’s monologue again, about how he can live his life. However, the ending of the story now is more like an ending for a prologue.
Besides the feedbacks we received from others, their performances also provided many inspirations for us. From the other two groups, I found the waves of emotions are essential for acting and delivering characters. From Cassidy, Grace, and Dannie’s team, we can sense the emotional changes in each character effortlessly, which is important to their story. If our group can act out more emotions and the changes of emotions, we will be able to deliver the conflicts between characters more clearly. Thus we might have more space to develop our plot and another field to improve our play.
Devising theatre is a fun form of theatre. I myself like the devising theatre more than the traditional theatre because the uncertainty and improvising are more compelling for actors. Although the products we made this time still has problems, we enjoyed the process and will be seeking a better one for our audience!
Before talking about the role I played in devising process, it is important to understand how we devised our show. We first wrote down the elements that we thought might work for the word "Fences", and then pair some related elements that can evoke strong feelings or which we thought is interesting. Using the paired elements, we were able to decide the direction of the show. After that, we talked about the characters and a vague plot and recorded the essentials. After the characters were set and distributed, we wrote the characters' possible lines individually. Based on Jacob's writing, we built more characters by considering the relationship between each character. In class, we discussed the staging and blocking.
Throughout the devising process, I contributed in developing one of the big directions, which is using “Fences” as a symbolic feature that implies parents overprotection. Besides nailing down the plot, I also helped to develop the staging. For example, where our members stand to show the conflict between characters and how children from different families turned out different but remain commons.
I think our theme of the story is meaningful; the symbol “Fences” is well related to the topic of overprotection. However, the restricted time limits the development of the story. To drive the audience into the story faster, we have to use a narrator. To show the conflicts without mediation, we decided to use monologues instead of movements. All the sacrifices are made because we want our audience to understand the conflicts in the easiest way. Overall, the time limit makes the plot of the story too confined. If we can have a longer story, we can have Aaron to persuade Jacob in different situations, and change both Jacob and David’s mind over time. In the end, both of them feel hard to breathe being fenced in a small area. A good raising action, how Aaron persuades Jacob, can lead to the climax that Jacob chops off those fences and let David himself decide his life. The ending thus can be David’s monologue again, about how he can live his life. However, the ending of the story now is more like an ending for a prologue.
Besides the feedbacks we received from others, their performances also provided many inspirations for us. From the other two groups, I found the waves of emotions are essential for acting and delivering characters. From Cassidy, Grace, and Dannie’s team, we can sense the emotional changes in each character effortlessly, which is important to their story. If our group can act out more emotions and the changes of emotions, we will be able to deliver the conflicts between characters more clearly. Thus we might have more space to develop our plot and another field to improve our play.
Devising theatre is a fun form of theatre. I myself like the devising theatre more than the traditional theatre because the uncertainty and improvising are more compelling for actors. Although the products we made this time still has problems, we enjoyed the process and will be seeking a better one for our audience!
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