Preparation for Showcase

I have been working hard on learning lines and blocking for both of my classical pieces.

For my monologue I have decided to ignore the use of props in a stereotypical way. For example, instead of taking my shoes off and talking to them normally, I leave them on and focus on them whilst they are on my feet. This makes it more unique and more comedic to watch. I have read and reread my lines continuously, the repetition is the best way for me to learn the lines and I have found it easier to do so whilst moving and thinking about staging etc.
I have also did some work on characterisation. Launce is a common man and isn't the brightest of men and therefore I show how easily he is confused and how forgetful he can be at times.

For my scene piece I have been walking through the scene and reading my lines. Hopefully the method will work as effectively for this piece as it did with my monologue. The main problem I have is that I don't have a lot of time to rehearse the scene with the first years and it is difficult because it is an ensemble piece. Today we worked on the blocking of the scene and I made some changes to the blocking already in place. Now, the scene begins as the fairies enter and run into the audience and cause mischief for the spectators. Then Titania and I enter and take a seat. As my character, Bottom, who is pompous and pretentious, calls on the fairies they appear in the audience and run down to the stage and dance around Titania and Bottom. Throughout this, the heads' of Puck and Oberon can be clearly seen behind them, there bodies hid behind curtains. We thought this would add more humour and make the scene more entertaining. The fairies all leave, leaving me still on stage as Bottom who is asleep. The end is when Bottom wakes as if from a dream and exits the stage. It still needs a lot of work before it is ready and I still need to learn my learns so that I can focus on the blocking without a script in hand.

Bottom with the Fairies

I think my monologue is ready for viewing but I could perhaps tweak it and add more comedic movements and vocal techniques. The scene piece still needs a lot of work before I would happily perform it to an audience.