Act 1 Scene 2 Blocking

Goals Learn about blocking a scene (Notes! Important to be able to do activity!) Students will read aloud in small groups Block this scene with your group Present your work to the class (Will probably be tomorrow)

Review What has happened so far? Which plot lines did we see interact? Helpful hint: create a graphic organizer to chart the plots development

Blocking a Scene What it is, how to do it.

What is Blocking? Blocking is the term for any action on stage while singing or acting It is the movement and portray of the characters that will tell the story.

How to Block a Scene- Step 1 Look at the directions that the scene gives you at the beginning of the scene, and throughout. Most scripts will give you some kind of indication as to where you are, what characters are involved and from what side the characters are entering.

How to Block a Scene- Step 2 Write everything down in your script. Where actors are to enter What actions they are doing What props they should be carrying

How to Block a Scene- Step 3 Try the see the scene in your head Visualize the characters, props, and backdrops and then the character action You want all the characters to be busy, but not upstaging (distracting the audiences attention from the main action) Read the entire scene to see where the climax is and build to that point.

How to Block a Scene- Step 4 Don’t fee like you always have to have movement on stage Sometimes it is just nice for the actors to just tell the story and for the audience to just listen to the story.

Blocking: Movement Plan your entrances Pay attention to what kind of posture and body language Think about the scene before Plan each movement and move with purpose and reason If you have Egeus stomp onto the stage like a little boy, consider what you are saying about Egeus’s character.

Movement terms Cross: movement from one stage position to another Curved patterns work best Standing is more forceful; seated characters have to give more energy Counter-cross: movement in the opposite direction by another character Best not to move on important lines

Acting Positions Shared Position: both actors receive equal emphasis Give & Take: one actor gives emphasis while the other actor takes it Upstaging: improperly taking attention from an actor who should be the focus of interest Cheating-out: pivoting the torso towards the audience

Stage Pictures Showing emphasis and focus One way is to put the important character at the highest point of a triangle Triangle can be actors or set pieces Levels are another way Can be done by positioning, platforms, steps, etc. Down right is stronger in Western theatre We are conditioned to move our eyes left to right

Stage Business/ Use of Props Props: property that an actor uses on stage (Stage) business: Eating, drinking a glass of water, writing a letter, reading a book, etc. Rehearse it so it looks natural Must be meaningful and purposeful

Costumes Many different productions choose to represent the play in different designs This includes jewelry and accessories Do you want your characters to match the time period? Or do you want to set it in a different time period? World? Universe? If so, be sure to justify why you took the play out of its original design. Costume designer selects or designs clothing that fits the character Color, shape, style **NO costumes for your presentation- you’re not acting, you will be showing your work

Ground-plan Top-view drawing of the set A bird’s eye view of what the stage looks like

Assignment Plan Create a prop list Create a costume idea Develop a ground plan Plan out your blocking and record it using blocking notation

Example:

2ent S 7 ent tgr H h h Her R 1ent L T D S 6 ent h R 8 ent Bz- letter E H Separates 3ent P T D Pacing/ 4ex L T, E,D ex, H ex S Hel Throw punches Her, L ex Her L L Brings chair Hel

Things to consider Staggering Stage enters- Even though all characters come on stage at once according to the directions…. Is everyone running in? Do a few come in together laughing, and the others follow? Does one character come in, sit a while, and other come in? You make that decision! While other characters are talking, be sure to give directions to the characters not talking! Are they listening, or off in their own world?

Steps today: Read Act 1 Scene 2 Discuss what happened in the scene Reviewing Blocking handout Begin planning on how you would act it out Complete Blocking exercise** Part of your portfolio “Perform” your piece (show us your interpretation)