Dramatic Commentary AND Ground Plans

Ground Plan Audience with arrow Entrance and exit Stage Key Opening positions of characters Viability (roughly to scale and no obstructions to sight lines

Naturalistic set of ‘The Birthday Party’ –Boxed set audience Key P – Petey table - flat - window - entrance/exit - chair

Minimalist set ‘The Birthday Party’ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ P ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Audience KEY - fireplace ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - curtain P – Petey - table - chair - entrance/exit

1st Column Notes for Actors Do You Have: Stage Position (USL, CS…..) Voice terms(pitch, pace, tone, volume, intonation, clarity, register, accent, articulation, fluency) Movement terms(gestures, facial expression, body language, use of levels, use of space, posture) Feelings/Emotions towards others

2nd Column Justification Why are they in that stage position? Why is their voice like that? Why are they moving like that? Why do they feel these emotions/feelings? Show an understanding of the whole play – of that character’s motivation – the reason behind their actions. Keep asking WHY???

3rd Column Technical Effects - LIGHTS AN EXAMPLE: 4 fresnel lanterns hanging at a 45 angle to give a wash of light at level 5. The key light is the sunlight coming in the window and a lamp. One profile lantern with a gobo of a window projected on the back wall. An amber gel on the lantern to represent sunlight. At level 4 increasing to level 7 to show morning progressing and sun coming up.

Sound Fxs AN EXAMPLE Sounds of seagulls to show that it is a seaside town. Piece of classical music building up to a crescendo to increase tension and create a sombre, tense mood and atmosphere.

Notes for actors Justification Technical FXs Stage Position WHY? SOUND FXS Voice MUSIC Movement LIGHTING Emotions/ Feelings about others