1. “ Over the Top” Drama 1.3 90008 version 2 Demonstrate knowledge of a theatre genre or style through a practical presentation Credits: 3

2. Teacher Guidelines The following guidelines are supplied to enable teachers to carry out valid and consistent assessment using this internal assessment resource. The following guidelines are supplied to enable teachers to carry out valid and consistent assessment using this internal assessment resource. This is the study of a drama/theatre form. The form chosen is melodrama. The teacher should give the students information about melodrama and reference to a specific text. Students then complete some study of the style in preparation for their performance. This is the study of a drama/theatre form. The form chosen is melodrama. The teacher should give the students information about melodrama and reference to a specific text. Students then complete some study of the style in preparation for their performance. In groups, students will create and present to the class a melodrama ( 5-10 minutes) that accurately reflects key features of the melodrama form. In groups, students will create and present to the class a melodrama ( 5-10 minutes) that accurately reflects key features of the melodrama form. The students will be expected to complete some of their work out of class. The students will be expected to complete some of their work out of class. Each student must complete a portfolio record as further evidence of their understanding. Each student must complete a portfolio record as further evidence of their understanding. It is suggested that five to six weeks should be allowed for this activity. It is suggested that five to six weeks should be allowed for this activity. Resource requirements Resource requirements Students will need access to a wide range of materials and support equipment to enable them to create and present melodrama. Students will need access to a wide range of materials and support equipment to enable them to create and present melodrama. They will also need suitable preparation time/resources including performance space. They will also need suitable preparation time/resources including performance space.

3. Task 1Research You will work in groups of three. You will be given a specific feature and will become The Experts on this feature. We will spend couple of lessons on some of these key aspects. You will then present a short advertisement for Melodrama highlighting its features and uses! Stock Characters Stock Characters Playwrights Playwrights Exaggerated storylines Exaggerated storylines Exaggerated acting style Exaggerated acting style Audience Participation Audience Participation Themes Themes Genres Genres Use of music Use of music Famous actors Famous actors Check the site carefully to see that it is relevant and has plenty of pictures. Check the site carefully to see that it is relevant and has plenty of pictures. You will be expected to use out of class time as well as class time. You will be expected to use out of class time as well as class time.

4. Task 2 Explore the genre Look at a variety of melodrama pieces including modern versions such as soap opera and movies with heightened emotions etc. Look at a variety of melodrama pieces including modern versions such as soap opera and movies with heightened emotions etc. Co-construct a list of features with you teacher, from the reading, on the data projector. Your teacher will provide you with a copy of the finished document. Co-construct a list of features with you teacher, from the reading, on the data projector. Your teacher will provide you with a copy of the finished document. Create a Y-Chart on Melodrama for your notes. Create a Y-Chart on Melodrama for your notes.

5. Promoting Melodrama Option 1 1. You are a group of top PR executives and need to sell the idea of a Melodrama for a director to a movie studio. Option 2 2. You are an advertising company and want to create an ad in the style of melodrama for a new skincare product. For both of these options you can either pitch to the audience as if they are the studio executives or skincare company or create a short advertisement or promotional video. You need to make sure you identify the features of melodrama, how it can be used and why it would be the right choice. You can be as creative as you like when choosing the name of the product, movie and how to promote it. This will provided evidence for some of your assessment.

6. Task 3 As a warm up, in groups of 5 create a Dumb Show of the story of the red barn that takes 4 minutes to perform. This will help you analyse the plot. You will need to be “Over the Top”. As a warm up, in groups of 5 create a Dumb Show of the story of the red barn that takes 4 minutes to perform. This will help you analyse the plot. You will need to be “Over the Top”.

7. Task 4 Devising In groups, you will devise a brief Melodrama based on an pretext given to you by your teacher. Your aim should be to show that you understand features of the form and can put them into practice. The finished length in presentation should be 10 minutes. In groups, you will devise a brief Melodrama based on an pretext given to you by your teacher. Your aim should be to show that you understand features of the form and can put them into practice. The finished length in presentation should be 10 minutes. (Lessons 12 – 16) (Lessons 12 – 16) The melodrama could be set in any historical context as long as key features of melodrama are evident. The melodrama could be set in any historical context as long as key features of melodrama are evident. Key features could include the following: Key features could include the following: –stock characters –exaggerated story lines –the theme of good triumphing over evil –romantic love -often the cause of strife –sentiment - much evident emotion such as grief, horror, despair, greed, envy –audience participation encouraged by cue cards and speaking directly to the audience. –exaggerated acting style e.g. gasps, swooning, striking poses Write a Working Plan which includes the storyline, list of characters and scene/s. Be aware of the production challenges that can arise if you use a large number of scenes. Write a Working Plan which includes the storyline, list of characters and scene/s. Be aware of the production challenges that can arise if you use a large number of scenes. Discuss what key features of melodrama you will include in your play. Discuss what key features of melodrama you will include in your play. Show your Working Plan to your teacher to make sure it is appropriate. Show your Working Plan to your teacher to make sure it is appropriate. Write a script, ensuring that each member of the group has an individual copy. File the original script in your portfolio as well as later developments so that your teacher can clearly see how your understanding of the form shaped your final choices. Write a script, ensuring that each member of the group has an individual copy. File the original script in your portfolio as well as later developments so that your teacher can clearly see how your understanding of the form shaped your final choices.

8. Task 5Rehearsal As you are rehearsing your play, refer to your Working Plan to ensure that the selected key features of melodrama are being used effectively. Share your work with others to give and receive audience feedback. As you are rehearsing your play, refer to your Working Plan to ensure that the selected key features of melodrama are being used effectively. Share your work with others to give and receive audience feedback.

9. Task 6Presentation Perform your melodrama to the class Perform your melodrama to the class Reflection Reflection Record in your portfolio answers to the following: Record in your portfolio answers to the following: –What was the audience reaction to your play? –Did your play appropriately reflect key features of melodrama? How did it achieve or not achieve that? –On reflection, would you have made any changes to your play? If so, what changes would you make, and why? –Your final understanding of melodrama will be assessed through the preparation and performance of your work. Your final reflection could summarise this for your teacher.

10. Scene Suggestions Title - Unhand Me Sir Jasper! Title - Unhand Me Sir Jasper! The Vicar’s Daughter The Vicar’s Daughter Davina’s Dilemma Davina’s Dilemma The Oriental Vase The Oriental Vase Scenario -A wicked uncle and his scheming family are trying to persuade an innocent heroine (an orphan) to sign over the deeds of her house to her cousin, the uncle’s degenerate son. After a series of adventures, the hero rescues the heroine at the eleventh hour and the wicked uncle and his family get their just desserts. Scenario -A wicked uncle and his scheming family are trying to persuade an innocent heroine (an orphan) to sign over the deeds of her house to her cousin, the uncle’s degenerate son. After a series of adventures, the hero rescues the heroine at the eleventh hour and the wicked uncle and his family get their just desserts. Theme -Adversity strengthens character Theme -Adversity strengthens character Honesty is rewarded Honesty is rewarded Perseverance wins the day Perseverance wins the day Life was never meant to be easy Life was never meant to be easy Character profiles an evil villain Character profiles an evil villain a handsome, noble hero a handsome, noble hero a beautiful, innocent heroine a beautiful, innocent heroine a bumbling idiot a bumbling idiot an unscrupulous adventuress an unscrupulous adventuress an ancient, dour servant an ancient, dour servant a romantic gypsy a romantic gypsy a cunning flatterer a cunning flatterer

11. Resources The extent to which props, costumes, music and set are used will depend on resources available and is left to the teacher’s discretion. The extent to which props, costumes, music and set are used will depend on resources available and is left to the teacher’s discretion. A list of possible melodrama texts is available in The Guide to Selecting Plays, Samuel French Ltd. They include the following. A list of possible melodrama texts is available in The Guide to Selecting Plays, Samuel French Ltd. They include the following. Cheers, Tears, and Screamers!! Cheers, Tears, and Screamers!! Three short melodramas for Old Time Music Hall. Brian J. Burton Three short melodramas for Old Time Music Hall. Brian J. Burton Save My Child! Or, Trapped by the Bottle Save My Child! Or, Trapped by the Bottle Fanny’s Prayer, or, All Was Not Lost Fanny’s Prayer, or, All Was Not Lost Mayhem at the Mill, or, Fortune’s Fate Mayhem at the Mill, or, Fortune’s Fate Foiled Again! Foiled Again! Three mini melodramas for Old Time Music Hall. Brian J. Burton Three mini melodramas for Old Time Music Hall. Brian J. Burton Double Dealing, or, A Little Horse Play Double Dealing, or, A Little Horse Play Sold to the Gypsies, or the Wicked Stepmother Sold to the Gypsies, or the Wicked Stepmother A Trouble Shared, or, Two to the Rescue A Trouble Shared, or, Two to the Rescue Three Melodramas Three Melodramas edited by Michael Kilgarriff edited by Michael Kilgarriff Maria Marten, Richard Dennis Maria Marten, Richard Dennis The Drunkard’s Dilemma, Andrew Sachs The Drunkard’s Dilemma, Andrew Sachs The Wages of Sin, Andrew Sachs The Wages of Sin, Andrew Sachs Three More Melodramas Three More Melodramas edited by Michael Kilgarriff edited by Michael Kilgarriff Set a Thief to Catch a Thief, Peter Ventham and Michael Kilgarriff Set a Thief to Catch a Thief, Peter Ventham and Michael Kilgarriff The Bells, Richard Dennis and Michael Kilgarriff The Bells, Richard Dennis and Michael Kilgarriff Black-Eye’d Susan, Michael Kilgarriff Black-Eye’d Susan, Michael Kilgarriff Three Hisses for Villainy!!! Three Hisses for Villainy!!! Three One-Act Melodramas. Brian J. Burton Three One-Act Melodramas. Brian J. Burton One Month to Pay or The Sailor’s Return One Month to Pay or The Sailor’s Return The Drunkard’s Wife or The Tables Turned The Drunkard’s Wife or The Tables Turned The Gypsy or The Flower of the Tribe The Gypsy or The Flower of the Tribe

12. Student Instructions Sheet. This activity will take place over a five week period and involve class and out of class time.. This activity will take place over a five week period and involve class and out of class time. Your teacher will introduce you to the theatre style melodrama and its popularity in the 19th century. Key features of melodrama will be discussed and identified in relation to a melodrama text. Then you will work in groups to devise, rehearse and present your own melodrama using key features of melodrama. Your teacher will introduce you to the theatre style melodrama and its popularity in the 19th century. Key features of melodrama will be discussed and identified in relation to a melodrama text. Then you will work in groups to devise, rehearse and present your own melodrama using key features of melodrama. You will need to keep your own record of your working plans, for assessment purposes. You will need to keep your own record of your working plans, for assessment purposes. Detailed task instructions Detailed task instructions Your teacher will explain the theatre style melodrama and its historical context. Your teacher will explain the theatre style melodrama and its historical context. You will then be introduced to a melodrama text provided by your teacher. You will then be introduced to a melodrama text provided by your teacher. You will be expected to carry out some independent study into aspects of the style. You should identify key features of melodrama and record them in your portfolio. You will be expected to carry out some independent study into aspects of the style. You should identify key features of melodrama and record them in your portfolio.

13. Achievement Criteria Achievement Achievement with Merit Achievement with Excellence Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a specific drama/theatre form through a practical presentation that identifies and includes appropriate features. Demonstrate knowledge and an informed understanding of a specific drama/theatre form through a practical presentation that identifies and includes a range of aptly chosen features. Demonstrate knowledge and a perceptive understanding of a specific drama/theatre form through a practical presentation that identifies and includes an extended range of aptly chosen features.

14. Assessment Criteria AchievementMeritExcellence The student has participated in a group performance and demonstrates appropriate use of key features of melodrama. E.g. the PowerPoint on features of Melodrama has been presented in class and performance of the villain shows effective ‘evil’ characteristics. The student has identified features of Melodrama for their character in their notes. The student has participated in a group performance and demonstrates appropriate and sustained use of key features of melodrama. E.g. the PowerPoint on features of Melodrama has been presented in class and the performance of the villain’s ‘evil’ characteristics is effective and sustained. The student has identified features of Melodrama for their character in their notes. The student has participated in a group performance and demonstrates appropriate, sustained and perceptive use of key features of melodrama. E.g. the PowerPoint on features of Melodrama has been presented in class and the performance of the villains ‘evil’ characteristics are effective, sustained and compelling. The student has identified features of Melodrama for their character in their notes.