Playhouse Creatures 9

Are the characters clear?

In both of my scenes I feel like almost all of the characters are clear. Sophia and I have worked very closely, very hard on Mrs Farley and Mrs Marshall, this means that we both have very strong characterisation and sense of our belief in our characters. This means that the alliance of sorts between the two characters is also strong. Greta and Sophia both have very strong, however very different Mrs Bettertons. However, They have both captured the sense of authority that is required and it is very clear how much they command respect. Both of the Nells have done spectacularly on the job of capturing her free spirit whilst keeping her grounded and sure. I think that the Dolls still need a little work, whilst Jade and Mitch have her personality down I still think they could improve her physicality and create more of a wizened, old woman on stage. Chloe has it almost I think, but we should definitely take some time in rehearsals to help them nail the characterisation of Doll, since she may be the hardest character of all to get the physicality for. 

Are the objectives clear?

For Mrs Farley I think that her objectives change a lot throughout both of the scenes. In the first - from now on I will label my scenes chronologically for simplicity's sake, so my second scene is now my first and visa versa - her objectives are to get security. She doesn't quite understand how men treat women, she hopes she will have the beauty and charm to keep him. Before in her life men have always wanted her more than any other women and she hopes the king will be the same. All she wants is enough clothes and finery to pass for a fine lady, she doesn't need the king for long, just long enough to get another rich man afterwards, she is hoping. Then as she discovers she is pregnant and the king loses interest, she panics. She hopes she will miscarry and will be able to get away with it without the other company members noticing for as long as she can. Finally they confront her about it. She panics, she realises she is finished, however she is grasping at straws. Despite every primal instinct in her body screaming at her to protect her child, she attempts an abortion. In my opinion she could have actually succeeded, but she could not bear to lose the one thing that would never leave her. All she has is this child. This baby is the one thing she has not lost or ruined, she cannot lose it. Perhaps this is the first time since losing her father she has felt truly connected to something, part of something.

Is the story in the scene[s] clear?

I think that the story is incredibly clear throughout my scenes, partially because I've got some of the strongest scenes, with the definite exception of Bella and Max's final scene. Mrs Farley's personal story is so much fun to play, her fall from grace. I'm loving using my physicality to show that, starting off so proud and tall, dancing everywhere. By Mrs Farley's final moments, she is reduced to nothing. Broken and destroyed, I love showing how truly crippling being a poor woman was in that world. Our scene ties in incredibly closely with Jazz and Bella's scenes, since I am the cautionary tale. When they talk of their fear of being discarded, the audience will remember what happened to Mrs Farley and I love having that role in the whole performance.