Third week,
and I’m still asking myself HOW TO WRITE A BLOG.
When Roberto explains that we need to go further, analyze, reflect and connect it seems so easy… but the moment I start thinking what I’m I going to write.. grrr… my brain just “abandons” me.
When Roberto explains that we need to go further, analyze, reflect and connect it seems so easy… but the moment I start thinking what I’m I going to write.. grrr… my brain just “abandons” me.
So, what
can “La cocina”, The Black Light Theatre of Prague and the school play have in common? A game,
and in two of them, puppets.
On Monday 19th we went to see “La Cocina”. The play is about a group of workers from a restaurant, (cooks, waitresses, chef, etc) and the different actions that take place in the kitchen, which included love stories, flirting, disagreements and lessons.
Although we saw that the play tried to make the audience reflect about racism, it didn’t work as we think they expected, and this teaches us that if you have aims or want to teach something to the audience, you must make sure you are clear and will achieve it.
One of the
things I’ve learned this week is that if you want to create a play that
outstands, connects with the audience, and catches their attention you must
think of a GAME.
What was
the game in “La Cocina”?
I think that one of the (possible) games in “La Cocina” was changing the positions of the scenery during the play, and this worked as it made the scenes more dynamic and by changing how the stage looked the audience was interested.
Connecting this game with the school play from last year (Miyuki y los tres demoios), we could say that changing the scenery made the play more dynamic, and as this worked, it was a good decision to use it for this year’s school play.
I think that one of the (possible) games in “La Cocina” was changing the positions of the scenery during the play, and this worked as it made the scenes more dynamic and by changing how the stage looked the audience was interested.
Connecting this game with the school play from last year (Miyuki y los tres demoios), we could say that changing the scenery made the play more dynamic, and as this worked, it was a good decision to use it for this year’s school play.
If
the game for this year’s school play is that each scene is seen with the point
of view of different characters and the characters on stage talk to the audience
as if they were that character, is changing the positions of the scenery really
a game? Or would it be other thing, such as a technique?
It isn’t easy at all to recognize a game, convention or technique from a play… and as I’ve been researching about The Black Light theatre of Prague, I ask myself, is the illusion created using the lights and puppets only an effect, or a game, or maybe a convention from that type of theatre?
It isn’t easy at all to recognize a game, convention or technique from a play… and as I’ve been researching about The Black Light theatre of Prague, I ask myself, is the illusion created using the lights and puppets only an effect, or a game, or maybe a convention from that type of theatre?
A connection between the school play and the Black Light Theatre are puppets, which have been a main topic this week.
I know the play's concept is not really connected with the concept from most of the plays from this type of theatre, but I think that we could use my research for some ideas, and some ideas that we already have connect with some that I've seen.
For example, in the play "Aspects of Alice" there are two creatures that look like ghosts (see picture on the right side) which are similar to the puppet from "Vedova in Lumine" (the teacher) but MUCH taller.
We could create this effect of immensity and power by using stilts, or very tall people next to short people, and creating this kinds of puppets may not be as hard as creating puppets which have to be filled with "panties" or other materials.
For example, in the play "Aspects of Alice" there are two creatures that look like ghosts (see picture on the right side) which are similar to the puppet from "Vedova in Lumine" (the teacher) but MUCH taller.
We could create this effect of immensity and power by using stilts, or very tall people next to short people, and creating this kinds of puppets may not be as hard as creating puppets which have to be filled with "panties" or other materials.
Playing with levels and heights is another connection that I've found between this play (Aspects of Alice) and the school play, and as we have the examples, we can see that this creates different effects for the audience, such as the illusion of power and dynamism in the play and scenes.
So, why are puppets used in different kinds of theatre? are they used to catch (more) the audience's attention? or maybe to give the play a little "unrealism"?, are they used for actions that humans may not be able to do? (for example as Roberto said, cutting their heads off)...maybe it is a tradition that has been developed over the years and we as an audience are used to it.
I don't certainly know yet the answer to this question, but in my opinion, and as I said before, puppets can make a play more dynamic, more entertaining, different from real life (and people usually go to theatre to see DIFFERENT things from what they normally see), in some cases funnier, and making & using them will be a great challenge for the school play this year, but I think they will have all the effects I just mentioned.
(I know it’s too soon to talk about this, but I've asked myself, which could be the game for our ‘One act play’?)
I don't certainly know yet the answer to this question, but in my opinion, and as I said before, puppets can make a play more dynamic, more entertaining, different from real life (and people usually go to theatre to see DIFFERENT things from what they normally see), in some cases funnier, and making & using them will be a great challenge for the school play this year, but I think they will have all the effects I just mentioned.
(I know it’s too soon to talk about this, but I've asked myself, which could be the game for our ‘One act play’?)
-How can we differ a game from a convention? (for example, last week in Hero)
-Are the illusions and visual effects of Black Light Theatre a convention, game or technique?
-What is the main reason of the use of puppets in different types of theatre?Would every 'kind' of audience enjoy watching plays with puppets?
-Are the illusions and visual effects of Black Light Theatre a convention, game or technique?
-What is the main reason of the use of puppets in different types of theatre?Would every 'kind' of audience enjoy watching plays with puppets?
Good final questions (except the one about the one-act play: never do that again, focus on one play at a time).
ResponderEliminarBlack Light Theatre uses the convention of the lights and black costumes to create an effect. In order to achieve the convention, they have to develop a technique.
Use the questions you have about convention/technique/effect/style/game to see how they apply to Hero, our School Play, La Cocina and Vedova. That's the idea. But really take your time on that, go further, compare.
Your reflections on puppets are quiet good and now after the workshop you should be able to take them further in your next blog and even try to propose ideas for this year's School Play.
Getting better and better.
Roberto