Vocal Masque Devising Hub
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Ideas used in class:
Your voice, your truth
Gender swap
The metaphoric, the literal, and mixing the two
The very nature of theatre is metaphoric. Just by adding coloured gels to lights and music to underscore a moment in a play, we take away the idea of “real”. Many of these are elements that are added to help the audience believe. Ironic, but true.
In John Cariani’s play Almost, Maine he uses literal metaphors to generate laughter. One character has had her heart broken and is literally carrying it around in a paper bag, when she happens to run into a repairman. In another scene, a married couple who are at a crossroads in their relationship are busy looking for a missing shoe while discussing the fact that they do not know if they should divorce. One character states, “What are we waiting for?” At that point, the missing shoe falls from the sky (highlighting the metaphor “waiting for the other shoe to drop”).
Belief systems
As the student writes from their point of view, it is also important to tap into the morals and ethics of other characters.
Stimulus starter
- Vocal Masque - Switching Gender Videos
- My Quarter Worksheet
- Vocal Masque You Tube Video One
- Vocal Masque You Tube Video Two
- Creating a One Person Show You Tube
Ideas used in class:
Your voice, your truth
- Write about your “most embarrassing moment”; read your story to the class.
Gender swap
- Write about your feelings on a certain issue, but pretend you are the opposite sex. Getting in touch with our masculine and feminine sides sometimes helps in finding the right tone for the piece. This exercise also helps to develop performance skills when the performer is portraying a member of the opposite sex as a character.
The metaphoric, the literal, and mixing the two
The very nature of theatre is metaphoric. Just by adding coloured gels to lights and music to underscore a moment in a play, we take away the idea of “real”. Many of these are elements that are added to help the audience believe. Ironic, but true.
In John Cariani’s play Almost, Maine he uses literal metaphors to generate laughter. One character has had her heart broken and is literally carrying it around in a paper bag, when she happens to run into a repairman. In another scene, a married couple who are at a crossroads in their relationship are busy looking for a missing shoe while discussing the fact that they do not know if they should divorce. One character states, “What are we waiting for?” At that point, the missing shoe falls from the sky (highlighting the metaphor “waiting for the other shoe to drop”).
- Read plays that use metaphoric elements, such as Equus by Peter Shaffer.
- Write a personal story about a favourite family occasion or a sad family incident. Try to keep the story literal. Explain exactly what happened from your point of view.
- Rewrite the story using metaphors to describe the occasion or incident.
- On the third rewrite, mix the literal and metaphoric.
Belief systems
As the student writes from their point of view, it is also important to tap into the morals and ethics of other characters.
- Create or choose a character or person with completely different opinions about an issue that is important to you. Write from their perspective while commenting on it. Give that person credibility, but also communicate your own thoughts and opinions.
Stimulus starter
- Bring in a stimulus (an image, a character from a recently read play, a current event, or a personal turning point in your life). Write and perform a 90-second to two-minute monologue. The rest of the class can give feedback and thoughts about how the monologue could be developed.
- Take this idea(s) and develop a five-minute piece. Add music, lights and costume.
- In your journal record your research and your ideas and reflect on the process of writing.