Action
Plan
Script Work
Firstly
I will make sure to re-read the play, it's important to fully
understand the story that you're trying to tell to the audience. The
plot is very complicated in this play, there are a few cases of
mistaken identity and many deceptions which add layers of complexity
to the plot. I will pay particular attention to Blunt's sub-plot as
this is the story I shall be telling the most. Any words in the play
I am fully unfamiliar with I shall research and write their meaning
in the script. This is fundamentally important because it's
impossible to convey meaning if you don’t know what you're saying.
Becoming familiar with how my character is written, how he speaks and
how he acts will be important here. I shall particularly study how to
use his “Sheartlikins” as the word is very unique and intrinsic
to his character. Also learning the other characters and examining
their relationship with Blunt, for example, how close he is to the
banished cavaliers.
Research
It
will be necessary for this play to work on understanding much more
about the culture around when the play was written and set: the
mid-late 17th
century. A focus on clothing and the forms of extravagance of the
time will be very useful to playing Blunt, the fop. Also, as the play
is based around the “Banished Cavaliers” it will be very helpful
to learn about the English civil war. Research on language of the
time also falls into this category, Blunt's extravagant idiolect
providing no shortage of words and phrases to study. A look at how
the wealthy people of the time would live would be helpful, along
with how English people were seen abroad in those days as this is
something touched on in the play.
Character
Study
Key
to the success of my performance is the development of my character.
I shall explore the personality of Blunt, there is an obvious
extravagance to him and he is the fop of the play, the comic
fool-like character, however he has moments of clarity and
intelligence that I shall have to discover as I read through and
learn my scenes. I shall have to explore an appropriate background
for Blunt, I shall piece together this from what he says of his past
and extrapolate further based on his views, attitudes and
personality. Just as I shall explore how other characters act around
Blunt, I shall have to look at how Blunt acts around others,
particularly the discrepancies between him around his friends and
around Lucetta.
Rehearsals
The
key rule to rehearsals is to be considerate that it is not only your
time but twenty-odd other people's time as well. Being professional,
keeping working even when you otherwise wouldn't, being respectful of
those who are on stage working, these are all parts of being good in
rehearsals. It falls into common sense and courtesy to the others in
the group. Besides the courtesies it is also important to work with
everyone well, keep communicating ideas to those in your scene,
provide help where needed and respond to feedback given by others.
Lines
Keeping
on top of lines is important, being able to rehearse without a script
in hand is a freeing way to rehearse. You are no longer bound as
being an actor and can fully explore the character. Of course Blunt
doesn't walk about with a script in hand so nor should I. I hope to
attempt to learn scenes as we go and keep brushing up on them as we
continue forward.
