8.5. Staging, Scene 4, Prologue & Songs

   We were in Pelham today, and since trying out our stage last time, we had decided that it didn't work. I was sad to hear this, since it was my idea, but at the same time I agreed that it was too ambitious for us, but also limiting, when we could have something more innovative. There were three main ideas we were working with:

• Max's idea that looked close to a T-thrust extending from the stage. He also suggested having signs showing the different sides belonging to Cauliflower Trust or Ui's gang
• The signs could limit using the space in some scenes
• Sav's idea inspired by gladiator ring, having a floor height staging in the middle and two platforms of the sides
• Problem with this one was that we would lose a lot of floor space, since it would be hard to stage scenes. Pretty much nothing in the middle would be seen
• Sophie's idea of having to 'islands' on the side of the long catwalk formed thrust representing the Cauliflower Trust and Artuto Ui's gang. 
• I felt like the catwalk would also limit our usage of the space, since it would be hard to fit more than one person on it.

We discussed these different ideas and then tried out a hybrid of it that looked like the image above. This idea had the island(dark grey) and a bit of a catwalk as well. The island are on a lower level to the rest of the thrust. We even talked about having the island separate, but with our idea to create more of a cabaret-feeling with tables, having the island separate would take too much space. Also, trying out the catwalk we noticed it is too narrow, and so it isn't really using the space that well.Also, the island missing pieces on the sides didn't look right, kind of like we were trying to make the stage look impressive, but without a clear reason. So, we took these factors and edited the stage to the picture below. This way, we still have a bit of a catwalk/podium that can work as an excellent focus point, but also have more space. We also edited the point so that we have steps on all of the sides. We also filled the wholes on the islands. 

   We have classes at Pelham every Friday and I feel that next time we really need to just get the stage rigged and start rehearsing right away, since if we devise scenes during the week we HAVE to try them out on the stage to see if it even works. To make most of this time we need to get everyone to come in on time and help out, since today it took us longer because everyone were not pulling their weight. 

   Since last week we missed extra rehearsals, because too many people weren't able to make it this timeg, we all agreed to read trough the scene and come in with ideas for the scene, Really, we should do this before every scene, so that we can get trough discussions quicker, but doubt many do this, unless they have lines in the scene. Here are some of the ideas I came up with for the scene:

• We could have a picture of the mansion on the screen to show to the audience where we are in this scene
• When Ui comes in it could start with him and Dogsborough having their own sides, but then Ui invading Dogsboroughs side to show his power
• Since this scene has a lot of exit's and entrances, it would interesting to play with them and have the characters come somewhere else than just behind the stage, for example, the audience?
• When Ui has his longer monologue about what he wants from Dogsborough, he could really play out to the audience, even winking or doing gests that suggest that his intentions are not necessarily sincere.
• When Ui & Roma exit we could have Goodwill and Gaffles walk past them, both group clocking each other

Since Harry wasn't in, we had Max step in for Dogsborough. We will have to do this scene again with Harry once he's back in. This scene has the potential to be really good, showing the different sides of Ui, how he can be intimidating, but how still at this stage he hasn't reached his real potential and acts like a child when he isn't getting what he wants. I really like how when Ui and Roma come in, they have a chance to connect with the audience to show their true intentions and Gests. 

   At the end of the scene we have a sign shown that says "Hitler is appointed chancellor, promising to prevent the composure of Osthilfe scandal". In the 1930's, after WW1, many countries in Europe were in deep depression. Many of the Prussian estates were going bankrupt. The Eastern Aid, also known as the Osthilfe was Germany giving a part of the Government funds to the bankrupt estates in Prussia. They did this to maintain the support of the Prussian Junkers. But it became a scandal since many of the Junkers had wasted the money on luxury items, such as cars and vacations, rather than maintain the estates functional. As they looked into the scandal more, it was reviled that the President of the Republic, Hindenburg had a connection to the scandal having estates to himself that were in deep debt. This weakened Hindenburg's position and then appointed Hitler as chancellor under the pressure of the industrialist. I feel like in the scene we really need to be able to show the state of mind Dogsborough is in, he knows he has done something bad and he could get into deep trouble for it. 

•    Did I achieve my last goal? What could I or the group improve on?
• My last goal was to use the extra rehearsals to work on the newspaper people in scene 3, but since we cancelled the rehearsal I we weren't able to work on them. We need to make the effort to make time for extra rehearsals. We have set dates, Tuesdays and Thursday when we have extra rehearsals, but I hope others would arrange more rehearsals when they do have time, since there has been too many times when I've heard that either people don't have time or have something else during it. If people cannot come to set rehearsal times, they need to arrange rehearsals for the scenes they are in. I think I should probably try to make more time to even more extra rehearsals and try to encourage others to join and work around their schedules. 
• What did I learn during this lesson? How can I use it?
• It really was good today because we came into the rehearsal, everyone already having ideas about the scene. It really made us work faster and work better. It is really important to do research and study of the scenes at home, so that we can use all the rehearsals to create the scenes as good as we possibly can!
• What is my goal for the next lesson? What do I need to do to achieve this? What information do I need?
• I want to do my research on the next scene and brainstorm with myself as I did for this scene so that I can be the most use for my group.