1] ANALYSIS: Dramatistic (includes Modal)
What does the story tell you?Seven important questions (1 and 2 are Modal)
1-Who is speaking? (Speaker Mode: nature of speaker)
(Speaker mode deos not change)
Epic: 3rd person generalized narrator
Lyric: persona very much like the author
Dramatic: defined character (1st person narrator)2-To Whom are they Speaking? (Audience mode; who is
addressed at any one moment; can, does, should change)
Epic: the audience is addressed that moment
Lyric: moments the speaker talks to self
Dramatic: character in story realm is addressed3-Where is the speaker speaking?
setting: where narrator is; where characters are4-When is the speaker speaking?
Epic: actual present
Lyric: timeless present; flash of insight
Dramatic: virtual pastNote on Where and When; manipulation of time/space
Shells of reality
You are in front of classmates, but:
|--you are a narrator talking to particular audience, and:
|--narrator becomes chars and shows past actions, and:
|--narr can show internal thoughts and emotions5-How is the speaker speaking?
styles of language, grammar, vocabulary; imagery, repetition6-What is the speaker speaking about?
themes, ideas, events (the plot)7-Why is the speaker speaking?
purpose, motivation for narrator to tell stories
why characters say what they say to each other2] PERFORMANCE ANALOGS
VOCAL ANALOGS
how do the characters speak?
what is happening in the story?
fast rate: increased tension, fear, character type, glee, climax, etc.
slow rate: calmness, tension, character type, ominous tone
quality, beginnings and endings, etc.
high pitch: char. type, fear, excitement, climax
l ow pitch: mood, character type, beginnings and endings
PHYSICAL ANALOGS
The characters
look for character descriptions
look for adjectives describing action, appearance, voice
what do the characters look like?
stance: how do they stand?
posture: how do they hold themselves
walk: how do they move?
gesture: anything they do habitually?
focus: where do they look?
staging the plot (what is happening in the story)
where to begin: positioning, levels, focus
when to move: transitions in time and space
- transitions in mood
- definition of speaker
- transition of speaker
where to look: creating the story realm
- focus points on story places
- "seeing" is creating
where to look: creating the speakers
- 90 degrees: body or head for speakers in dialogue
- 45 degrees: narrator, storyteller
- open focus: to show "storytelling" (narrator), create rapport with audience
- closed focus: to show characters in the story realm
dynamic movement: creating the action
- action in text suggested through gesture and movement on stage
- rate and degree of movement should be relative to plot
gesture: different from mime; suggestion; augments spoken language
mime: is a physical language; supplants spoken language
What can you fill in?
decisions: interpretation
- make dynamic choices
- dynamic choices are more engaging
- a more engaging performance is more persuasive3] THE REHEARSAL
Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk: get up; use space, body and voice
try your vocal/physical analogs
map out action in space
"see" the story realm with focus
work transitions for maximum effect
- dynamic changes are more engaging
- engaging performance is more persuasiveShaping: beginning, middle end
Beginning and endings powerful
--plan for them
what is happening when?
who is speaking to whom?
when does the story change?
consider "emotional graph" of entire work
be sure overall shape is dynamic4] THE PERFORMANCE
Before the beginning
appropriateness of the literature
- does it fit the assignment?
Written justifications:
- does it fit the assignment?
Your turn to read:
- are you prepared?
- show enthusiasm in coming to front of room
- set the stage to your needs
- collect your witsTHE BEGINNING
the introduction
- make the audience want to hear the story
- set an expectancy
- be at ease, book closed, normal voice
- give the Title/Author
- step back, head down, count to three
- (breath; relax shoulders, knees on exhale)
the initiation
- step forward, open book,
- have opening energy and focus
with which to begin
- hook us with the start, be bold
- start in a purposeful stage location
- hold the book in an appropriate mannerTHE MIDDLE
sustain the energy of the piece
vary the intensity as the energy changes
make character changes clean
- use focus points in the room
use creative staging to communicate meaning
- use the space
- use levels
remember to use physicality
- gesture to create character
or to emphasize
- use focus to define the "story realm"
sustain through mistakes: don't apologizeTHE ENDING
know the ending well
bring the story to a clean ending
hold the ending energy
- give audience time to
finish their aesthetic response
release the energy
close book, head down, step back
don't look vulnerable or ask for approval
be confident as you await our comments