Today we had to look back at DFTA, and we looked at the feedback from the women from the theatre. Rachel put us into groups so we can solve the problems that the women thought we had, then we would all come together and exchange notes.
These are the feedback notes:
(the writing in bold is the suggestions our group came up with and also other groups feedback)
- A bottle of alcohol (ideally plastic) rather than a bottle of water - a prop bottle has a big label saying 'wine or 'vodka' on it, so its more clown/circus like. - We suggested to take any labels off a empty bottle and write vodka in fancy writing and big and bold, so the audience can clearly see that its a bottle of alcohol.
- Once Zack and Missy were in their normal clothes they got a little lost amongest the crowd. Perhaps their costumes should stand out more from the school group. - They should wear colourful clothes and really bright, as you would expect to see lots of colours in a circus. We said they shouldn't wear black and white, and all of the school students should stick to black and white and obviously the purple ties. Another group suggested that Missy and Zach, played by Amy and Ben, should maybe get some hoodies with the words Sparks Circus(the name of the circus) written on the back in sparkly sequins.
- Make it a little clearer that they are outside in the first scene and that it is a private area so the young people should not be there. - We suggested having projected sets and blocks at the back of the stage, for levels. Also it would be a good idea to have signs that say, 'DO NOT ENTER' and 'DO NOT ENTER, PRIVATE AREA' and 'KEEP OFF THE GRASS'. Also we thought that changing the lighting would be a good idea for Act 1, so there is more a natural light look. Spray cans was also suggested by another group, for the gang to spray on the signs.
- Costumes could be sped up by either undressing or adding velcro or poppers to the costumes. - With the clown song we thought that we could have the first two buttons done up on the shirt, and the black hoodie over the top zipped up to the top buttons of the t-shirt or the other idea was take the shirt off when we go off just before the last scene and zip black hoodie all the way up to the top, so the audience can't see the purple top underneath in the last scene, until the Clown song. With the ties we suggested having clip ties or just to as above to make the transitions quicker.
- Place the piano/keyboard on stage so the actors can be seen. - We decided to have the piano opposite the drums on stage, so its a even balance between the two instruments. Also we thought it would be a good idea to have them raised on a small blocks.
- It is important all lines are heard. The chorus reactions and interjections were brilliant but make sure it is controlled and plotted so none of the narrative is lost.- We realised we do need to project, because when we are at the theatre we will have to get used to the space, plus it will be a lot bigger. So we need to make sure we are heard from the back. We need to also make sure we hear the audiences reactions before we move onto the next line or don't interrupt people from their lines. The kids follow the 'gang' so we need to show that in how we mock the laughter.
The company should be in agreement where the circus tent is. - To show where the tent is, we suggested having signs either side and maybe using the stage blocks as an arch on the left to show the big top and then we will turn it to the shows changing rooms.
As soon as Zack and Missy at the beginning go to leave, the youths should be entering the space. - We suggested as they start to leave the gang should poke their head out from the side and once they have gone, then walk out out into the space. The transitions for the two just need to be quicker.
- Practise rapping in to the mic. - I think as using the mic was introduced very last minute, we hadn't got very used to it, but the more rehearse with it the more we will focus to fit it in the routine. I think alsowe need to go to the mic do our rap and then leave the mic and some people are not being heard by the mic as they start to walk away whilst still rapping. I think I was doing okay with the mic, I'll just make sure I'm heard and it looks okay.
We looked back on Act 3 at our performance, so we can change anything that didn't go so well.
Act 3: In the Clown song we realised that undressing onstage was really stressful and I still wasn't undressed in time by the time the lights came and Kim couldn't wait any longer to put the lights up. The song went really well and the harmonies sounds quite good, but it could sound better if we worked on it a bit more, as it was very last minute, with the ukelele. The clown scene went really well and the when it cut to the dancing with the queen bit it looked really good. The clown bit just needed cleaning up a bit, as it looked a bit messy. When it came to the bit where Ben comes on for the animal taming routine he nearly slipped over, so we all suggested to him that he should maybe shows and not just socks. The animal taming routine went really well and almost everyone got the routine right, and the timing was really good. Everyone was really good with their different props and little routine when coming on. It looked really good because there were different things happening all at once and looked more like a circus. When the music changes we have to look confused because this is when the clowns come on and start causing havoc and tie us up. But people started talking when the music changed and we have to remember we are animals not humans. Also when we are trapped we suggested we need to make animal noises as we are struggling to get out and need to sound like it. Also when we escape we need to act more like animals and think of a way to get the rope of stage as some of us tripped on it.We suggested the clowns should pick it up, just before the run off in the pretend car. Me and Emily bumped into each other a few times as we wore masks as the eye holes are quite small. It looked really funny, but we need to solve that. I think we should cut the holes in the eyes a bit bigger. The little routine in the line looked quite good, but again timing could of been better, but we a lot more practise than can be solved. The only other thing is, we think that the ending isn't very good at all. Ae use jazz hands at the end and its too cheesy and boring. So we suggested we need to make it more dramatic and I think it would be good if we could get Amy and Ben in their somewhere(who are the people who own the circus in the play). Overall Act 3 was quite good, it just needs a few more twicks and we need to solve the points the women gave us and it will go really well in the final performance.
