My name is Sally Rittenhouse. I was born and raised on the second largest island in the United States--Kodiak Island--where I was homeschooled in a remote spot 60 miles outside of the nearest town. Aside from Theater 121, Acting One, I have no other acting experiences.

 January 29, 2009
 Today, I performed my first monologue for this semester, a drama that, I discovered, was intended for a male. I feel a little foolish for not seeing that fact, but I hope I did my best despite it. I still have not read any of the textbook--speaking of procrastination--but I intend to begin as soon as I have time.
I like the monologue that I found--even if it is a male role--but I think I need to invest a little more energy in creating the character and what he (or, in this case, she) feels. I'm not entirely sure about the second draft that is due in class next Tuesday. Is it supposed to be the opposite of my current monologue (in my case, a comedy)?
I said I liked the monologue that I found, but in truth, the monologue I was hoping to find was one where the character I portrayed was disliked by the audience--but also pitied as well.
But I'm not complaining. And I will do the best with whatever I am given.
As for my character, Andrey--I need to decide where he should be when he delivers his speech. Should he be in his living room? Should he be so distraught after taking a walk and seeing how the other townsfolk are that he comes into his home and speaks ill of them? Should his sisters be present at the time? I need to work on that aspect of the monologue. And another thing that has been digging at my mind ever since I printed this monologue off--he says in his speech that "What's become of my past, when I was young, happy, and clever...?"
I'm trying to decide how old this character is, to be able to ask what happened to his youth. It's hard to portray someone who is much older than I am, because for certain, I am not old enough to ask what happened to my youth. That's another thing I will have to work out in this monologue...



My monologue:

3 Sisters, by Chekhov

Andrey: What’s become of my past, when I was young, happy, and clever, when my dreams and thoughts were exquisite, when my past and my present were lighted up by hope? Why on the very threshold of life do we become dull, drab, uninteresting, lazy, indifferent, useless, unhappy?...Our town has been in existence for two hundred years—there are a hundred thousand people living in it; and there’s not one who’s not like the rest, not one saint in the past, or the present, not one man of learning, not one artist, not one man in the least remarkable who could inspire envy or a passionate desire to imitate him…They only eat, drink, sleep, and then die…others are born, and they also eat and drink and sleep and not to be bored by stupefaction they vary their lives by nasty gossip, vodka, cards, litigation; and the wives deceive their husbands and the husbands tell lies and pretend that they see and hear nothing, and an overwhelming vulgar influence crushes the children, and the divine spark is quenched in them and they become the same pitiful, dead creatures, all exactly alike, as their fathers and mothers… The present is hateful, but when I think of the future, it’s so nice! I feel so light-hearted, so free.  A light dawns in the distance, I see freedom. I see how I and my children will become free from sloth, from beer, from goose and cabbage, from naps after dinner, from mean, parasitic living…[in a rush of tender feelings]. My dear sisters, my wonderful sisters! [Through tears] Masha, my sister!

February 5, 2009
I'm still working on the blocking for my monologue--still needs a little tweaking, but I'm getting there. And I'm also at a standstill. I'm trying to decide the best way to integrate "The present is hateful, but when I think of the future, it's so nice..." into my acting. It's such an abrupt change of direction I'm having a hard time deciding the best way to work it out. But as for my character, I've decided that Andrey (Andrey, I thought, could be short for Andrea, maybe?...just for the sake of pretending that the original character, who was male, is now a female...? Don't know if that will work or not) is between 19 and 25, white, dark hair, dark eyes, and is a melancholy person to begin with. The setting (Where) is during the winter, when depression is perhaps highest in most people. I thought that perhaps Andrey could have just come inside from taking a stroll through town--just to get some fresh air...maybe his (her) sisters were getting on her nerves which is why she left the house. Of course, she returns home after seeing the state of her town and realizing that maybe her sisters are not bad at all, especially compared to where she lives.
It should be during the evening, when everyone in town is getting off work and heading to the bars and to the gambling houses. Perhaps around 6-7 PM.
It's a work in progess, but I'm getting there.
I thought Shelly's monologue was really good today. Very thought out. In all honesty, if I would have been the first one to stand up and perform my monologue, it would have been a very crappy job. I wasn't as prepared as I should have been...as usual.

 Comedy Monologue:
“Sweethearts” by Aleks Horvat

Background Info: A very manic Jasmine is meeting her blind date for the first time.

Do you have a light? I need a smoke so desperately and you don't smoke. I'm sure you don't smoke. Or maybe you DO smoke and I'm judging a book. Am I being hasty? I know I'm being manic but I really need a cigarette. Second hand smoke does kill. I was reading one of my fathers medical journals. I have a predilection for reading medical journals. That was a big word. That was obnoxious wasn't it? Sorry! I do that sometimes-I think I'm trying to impress you. But I have all these medical journals in my apartment, unrecycled. I have copious amounts-there I go again-copious amounts of unrecycled paper just sitting in my apartment. It's really criminal. What I SHOULD do to be conservative and enviro-friendly is to get online. Are you online? I'm looking really forward to webstock. I think that kinda of thing can change our democracy. Do you have an Email address that I can Email you...something?-Ten years ago I almost drown in my bathtub. And um...did you know that when you're starting to drown and the water is coming into your lungs its similar to sleeping-or the FEELING is similar to sleeping. I mean I don't know. I didn't drown or anything. It was kinda funny. I guess you had to be there. But if you think of the Titanic and all of those people ''asleep'' in their deckchairs. It is a FAR more palatable tragedy.-What? Do I seem crazy? I'm not crazy! I may talk a lot but I'm not crazy. If you met someone really crazy I'm telling you, you'd know. The most disturbed person I ever met was my roommate Elizabeth. She was a borderline paranoid schizophrenic, worst halitosis in the world, bar none-and she was attracted to me-ewwwww. Although, she did come from a very wealthy family so when they came to take her out to dinner I cashed in my chips on that one. Don't look at me like that-YES I spent some time in a hospital. So! I'm not crazy. I'm NOT CRAZY! Although a lot of people do agree my Mom should have never had children. I shan't, I've had my tubes tied.

February 17, 2009
I don't even know why I chose this one. It seemed interesting, I guess. Other than finding it, I have really done no work on it. My drama monologue is coming along alright. I have the blocking pretty much plotted out, but not exactly written down...
I need to get back on the ball about that.

February 25, 2009
Honestly, I am really confused. I feel like I should know what all is going on, but in all honesty, I'm confused about the midterm. What is the midterm going to be? Is the midterm a scene in which I have a partner or do I just do my monologue for the midterm? I feel like I should know this, but somehow the explanation for the midterm flew over my head, so I really don't know. I feel stupid for not asking about this earlier, but I didn't know really how to explain what I meant. Should I be hustling to find someone with a scene to partner up with? Agh.
On a lighter note, I think my comedy monologue is coming along rather nicely. I have been reading the text-book, but I will admit, it is a little difficult to follow sometimes.
I really liked rehearsing the monologues in class on Tuesday. It was interesting to see just how much they changed with certain things added or removed from the scene, especially the pre-acting parts. It was like the longer the pre-acting was, the more you anticipated the first line. 


March 3, 2009
So, finally, maybe going forward instead of backwards. Where has my motivation gone? Last Spring semester it seems like I was very good about keeping up with theatre, now I've been being a major procrastinator. I really like theatre, too, but it doesn't really seem like it based upon my class participation and keeping up with homework. Well, I just need to start getting back into it again.
Today's class was interesting. I like Shelly and Pedro's Taming of the Shrew--it looks like they did a lot of work on it. At least they have a foundation for their scene. But I think the pre-acting could have been longer to establish some of the base facts of the scene, like who the characters are. Ha, here I am talking--I haven't even started working on my scene because I just now posted it. I'll just have to work twice as hard to catch up, that's all.

March 25, 2009

I looked up "...the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature..." and I'm thinking that maybe if I would have looked a little harder at that quote on my test I would have come up with a different answer for it.
To me, I think it means that the actor should come as close to reflecting the nature of real life as possible, to try and "mirror" human nature in its truest form. To try and capture the soul of human nature...something like that. It's difficult to explain...
I don't know, maybe I'm aiming too far off, but I think I would have written this on my test if I would have thought about it a little longer.
As for the scene, I vote on Beyond Therapy. It seems like it would be interesting--maybe a little weird, but interesting nonetheless.


March 31, 2009
Well, I know I haven't been the greatest about writing in my journal (mostly because I'm not used to using lab computers and I couldn't remember my password for the life of me until I found it written down in a diary), but I am at least going to try and get THIS assignment right.
For the monologue in The Bear, I decided I would do this one:

She: The Man! [Laughs bitterly] Men are faithful and constant in love! What an idea! [With heat] What right have you to talk to me like that? Men are faithful and constant! Since we are talking about it, I'll tell you that of all the men I knew and know, the best was my late husband...I loved him passionately with all my being, as only a young and imaginative woman can love, I gave him my youth, my happiness, my life, my fortune, I breathed in him, I worshiped him as if I were a heathen, and...and what then? This best of men shamelessly deceived me at every step! After his death I found in his desk a whole drawerful of love-letters, and when he was alive--it's an awful thing to remember!--he used to leave me alone for weeks at a time, and make love to other women and betray me before my very eyes; he wasted my money, and made fun of my feelings...And, in spite of all that, I loved him and was true to him. And not only that, but, now that he is dead, I am true and constant to his memory. I have shut myself for ever within these four walls, and will wear these weeds to the very end...

Who: Popova, early-thirties, widow, well-off, came from a wealthy family
What: She wants to Smirnov
Why: She loved her late husband but discovered that she was perhaps not as loved by him in return, she longs to have a relationship with a man who can love her and stay true to her the same way she would love him and stay true to him
When: I think it's the middle of winter, sometime around Christmas, evening, just before dinner, around the later 19th century
Where: Russia, in a house out in the country, in the living room of the house (or maybe the parlor?)

Master gesture: Eh...still working on that one...

April 2, 2009
Who: Popova, early-thirties, widow, well-off, came from a wealthy family
What: In this monologue, she wants to impress Smirnov--she wants to try and make him see that she is a true and constant woman despite what he says about women. She wants him to see that she was constant and true to her husband despite how he treated her.
Why: She HATED her late husband, is happy that he is dead (at least considers herself better off now that he's dead), but she wants a relationship with a man who would be true and constant to her JUST LIKE she was true and constant to her late husband.
When: It's the middle of winter, Christmas-time, evening, just before dinner, around the late 19th century.
Where: Russia, in a house out in the country, in the living room of the house.

Master gesture: Here's a few ideas--twisting her ring (in a way where it looks like she'd like to take it off and throw it away)...okay, so it's only one idea, but I'm working on others.

Climax: And when he was alive--it's an awful thing to remember!--he used to leave me alone for weeks at a time, and make love to other women and betray me before my very eyes; he wasted my money, and made fun of my feelings...

Resolution: And, in spite of all that, I loved him and was true to him. And not only that, but, now that he is dead, I am true and constant to his memory. I have shut myself for ever within these four walls, and will wear these weeds to the very end...



I'm only half-way through Beyond Therapy right now. I'd be further along but unfortunately I had an exam that I needed to study for so I had to stop halfway and study for the test. So far, I've liked what I've read of it, although it seems very...I guess "quirky" would be the correct term.
Anyway, there it is.

April 9, 2009
I know that today is probably one of the most important days for picking out scenes from Beyond Therapy and deciding who's doing what, but I won't be coming to class today. I feel like crap. I'm thinking it's the flu that's been going around my dorm lately. I feel really bad, like I should come in no matter what but I wouldn't be able to concentrate the way I'm feeling right now. I thought I should at least say something about it, in my journal if nothing else that way I'm not leaving anyone in the dark as to why I didn't show up today.
Anyway, I think I'm gonna go die now.


April 16, 2009
So I guess I am going to be Prudence from Act 1, Scene 5. Here's the beginning of all the homework I have completed. Keep in mind this is not the "final draft" of my character homework and scene analysis and stuff.

5Ws:

Who: Prudence; early thirties; writer for People magazine; lives in Manhattan, New York; single child; mother and father don't live in the same area, and she's not close to them relationship-wise anyway; she's going through a period of her life where she's realizing that she's not getting any younger and she wants to find someone with whom she can get along with and, one day, marry and have children with.
In the scene with Stuart, she came to the session at first out of obligation and then she decided to just tell that arrogant s.o.b that she found someone who is much better than him and that he's not the only thing she has going in her life. She wants to show him that he's not the best thing she's ever known.

Where: Doctor Framingham's office; Manhattan, New York; when Prudence looks out Stuart's window, all she sees are tall buildings blocking the view of the sky--closed-in type of feeling. She's sitting in an uncomfortable leather chair with a short back so she has to sit straight without support (and, by the way, her posture is very straight because she is kind of "stiff" when it comes to Stuart).

When: Middle of summer when it's uncomfortably warm outside (to the point where it starts wearing on tempers and the air conditioning doesn't work very well so it doesn't get very cool in the building, especially in the office), late afternoon (3 PM), after lunch, present time (2008-2009)

Why: The motivation--why is she there? For her session with Stuart, at first out of obligation even though she doesn't feel like talking to him. Then, after he wears on her nerves a little bit too much, to tell him that she found someone else who is actually better than him. Yes, she DOES have more going on in her life than just having sex with a desperate sex-addict like Stuart.
Why does she even tell him? Because she hates how he acts like he's thinks he's such a Don Juan, especially when it comes to her. She wants him to know that she doesn't even care about him in any sense.

What: Prudence comes to Doctor Framingham's office for session at first out of obligation, but then to tell him about her new love interest and show him that she has more things going on in her life than just him.

...More on WHO: ...she was pregnant once, when she was eighteen, but she got an abortion because, at that point in her life, she had not been ready have a kid. That also wears on her mind somewhat because now she's actually thinking about how she's getting older and how she'd like to have kids in the future.

Master Gesture: She has an old ring from a past boyfriend from a few years ago which she keeps switching from finger to finger and spinning it, indicating that she's thinking about the future and having a ring that will actually stay on one finger and mean something more to her than the one she has on already. Hey, it's an idea, isn't it?

I was thinking, too, as a special little psychological touch, that she just went on her cycle today, so she's not in the best of moods and Stuart is not helping matters by PMSing more than she is. She's easily irritated and just being in Stuart's presence makes her cranky.

Well, anyway, there's the first portion of the homework. I'm still fine-tuning. And I'm still working and reading, too. But at least I have something to offer. More later... 



...More:

Here's the letter from Prudence to Bruce:

Dear Bruce,
I've been thinking about you all day long. I like the fact that you and I, although we've had our differences in the past, can get along so well. I don't really have a problem with your bisexuality because you stand out to me and that's all I care about. You are a one of a kind and I would love more than anything for you to take care of me.
I'm sorry for throwing water in your face when we first met. That was uncalled for. And I'm still a little peeved at you for throwing water in my face, too. Apologies aside, I can't wait until you and I see each other again. I miss you!
With care, Prudence



April 21, 2009
I went to Caligari on Saturday. I actually liked the play--it's my style of a "comedy" I guess, although the play itself did not seem all that comedic.
Anyway, my analysis is on the character Olympia. It didn't really seem like she was in the play as often as her "soul" was, but what really got me was that scream she did near the end of the play. Damn, that was good!
To me, she seemed very fickle and "shallow" as the actual person. Of course, I've seen people like her before, so I guess, in a way, I can kind of understand where she was coming from. Watching her, though, throughout the play I couldn't quite understand her story as well as the other characters'. It seemed like her soul was the only reason she was there, if you understand my meaning.
But yeah, the best part of the whole play by far was that scream near the end. I thought that was really good, really believable. But what I don't get about the end part of the scene where Cesare carries her out of her bedroom was whether she was supposed to be dead or not. Was she just unconscious?
Well, there were a few parts that kind of "confused" me about the play. Overall, though I thought it was pretty good.

April 23, 2009
I find it really funny how I never write in my journal until only twenty minutes before class. Get after me for that! Ha! Okay...
Anyway, we rehearsed last Tuesday, my two directors, and my acting partner. Didn't do it for very long unfortunately, but it couldn't be helped I guess. On Wednseday we rehearsed in front of the directing class. Wow, talk about nerve-wracking. NOT. But I did keep messing up my blocking and some of my lines didn't sound like they "fit", if you know what I mean. I need to seriously get off-book so that I don't have to worry about looking at the stupid script while I'm trying to perform.
Yeah, anyway. Just thought I would throw that out there. So class starts in T minus 17 minutes so I better post THIS for now and then post SOME MORE later on, when I am less pressed for time. Thank you for your appreciation! Riiiight...bye! 

April 28, 2009
Last Friday I rehearsed with Pedro and Eric for 1.5. We worked on blocking for the scene and trying to figure out how to place myself on that damn desk somewhere in the scene because I asked the inevitable question, "When do I sit on the desk?"
We were at it for about an hour total, but we made some progress! And then Eric and I rehearsed lines for another thirty minutes or so after Pedro left.
On Sunday I met with Eric and Tiana and we rehearsed the scene 2.3 for about thirty minutes. I think that rehearsal was a little...sad...because I wasn't exactly in character most of the time and I had zero concentrating power that day. But we worked on the blocking a little bit and I think it's better than before. Of course, my idea about the letter kinda got butchered, but oh well. I'm not holding a grudge...really, no, I'm not. I'm perfectly calm about it all...
To tell the truth, the whole reading it together thing was kind of awkward. It seemed too...easy-going for the mood, I guess. Oh well, I'll just have to make up another "grand" idea and toss it out there to be massacred again. Once more, I am NOT holding a grudge about it. :-)
Ah, well...rehearsal for Monday got changed to Tuesday at 8 PM. Cool beans. I can make that--at least, I hope that I heard correctly about that. I'm pretty sure it was Tuesday at 8 PM...and I hope it wasn't tonight...
Okay, well, I'm really tired right now obviously, so I'll let this go as is. Ciao!

April 29, 2009
Okay, so lame. I forgot to post reflections about AAAAALL the performances in last Wednesday's class. Now I've kinda forgotten over half of them, so I can't really reflect on them and even if I did, it really doesn't apply anymore. So, yeah. Guess I'll just forge on and reflect on performances for today. In Act 1, Scene 1 with Pedro and Shelly, I liked the improvements made over the course of the time. Shelly spraying water downward instead of directly in Pedro's face seemed much more natural and surprised. The only thing that got me was the part where Pedro says "You've missed the metaphor". He paused for a few minutes like he was trying to remember his lines and then he reacted--it seemed a little..."wrong", if you know what I mean, especially when he abruptly scoots his chair back when he says it. It just seems out of place. Anyway, enough nagging about that.
In Act 1, Scene 2, with Eric and Sarah I really have nothing to give feedback about because I thought it was a pretty good performance myself...of course, this is coming from one of the worst actors in theatre history, so it doesn't really matter what I think. Jenna said that she couldn't tell when Stuart was checking out Prudence whenever she wasn't looking at him, but I could tell. But then again, maybe I was just imagining, lol. However, I will say that the ending of the scene didn't really have an actual "ending", if you know what I mean. There was really no telling what happens AFTER the lights go down. Anyway, there's my only tidbit for THAT scene.
In Act 1, Scene 3, with Claire and Sergio, I thought the scene was much, much better than the previous showing where the actions were mostly pointless arm waving and kicking and blathering. I think the best part out of that scene was how Claire's character seemed to be getting kind of "irritated" near the end of the scene, like she was eager to have Bruce gone from her office so that she could continue on with whatever she was doing. Claire reading from her text, though, that was a little distracting.
In Act 1, Scene 4 with Mary and Brian...well, to put it rather bluntly, I was kind of bored with the scene. It seemed like it was mostly just sitting and quoting off the text. "Bruce" tried to compensate by moving around a little bit, but it seemed just a little...bland. Anyway, not much movement, that's all.
Okay, now for MY scene with Eric. Scene 1, Act 5...Well, I'm critical of the fact that I could have been much more focused. I kept smiling about stuff that I should have been ignoring! That's one thing I really need to get out of, that stupid grinning every time I start to say my lines or do some kind of action on stage! Damn, I hate that! And it's like the harder I try NOT to smile, the more I do it! In this scene especially I couldn't stop myself from grinning about some of the things happening--It just takes away from the acting!
Then, there were parts in the scene that could have been more...energized, I guess. I don't know, I feel like sometimes I kept messing up the emotions for certain things I said by not PUTTING the emotion into what I said at the time I said it. I don't know if that makes sense, but that's the best I can describe it. Anyway...that's my biggest problem with that scene. As for the blocking...well, at least I didn't forget any of it...unless I did and still haven't realized it yet.
On to the next scene.
Act 1, Scene 6, with Mary and Sarah...the only thing I wanted to say about this scene is that maybe there could be a definite "change" when switching from Bruce to Bob, that way it would be easier for the audience to distinguish from the two. In the showing, Bruce sounded like Bob and Bob sounded like Bruce. Later in the scene, Bob had a more high-pitched voice but it just seemed like Bruce on a bad day. >_>
AND THEN
The grand finale...another scene with me and Eric.
Scene 2, Act 3.
Here's all the problems I seem to have with this scene: When I start to cry, it's like I'm crying for no reason at all, just pointless crying. I need to work on developing an actual struggle with wanting to cry and fighting back the urge to cry and then finally just releasing it and bursting into tears. And then the "Waiter, waiter" thing. Damn, I hate that part. Can't we just cut it out of the scene? No, I guess not. Okay, so according to Anatoly the subtext is that we're both crying for help, not actually calling for the waiter himself. We're trying to avoid closeness and intimacy with each other. Okay, I'll go with that, I guess. But how does that change the end of the scene? I suppose it doesn't really do anything to the end of the scene...at the end it's more like just giving up and giving in. So Bruce loves Prudence, okay. Waiter (help)! Waiter (help)! And then Prudence finally gives up and says she loves him, too. One thing I'd really like to integrate in the scene is me taking more than one drink of water and then, while Bruce is reading me the letter he wrote, I kind of play with the glass on the table, spin it around and stuff like that, just listening. And then, as in Act 1, Scene 5, that damn smiling! I don't think I did it QUITE as much in this scene as I did in the last scene, but I still did it. I know I did it because I could feel it! I need to just focus on my character and NOTHING ELSE.
Anyway, that's my reflection so far. I need to start speaking up more, too. That's one of my stupid failures is being so "timid" in class. Great time for me to realize this, at the end of the semester, right? Riiiiight. Cheerio.



May 4, 2009
So, over the past week, I rehearsed with Pedro and Eric for Scene 1, Act 5 on Thursday at 9 PM. It was mostly just a rehearsing lines and doing a little bit of blocking. It was short and sweet, of course, and we got our lines down perfectly. For the most part, anyway. I'm not having trouble with any of my lines although it's hard for me to stop smiling sometimes. That's one thing I really hate about myself, the fact that I am unable to control my smile when I'm supposed to be serious and everyone else is acting serious, I swear I am the only one who smiles during a "serious" moment. Gotta work on that. 

Then, I met up with Tiana and Eric for a short rehearsal for Scene 2, Act 3 on Saturday at 6 PM. It was relatively short and sweet. We worked on the crying part of the scene--I'm STILL working on that part, how to make it seem a little bit more real than just pointlessly crying about nothing. But I think the sitting down instead of standing awkwardly behind Bruce and then bursting into tears helps it seem a bit more natural. Honestly, if I started crying I would more than likely sit down anyway. Anyway, I like the sitting down part that was integrated, so if anything comes out of the scene I would like to keep that part. Then, we worked on the "waiter, waiter" part. Damn, that was difficult. I guess I really have a problem looking people in the eyes. I guess maybe I AM kind of...reserved. Reticent. OKAY, FINE! SHY! I guess I am kind of "shy" or whatever. Normally, it's relatively easy for me to look people in the eyes but now that certain THINGS were pointed out to me by someone, it's a lot harder for me to do it. And then when I DO look someone in the eyes I wind up smiling or doing something stupid like that. Which is something I need to work on. Like, REALLY need to work on. Anyway, I kind of like the approach taken to the "waiter, waiter" part of the scene.
Then, today, at 6 PM, I met up with Pedro and Eric again. We worked on blocking and some other smalls things, but the BIG focus, much to my actual dismay, was Pedro and Eric trying to get me to stop smiling. Yeah, I get nervous and the automatic response is for me to smile. If anything, I need to train myself to do something else when I get nervous. This is acting, after all, I need to learn how to STOP smiling when I'm supposed to be FOCUSING! So, we did the part where Stuart is telling me I'm a very sick woman and shouldn't be without a therapist for a day. I smiled at that part several times. And then Pedro had us do that part over and over again until I stopped smiling about it and could hold back the urge by biting my tongue.

Next, we worked on the end when I drag Stuart across the floor. Yeah, so, as I pointed out to them, I normally am not attacked by someone who I have to drag across the floor, at least not on a regular basis, so this strikes me as a different thing, so it makes me smile when it happens, just at the ridiculousness of the situation. My biggest problem with the smile is that I keep having a hard time seeing STUART when these things occur. I see Eric. And I have a hard time being PRUDENCE when stuff like this happens, so I wind up reverting back to Sally and Sally's response to something like this is to smile out of, okay, yeah, nervousness. Just a little more focus. And I'll find it, damn it, if it's the last thing I do.

Anyway, as for the floor plan for the Scene 1, Act 5, here it is...at least to the best of my design. It might seem somewhat confusing but to me it's a masterpiece!



 

Prudence: P

Enters (P1) from secretary's office, crosses over to Center stage (P2), lays down on couch. (P3) crosses over to Center Right, to desk. Cross over to Center stage (P4), standing. (P5) Sitting back down on couch. (P6) Getting up from couch to get away. (P7) Cross over to Center Left, dragging Stuart to Center Left. Go to Center, take over arm of couch (P8). Cross over to Center Right (P9), takes belt buckle away from Stuart. (P10) Cross over to door and leave scene, and slam the door! I love slamming that door, it's so enjoyable! End scene.



May 6, 2009
Oh god...the final is only 12 hours away and I am still wide awake. But I have to write the final rehearsals down...or at least the last of the final rehearsals seeing as how I am probably going to end up getting together with my director(s) and acting partner before the actual final. I am sooooo nervouuuuuuus! And that's bad, because the final is still a good 12 hours away.
Anyway, down to business.
I rehearsed Scene 2, Act 3 with just Eric earlier today. Again, the issue I was having the most trouble with was that smiling. Honestly, I feel like a f***ing retard when I keep DOING that repetitively (and I obviously can't see straight enough to spell right now). Somebody, slap me! So we went over 2.3 for a while downstairs around 6 PM, Tuesday evening. So far, I think that scene is going to be alright, especially considering how short it is, just as long as I don't SMILE about everything like an idiot. I'm sick and tired of ruining scenes by being unable to control my emotions enough to hold back when I'm trying to do something else!
AH!
Anyway, Pedro showed up around 8 PM and we rehearsed 1.5. It was a dress rehearsal. And I actually remembered to bring everything I needed and then some. But I forgot the purse. Stupid purse. So, Sunday rehearsal it was suggested to me to bring a purse for Monday rehearsal. Well, I was really intent on bringing it with me and then, when Monday rolled around...I went to rehearsal and completely forgot it. My fault entirely because I should have been thinking about it, but of course I wasn't. It was a good idea, too... :-(
  Well...just have to go without it. Anyway, Pedro's good at making sure that I don't smile. Repeating parts of the scene over and over again certainly does help. But I think it's just me that needs to focus more and stop cutting up when I'm supposed to be concentrating on what I'm doing. I will admit that every time I start to smile I feel like crying because I'm not only making myself look like an idiot, I'm messing up everyone else in the scene by messing up the scene. It's important that I DON'T smile today when I finally go up there and perform!

Anyway, I'm really not doing myself any favors by not sleeping before a final. So on that note, I'll leave this as is and try and get some rest.


May 10, 2009
Reflections on the acting final:
Act 1, Scene 1 with Pedro and Shelly--I thought this scene, in all honesty, was the best out them all. I enjoyed the action that was involved in the scene and throwing the water in each other's faces at the end was good. And the part where Prudence spits water at the mention of Bruce's male lover was really nice, too. At the end it was clear when the scene ended.

Act 1, Scene 2 with Eric and Sarah--This scene was much more improved. I could clearly see when Stuart was checking Prudence out and then pretending he wasn't whenever she looked his way. I liked the part where Stuart smacked Prudence's ass--I could see Stuart doing something like that, lol.  

Act 1, Scene 3 with Claire and Sergio--I thought Claire was doing a little too much overacting, but it was a vast improvement from her first in-class rehearsal. Sergio's Bruce was much more developed since the last showing, too. I thought the scene was overall very good and the ending was clear to me.

Act 1, Scene 4 with Mary and Brian--I thought the scene was better than the first run-through. Brian did a lot of action in this scene and there was improvement in the actual blocking to keep the attention of the audience. I thought the ending where Bruce hugs Prudence was pretty sweet--although I will say that Mary looked a little uncertain and she did break character. But overall the scene was really good and the ending was apparent.

Act 1, Scene 5 with me and Eric--Oh boy...where to begin? Well, I thought I did okay...except I was really, REALLY biting my tongue to stop myself from smiling. And I'm really proud of myself that I didn't smile--but I think I could have done waaaay better with the character. I was concentrating too hard on not smiling so I wasn't really making PRUDENCE different from myself. Eric, as always, did really well, but I thought I could have done much, much better. I had fun slamming the door at the end, though. For some reason, I really like slamming that stupid door, lol.

Act 1, Scene 6 with Mary, Sarah, and...uh...the other actress...who I forgot the name of unfortunately--I thought the scene was much better with a third actress in there. It was a little awkward with just Sarah playing both Bob and Bruce. With the extra actor, the scene was better and longer, too. I thought it was entertaining, even though they broke character a couple of times. Sarah's reactions to the situation was pretty good. The ending was okay.

Act 2, Scene 3 with me and Eric...again--Well, I thought the scene was better than before. Again, I could have done a little better. I didn't smile this time, though there were a couple of times I really, really felt like it. Cursed smiling. I liked taking the note just before I started crying--I thought it made more sense and it actually gave me a reason to start crying. Eric, as always, was a master during the whole scene. Anyway, the ending was an improvement, too. It was better than the first time around, lol.

Yeah, I thought the final scenes were the best. And I thought all of the actor's gave their all. I guess I'm relatively satisfied with my performance, but I swear to god, I could have done much better. Anyway, there you have it. The end.