Writing Prompts for your Future Use

If you're bored this summer, or if you ever need a writing prompt...these are short ones to get you going.  They're from the Austin Script Works annual 3-month writing marathon...the idea being, they give you a prompt every day for three months, and you're supposed to write on all of them.

1.  A crazed cell phone monologue - Jen Haley

2.  Someone can’t move - Sharon Sparlin

3.  The smell of bleach was ugly, but familiar - Leticia Rodriguez

4.  Two people in a room find a box - Caridad Svich

5.  Time begins to accelerate - John Walch

6.  When I wake up I want to see… - Julia Smith

7.  The cafeteria at your middle school. - Molly Rice

8.  Embrace that nothing is coming to you - Cheryl Parrish

9.  Something that makes you laugh. - Judith Rudakoff

10.  Follow one character gesture to the extreme - Sharon Sparlin

11. Write a play featuring one character wearing a full body neoprene wetsuit

12.  A scene about betrayal and cooking - Caridad Svich

13.  A mountain is not… - Julia Smith

14.  The queen of Spades - Jennifer Haley

15.  Wearing dark glasses while driving was a great place to cry - Leticia Rodriguez

16.  Things that live deep in the dirt - Molly Rice

17.  The environment becomes extremely hot or cold - John Walch

18.  Write a play where something about the internet is personified - Emily Cicchini

19.  A self portrait - Judith Rudakoff

20.  Sitting in silence.

21.  I’ve never told my best friend… - Julia Smith

22.  The last day of someone’s life - Caridad Svich

23.  30 seconds of synchronized movement - Jennifer Haley

24.  Someone can’t stop moving

25.  Write a sitcom with a violently apocalyptic ending - Molly Rice

26.  “Putting out the cigarette, he then gingerly picked it back up.” - Leticia Rodriguez

27. A pair of shoes or boots in a strange place - Judith Rudakoff

28.  Write a play about the color blue.

30.  A new haircut - Kristoffer Diaz

31.  Underneath a Bridge, there is… - Julia Smioth

32.  Write about letting go of something.

33.  Someone has just discovered they can literally walk on water - Dan Dietz.

34.  Your character looks out of an open window.  What do they see?  Caridad Svich

35.  The smell of hippies - Molly rice

36.  A discovery that leads to holding breath - Jennifer Haley

37.  Offstage explosions - John Walch

38.  Slow time down, then speed it up.

39. “The gang member’s son was dressed just like his dad.”

40. Write a scene that takes place in your favorite place in the world

41.  What time is it?

42.  Write a play based on a Leonard Cohen song.

43.  Write a play about someone who has just had surgery.

44.  Darkness.  then slowly light.  Figures emerge.  one of them asks a question.

45.  Falling is another word for…

46.  Write a play where one of the four elements is a character.

47.  Write a play with a duck.

48.  Write a play about someone who keeps losing their reflection.

49.  “Why didn’t you see the tree fall?  You were looking right at it.

50. The pungent odor of burning plastic.

51.  A case of food poisoning.

52.  The single thing that scares me most is…

53.  Write about a missed deadline

54.  Someone just broke something.

55.  Write about a glove on the stairs, and how it got there.

56.  Write about the worst piece of advice you ever followed.

57.  “There was a gash in the palm of his left hand.”

58.  Pretend you are a conspiracy theorist.

59.  Write about an unexpected shower.

60.  Write about home.  What is it?

61.  A character emerges from an unlikely place.

62.  A character apologizes…without using the words “sorry,” “apology,” or “fault.”

Feedback for Vicky

Archie and Hank:
I agree with Montana about how each of them died and how their deaths could have been avoided. it's interesting that they have been in this transition to heaven place for so long (over 50 years?) and only now have they really discussed their deaths and I think this is why Angel came and allowed them to move on to Heaven. It seems as though the two have been annoying each other for a very long time and had a lot of trouble getting along, and finally when they opened up a little bit and discussed how they felt about their deaths they were able to come to a middle ground and help each other.

Katie and Greg:
It seems that Greg has never been able to come to grips with his death (as well as killing the other people in the car accident). He was never able to accept it and he thought he deserved the worst punishment for what he did. While it took some work to get Greg to open up about his death, once he finally did, I think that in itself opened up Greg's relationship with Katie, and allowed them to understand each other more. Greg had been holding on to this for so long, and he waited three years to get his partner, Katie, who was the one who was able to get him to really reveal more about himself. Also, Katie said how Greg reminds her of her father (someone who she didn't really like), and Greg mentioned how he couldn't believe what he did to his daughter, so this plays with a daughter - father relationship (as Natalie said), and they sort of acted as father and daughter figure to each other, something they were both missing in their lives.

Look! Feedback! Magic!

It seems to me that these pairs are put together in groups of asses and slightly better people (one of each). In this story, Hank and Greg are the asses, and Katie and Archie keep them more or less on the straight and narrow to get their work done. In order to get into heaven, they have to come to an understanding about how/why they died and must admit some sort of kinship with the other. Hank and Archie's problem was that they refused to say they liked each other.

Ok, gonna be honest here: I liked Archie's first death better than this one. Despite some of the inconsistencies that it brought up, the argument between them and the tension because of Archie's death and his views on it, gave a lot of depth to the play, which is suddenly lacking in the second draft. It also made Hank's admission of the fact that he actually really likes Archie more powerful, and more of a turning point, so we're not surprised when the angel shows up. In this case, with Archie simply being killed by a falling cow statue, all of that tension and revelation goes away. And it's even less clear why today is different from all other days.

Sorry if that sounded harsh. It is my opinion. Don't hate me.
-Stephanie

Vicky's Play

I think two people become partners if they are able to help each other out in the pre-Heaven stage of their life (maybe I should say death?). With Hank and Archie, I think they were made partners just because they could get along and be a good pair. However, maybe Hank and Archie were an incompatible match, at least when it came to helping one another get to Heaven. One of them states that they have been in pre-Heaven for around 50 to 60 years. I think this supports that maybe they weren’t exactly the best pair. I think Hank and Archie go to Heaven when they do because of the conversation they had about each other’s deaths. I don’t think their conversation about their deaths was as meaningful as Katie and Greg’s conversation, but I think the Angel was just so sick of them bickering, he thought any conversation between Hank and Archie about their deaths could be considered closure.

I think Katie and Greg were paired because events in both of their lives helped them relate to one another. Katie was angry at her father for leaving and Greg wanted forgiveness from his daughter after what he did. Katie told Greg he was a good person and in return she gained a father figure. They helped each other resolve things that happened while they were living. There’s a lot of talk about karma in the play, and when I hear karma I think of balance. I think Greg and Katie were able to balance each other out (Katie felt resentment towards her father, Greg felt guilty for what he did to his daughter) in their conversation at the end, which is why they went to Heaven when they did.

For Vicky

I think there is a multiple level thing about why people are partners with each other that you have set up very nicely. I think that Archie and Hank are partners because they could have avoided their deaths. Hank with a little bit more certainty. Also, each think that the other was stupid for their death and I think in turn they need to realize that their death wasn't stupid and there was some reason that they died. I think in terms of why today, you could incorporate something about seeing Katie and Greg. Maybe Katie and Greg remind them of themselves and then they start talking about the past and question why they never talked about their deaths before. Maybe, they haven't had any recruits in a really really long time because Buddha was starting to give up on them (or whoever is their supervisor) and then he decided to just give them their jobs back because they weren't making any process.

I think that Katie and Greg are together because they both need the other to be with them in Heaven. Katie really needs her brother to be with her in heaven, and she gets someone who in a sense took himself out of his miserable life. She understand that he loved his daughter. Meanwhile, Greg needs someone who is going to understand that he didn't want to kill his daughter and he didn't mean to put her in danger at all. Katie also has to help Greg to talk about what happened since three years pass until he meets Katie. Maybe the heavenly beings or whoever decides who are partners, don't know who will be partnered with whom until both of them have died and they really are drawn to each other. Maybe the first person to die is always around the other person when they die? Also why does Katie even follow Greg in the first place? Is she attracted to him? Does she think he might lead her to her brother? I was a little unclear about that, after reading it a second time.

I really really like your play Vicky. It makes me think a lot which is something I love the most about plays.

Montana

Feedback for John

I agree with a lot of what Chandler and Montana said...

Story: A theif is part of a guild along with his father and a count. He really wants to leave the guild, but needs to steal a treasure box from the count before he can. As he is trying to steal it, the count is aware that the theif is in his house because he got a call from the bowler man, the theif's father. The count catches the theif who tries to steal from the count and kills him. The count goes to the bowler man/theif's father to prove he has done his duty of killing the theif, and the bowler man kills the count for killing his son.

I wrote close questions throughout, but here are some questions I had at the end:

• What exactly is this guild? What are the rules of it? Why does the theif want to leave it so badly, and why has he waited until now to decide to leave?
• Who is exactly in charge/in power? Where does the count stand vs. the bowler man (like Chandler said, the heirarchy)
• What is the big buff man's job exactly?

I also agree that the play was a little confusing at first because I wasn't sure who the theif was and who the bowler man was...maybe instead of labeling the theif "Theif", a name might create more mystery, and then the audience would have to figure out he's the theif based on his actions/words, and the same goes for the other characters.

To John:

John, I agree a lot with what Montana has said, and I too have an annotated copy of your play to give you at some point. The story was a little confusing to me. Part of this might have had to do with the fact that my formatting (copied/pasted off of your blog post) wasn't as clear as scripts normally are (obviously that is not a fault in your play, so don't worry about that). However, I think that Montana's comment to give the characters names would help to clear up the story line a little bit more.

Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn't necessarily the story that I thought was confusing; I was confused by the rules of this world you've created. What exactly is the hierarchy here? What is the guild? Who is the count and why does the father feel that the count has such powers?

You've taken a huge story and condensed it into a few pages. I'm definitely interested in the story; I want to hear it, but I'm not finding it believable yet. I think that your play will benefit from some character work. Maybe you can ask yourself questions about each character to try and get to know them better? Giving them names, at least, will certainly help.

FOR JOHN

Hey John.
So I had some general questions about the play in general and then I made a bunch more notes on your actual play that I can give to you. I probably should have given it to you today, sorry about that!

Questions:
How do these characters change by the end of the play?
Why don't they have names?
What does the guild do?
Who else is part of the guild?
Why do they steal from their own members?

Story:
A Thief is a member of the guild that is run by his father. He was forced into this guild at a young age but doesn't really want to be in the guild at all. He goes to his father and tells him that this will be his last stealing mission. His father doesn't approve of his son's decision and so calls the Count (from whom he is stealing) behind his son's back to tell him to kill his son. The Thief goes to the Count's house to try and retrieve his treasures and ends up finding out that his father told on him right before he gets shot. Later when the Count meets the father to confirm that he has done his duty (since he is also a member of the guild) he ends up dying because the father didn't really want his son to die at all. He wanted to show him a final test that he would either pass or fail; he was hoping that he would pass.

Montana

Play for project

John Norris

Playwriting 12

Three Scene’s about a Thief

Scene 1

A lone man walks onto the stage. It is a alley way with only a single lamp post. THe man is wearing a cloak and is quietly sneaking around. He glances around a few times checking his surrondings. He then looks at a watch on his wrist and approaches the lamp post. He stands there for a few seconds. A clock appears behind him and begins to ring loudly. It is 8 pm. The man in the cloak turns around and looks at the clock. Just then a man in a suit and a bowler hat walks onto the stage, he is followed by a big buff man. The man in the bowler hat approaches the man in the cloak, and takes out a small envelope and hands it to the man in the cloak. The man reviews the envelope and then places it into his coat pocket.

Thief

This is the last time I will ever work for this guild.

Bowler Man

(Brushes off coat. Britsh accent) My good man, this line of work is the only thing that you know.

Thief

No...(Beat) I have bought my freedom. I no longer have a need to continue this profession.

Bowler Man

(Surprised) Hmph. Well if that is truly what you want then retrieve the object, return to me with it, and then, (beat) well you can do whatever the hell you want to do with your pathetic life.

The thief (man in the cloak) looks up at the man in the bowler hat then begins to draw something from his cloak. At this movement the buff man begins to grab for his gun, until he notices that the thief is drawing out a piece of paper, which he hands to the bowler hat man.

Thief

This is my resignation from the Thieves Guild. I relinquish my position and status.

Bowler Man

(reads over the note) You will regret this decision. (Hands paper to buff man who folds it and places it in pocket. Pause) Just bring me the item then disappear. (Pause. Walks closer to the thief) You have dishonored this guild, your craft and me (beat) My son.

The thief backs slowly away staring intensely at the man with the bowler hat. He then turns around and walks off-stage. The man in the bowler hat then turns around to the buff man.

Bowler Man

If you would be kind enough to call the count and tell him he should be expecting a guest tonight.

The buff man makes a wide smile and then pulls a cell phone out of his jacket and makes a call. At this point the two men walk off stage and the lamp post goes dark.

Scene 2

The clock in the background rings again, this time it is around 8:30 pm. A single man is sitting in a living room. In one hand he is reading a book, in his other hand he is holding a glass of red wine. The sound of a phone is heard. The man is slightly scared by the noise but collects himself and walks over to the phone. He answers it.

Count

(British accent) Hello. (beat) Yes this is he. Who is this. (beat) What...(beat) Are you telling me that...(beat) Yes...yes I understand. Thank You very much (Beat) Yes I will get it done. Good-bye. (beat) Honor to the Guild! (Places phone back on holder. Then returns to seat and resumes reading as if nothing had just happened. Pause) It has been awhile since I’ve killed anyone. (takes a sip of his wine and then smacks his lips and laughs).

Scene 3

The clock in the background now sounds again. This time it is 9 pm. The scene returns to the count’s living room. He is still siting there reading his book and drinking his glass of wine. Out of no where the thief in the cloak pokes his head from outside the window and immediately shoots back down. The man looks down at his watch, puts the book down and starts walking off stage.

Count

(Yawns) Well, its getting to be that time once again. Like my father always said to me, “Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” (Exits off stage)

A few seconds after the man has exited off-stage, the swift and nimble thief, who was spying inside, pokes his head up once more from the window, unlatches it and sneaks inside.

Thief

(Sneaking through stage) (Quietly) Hmmmm....now where did that old man put his treasure box? (Continues searching)

The thief continues searching for the mans chest in hopes of discovering his hidden stash of money and goods. As the thief is searching he knocks off the glass of red wine which falls to the floor and shatters. This awakes the old man.

Count (Offstage)

What the hell was that!?!?!? (Lights from offstage are turned on as if the man turned on a lamp) Whoever is inside my house had better get out because I will use my shotgun!

The thief quickly runs back outside the window.

Scene 4

The count enters on stage again carrying a revolver. He looks around, notices the broken glass, some of his belongs on the floor and then looks at the window and notices that it is open. The man walks over to the window gun pointed forward. The whole stage now does a 180 degree turn revealing a new stage that shows the outside of the house, a single oak tree and some bushes. The thief can be seen hiding behind the oak tree, trembling in fear.

Count

(Has his head poking outside of the window scanning the area) (Screaming) YOU HAD BETTER RUN YOU YELLOW-TAILED VARMINT!!! IF I EVER SEE YOU INSIDE THIS HOUSE AGAIN I’LL KILL YOU RIGHT ON THE SPOT!!!

The count gives one last scan of his yard, puts his shotgun down and then closes the window and leaves the scene. The thief upon hearing the window close now peers from behind the tree to see if the man has left.

Thief

Dammit...this is not good...if I don’t find that magical bean then I cannot leave the guild and start my life anew. (Beat. Looks around house) There has got to be some way that I can get back into that house. (Pause) (The thief gives an expression of thought) AH HA! I got it! (Gives a fist pump in excitement)

Scene 5

The stage now does another 180 degree turn returning to where it had started off. The stage is dimly lit except for a single lamp in the middle of the room next to where the man was originally sitting. A noise is heard from up above. Then another noise. Finally a huge crash is heard and the thief falls from above.

Thief (Falling)

AHHHHHHHHHHHH (Hits the ground) Dammit...Oh my god (Clutching body in pain) Jesus Christ... (looks up in annoyance) Now I’ll never be able to get that magic bean.

Just then the count is heard off stage and walks on stage with a smile on his face and his revolver in his hand. Lights from offstage are turned on once more.

Count

Ohhhh you are so dead now you little robber. No one tries to break into my house twice in the same day. (The man cocks his gun, sees the thief laying on the floor and then points the gun at him) You know its a good thing that I got a little tip about your visit tonight. (laughs)

Thief (Panic/Pain/Anger)

WHAT!!! You..you knew that I was coming. (Slams the ground) I curse my father and his betrayal. (looks back up at count) Please...Please sir. Let me live. All I want is to live a normal life. Not one ruled by contracts and secret meetings in alley ways.

Count

Are you kidding me. Your head is worth thousands. And god I have always wanted to kill the master’s son. (Smiles) Go to hell.

The stage goes dark, a gun shot is heard and along with the shot a flash of light quickly illuminates the stage. There is a pause. Then a single beam of light comes onto the side of the stage, the thief walks into the light clutching his hands together and looking downward. He then opens his arms up and looks into the light.

Thief

I throw myself at your mercy! (Drops to knees) (Pause) (Talking to audience) The moment you die, it is as if you have gotten into a crash where the lights of the car behind you and in front of you, begin to envelope your entire sight until there is that split second of conscious and all you can see is a bright beautiful light. Then, just as soon as it has graced you, it turns into black nothingness.

The stage goes dark again. Then the stage fills with light once more, with the thief on the ground surrounded by a pool of blood, the count standing above him, revolver still smoking from shot. The man bends over the thief, puts his hands over the thief’s eyes and closes them. The stage goes dark except for the clock in the background which now tones several times as it strikes 10 pm.

Scene 6

The scene returns back to the alleyway. The single lamp post is still in the middle of the stage. The man in the bowler hat walks onto the stage and is followed once more by the buff man. The two walk over to the lamp post. The man with the bowler hat pulls out a pocket watch and then looks at the time. The clock in the background strikes 11 pm.

Bowler Man

(Speaking to buff man) Hmm...it would appear that our contact is running late. (Pause) How rude.

The count then walks onto the stage carrying a bag. He proudly walks over to the bowler man. Bows in front of him.

Count

Hello Grandmaster. The task that you have placed for me is complete.

Bowler Man

Present some evidence to this claim my good man.

The count reaches into his bag and pulls out the theif’s cloak which is covered in blood. He hands it over to the bowler man who examines it and then motions to the buff man who takes the cloak from the count.

Bowler Man

(Adjusts himself) Hmph. You have done an excellent job. You shall recieve your payment as usual. (Beat) You have honored the guild.

Count

(Very happy) Ohhh Thank you thank you grandmaster. I am your humble messenger.

The count once again bows to the bowler man and then begins to leave. As he turns around the bowler hat man motions to the buff man who hands him a pistol. The bowler man points the gun and shoots it. The count falls to the ground and looks up at the bowler man in disbelief.

Count

(bleeding and speaking shakily and scared) What....What are you doing?

Bowler Man

(Somber and no remorse) This is for killing my son.

Count

FUCK YOU!!!!

The count attempts to take his own gun and shoot the bowler man. But just as soon as he tries this the bowler man shoots the count once more in the head. There is a pause. The bowler hat man hands the gun back to the buff man who stores it in his coat. The lamp post begins to flicker.

Bowler Man

(Wiping hands. Looks at the lamp) Well it appears as if have quite a mess here. (Pause. Talking to buff man) Remind me later to have someone fix this damn lamp. We can’t have meeting in a dark alleyway now can we. (Pause) And would you please get rid of this despicable man from sight.

The buff man nods and walks over to teh dead count’s body and picks it up and walks off stage. The bowler man follows him but then stops looks back up at the lamp and then takes off his hat and bows to the lamp post which shuts off.

FIN

Reminders from Allison's Workshop

Hi All,

A few reminders of questions/ideas that came up in Allison's workshop, that could be useful to you all in your plays:

1) What questions DO YOU WANT your audience to be asking?  A lot of times, we'll try to create mystery in our plays...make sure that you're leaving ambiguous what you want to leave ambiguous, and making everything else clear, so that your audience isn't distracted by other questions.

2) How can you TAKE THE PLAY TO THE STORY?  How can you show the most exciting moments, the moment when life changes, onstage?  SHOW US your characters struggle, show us their "eureka!" moments.  Show us what they want, let us see them try to get it and fail, then show us their triumph (or not).

3) What VESTED INTEREST does each character have in the outcome of the story?  How can you make sure that the central conflict affects EVERYONE onstage?  Give your characters emotional stakes.

Site Specific Plays 4

Stephanie: Stephanie's play felt very inspired by her performance space. I really felt like I was in an attic, and that Vicky’s character was alone, even though our whole class was in the room with her. Sometimes Vicky’s character would have conversations with John’s character. I couldn’t really see them since I was standing far away from the staircase, but I felt it was more effective that way. I thought it was really cool how the play took place in only one room, though we could hear conversations and things happen from other parts of the house, even though we couldn’t see them.

John: I really liked the way John used his space for his play. I really liked how the audience had to follow his character down the stairwell. The setting, along with the strange picture on the walls, really made the play feel really creepy. I felt like the farther down we traveled, the creepier the play got. I think John took a risk in creating a play that was so dark, but I think it really worked.

Vicky: Like John’s play, I enjoyed how her play moved settings and how the audience had to travel with the characters. I thought Stephanie’s character was really interesting, and I liked how she was on her laptop at the beginning. I also thought the ending was strong, with the character exiting the building.

Stairwell Plays

Stephanie- Stephanie's play was extremely sentimental. I think Stephanie did the best job of arriving late and leaving early. Her effective use of the storage room as an attic was one of the most believable parts of her play. I also think Stephanie was extremely effective in conveying the distance between the father and daughter. The audience was guided into a strong sense of loss. Stephanie used the upper room as both the daughter's bedroom as well the attic, which I found a little confusing. However, overall, I think Stephanie's approach was unique, definitely leaving audience members feeling nostalgic.

John- Without a doubt, John's play was the most disturbing of the site specific plays. John successfully utilized the entire stairwell. The way John used the space gave audience members a strong feeling of suspense. I think the script could have been tightened up a little; considering the idea behind John's play, fewer words could have been more effective. I think if the script had been extremely stark it could have had a greater effect on the audience. Regardless, the play had strong bones and an extremely effective utilization of space.

Vicky- In my mind, Vicky's play was easily the most unorthodox. Because neither of her characters were entirely sane, audience members wondered throughout the play what was real and what was imaginary. I found some of the dialogue was little hard to follow, but I think that was because Vicky's play was very ambitious. I think her play would have made a lot more sense to me had I read the script. However, I think the concept behind the play is extremely interesting and original; it's definitely a play I'd like to see done again.

Site Specific Plays 3

Sophie: I really enjoyed being in Sophie’s play. I think the relationship between Dana and Henry was a lot more clear when read aloud. It just shows what a difference performing the plays we write makes. The play definitely made me want to learn more about the characters. Not only would I like to know who they are and where they come from, but also what their relationship is like with each other after the scene. I really like how Sophie set her scene outside. Even though where we performed the play was clearly inside, I definitely could picture the characters sitting outside on their front porch. Having the characters wear snuggies also helped convey the feeling of being outside at night.

Hugo: I love how mysterious Hugo’s play was. When reading the script, I kept wondering who the “stranger” character was. At the end, I actually thought it was really clever that we never found out what was up with this character. When Hugo’s character convinced himself that the stranger did not exist, I believed him too. Even though the stranger character clearly exited the stage, I still felt that maybe that character didn’t exist at all. I thought that put a nice twist on the characters.

Allison: I really liked Allison’s and, like others, thought she made really good use of the space. I truly felt like a fly on the wall the whole time Ben and Montana performed the scene. I liked the ending. Unlike a lot of other peoples’ plays, Allison’s play didn’t end on a cliffhanger or make me wonder what happened next to the characters. As an audience member, I assumed both characters would be just fine and, eventually, Montana’s family wouldn’t be as scared of small spaces.

Ben: I really liked the beginning and end of Ben’s play. I liked how the two characters seemed locked in the room. The ending had me wondering a lot about Montana’s character and her background.

Montana: I thought the relationship between the two characters in Montana’s play was really interesting. I liked how Allison’s character seemed to become less uptight at the end of the play. I wondered at the end if the two characters would see each other again, and if they could possibly become friends. I also like how Montana used her setting as kind of a hiding place with Ben’s character hiding from his friend, and Allison’s character just hiding from the rest of the world. The end made me wonder if Allison’s character would remain the same and continue to spend time alone in that small space.

Good Posts

Guys,

You've been writing some great posts on these plays.  Overall, you've been creating thoughtful, observant responses to each others' work, raising important questions and giving helpful "perceptual feedback" to each author.

Is this blogging, in part, a way for me to check in on your thoughts?  Of course.  But more than that, it's a resource for each of you, as you (if you) revisit these plays.  As you can see, there's a lot at work in each of your plays.  There are also questions that your play raises, places where your audience has confusion or sees something different than what you intended.  There are places where several people respond positively to the same moment.

All of that information is GOLD.  You want my feedback?  The best thing I can tell any of you is to go back through the reactions from your audience and think about what you see, how it relates to what you intended, and where you want to make resulting adjustments.

Yes?

Plays Day 3

Sophie
I really enjoyed how Sophie used the space to her advantage. Of all the spaces, I thought this was the hardest one because of the placement of the audience, while using the entire space. By having the inside of the house still be part of the set, but not be seen except when Natalie stuck her head out was very effective to see the tough relationship between the married couple. The space really worked as a household with a porch. I immediately got that feel even though it wasn't explained that he was outside of the house. Also, as Chandler said in class today, the reversal/reveal at the end was really powerful because I didn't expect it coming at all. I wish I knew what was going to happen because of that. Are they going to lose their house? I thought this play was really funny and a very different relationship than anyone else had written about.

Natalie
I think even though Natalie used the space to influence the theme/story of the play, I don't think it took place in that exact spot. I imagined it happening in more of a greenroom and I think it really worked. I thought it represented the difference between actors and actresses very very well: the sort of drama queen, selfishness that actresses can get into and the less "I need to be in the spotlight" attitude that actors have. I wasn't exactly sure why Sophie's character gave into Natalie's character and gave her the cast list. That was one of my main questions. I think the reveal at the end that Hugo's character (Alec I think) knew that she didn't get the part, was really interesting and would have been even cooler if it had been made more of a big deal, rather than the fact that they hate this girl so much. The cattiness of Natalie's character really worked but maybe if it was more of an underlying joke, the story of the play could have come out clearer. I really enjoyed the story though.

Hugo
I think Hugo used the space in a really interesting way that I never would have thought of! I didn't even realize that that little wall was there, ever, and I've been in that theater countless times. In some ways the play reminded me of the play Happy Days by Samuel Beckett. In this play a woman basically sits in a mound of dirt and talks the whole time. The part that reminded me of Hugo's play was that it was about a woman who was trapped and we weren't really sure why. Natalie's character says that she just happened to walk into the small space because it looks interesting, or something along those lines. Maybe she had a hidden meaning for it though? The feeling of her being trapped and not vulnerable by the world was really interesting. It made me realize that being vulnerable isn't such a bad thing. Even though Hugo's character could be affected by the world in ways that Natalie's character could not, he was being brave in a way by doing that. I was wondering if he had heard her singing before? How long had she been there? Was she really a figment of his imagination? Are we supposed to believe what we want to believe? Why was Hugo's character wearing such a hip hat? Many questions popped into my head.

Allison
Allison's play brought up a very complicated topic. I have to say, since my play took place in the same space, I really felt that it was a claustrophobic space. Throughout the process, I was a little confused why Alyssa all of a sudden is angry that she was in there for longer than she was supposed to be. Also, some of the tactics that the therapist, Brian, uses I had to ask about but they all made sense once they were explained. I think Allison brought the space to life in an interesting way, using the other door as a key item and the fact that the walls are really close together to invigorate that feeling of claustrophobia.

Ben
Ben used the space in a much different way than I would have thought also. I never thought about a homeless woman living in an office building but I guess they live wherever. Some questions that I never got to ask Ben were why this girl is homeless? Or why does she feel like she can't go back home if she is there? Was she lying when she said she had only been in there for 2 days? The high stakes of the two characters really worked well in the small space. The fact that these two people who hardly know each other were trying desperately to each get their goals in a very small area increased the tension. Ben used the space that he was given very well.

Plays Day 3

Natalie:
I liked being a part of Natalie's play, because I felt like all the characters were clearly defined, and so their contrasting personalities were what created a successful conflict. I also liked that the play was set in a theater, and that I got to move up and down the stairs because I felt like I was really interacting with the space.


Hugo:
Hugo's play changed a lot from the first time I read it, and I think he made some great improvements. The enigma of Natalie's character-- not only that we didn't know what she looked like, but in terms of the things she said-- drew me in as an audience member. Natalie's exit was a great reversal, amplified by the fact that we then got a glimpse into Hugo's character (we had only been focusing on Natalie's), learning that he has a history of being delusional, although he seemed like the normal one.

Allison:
Allison's play was interesting because I thought she used the space really well: the claustrophobia was so tangible. I also thought she did a good job of building tension (Montana's discomfort made me SO uncomfortable, in a good way), and then revealing that Montana's character improved without noticing.

Ben:
I loved the reversal in Ben's play. I think the play became so strong when Montana revealed that this was some weird game she likes to play, because it raised so many questions: what kind of psychological issue would drive her to do something like that? Did she just want attention? How long had she actually been in there?

Montana:
I thought this play was also successful in raising questions: In particular, why does a seventeen year old play these types of games? I also thought it was interesting when it was revealed that Ben's character might not have been completely truthful, since it was now clear that he didn't actually live in the building, yet he knew the name of the other character.

Site - Specific Plays Day 3

Sophie: I felt Sophie used her space in a really interesting and really effective way. Before seeing the play, I had no idea how she was going to use this space, with it being so compact and also having only part of it facing where the audience was standing, and she used it in a way that really worked for the story. I loved how for the entire beginning (and possibly first half) of the play, all we see of Natalie's character is her head popping out, and we mostly only hear her responses to Hugo's character. I loved how their relationship unfolded, and how by the end we really got a sense of how each character was feeling, especially Natlaie's. As Chandler said in class, it was a surprise to hear Natalie's character say she got laid off, and it explained a lot as well and answered many questions. Questions in the beginning of the play - Where exactly are they? Why is Natalie's character taking little interest in what Hugo's character is saying about the bees? Why doesn't he care about what she has to say? - were slowly explained throughout and the answers were revealed not too soon but not too late. I liked that it was at the very end when she told him about losing her job, and that was when the play came to an end, leaving us with many questions about what was going to happen to each character after that, and where their relationship was going to go. As great as it is as a 10 minute play, I'd love to see it expanded because I really want to know what will come next (but I guess the great thing about it is that it leaves the audience wondering and wanting more).

Natalie: I loved how Natalie, like Sophie, had part of the play happening off stage and how it played into the story really well. I thought the reversal of Natalie's character in the beginning talking about how everyone loves her and she'd never be alone, and then ending up alone, was really powerful. I really disliked her character throughout, and was almost happy she didn't get the part in the end, and that was when I realized I actually cared about the character and what was going to happen, and I think it's important to have characters the audience has an attachment to. The character was so defined, and the dialogue felt very true to her character (and the others). I also liked the other reversal, as Chandler mentioned, with Hugo's character who ended up having the cast list all along, but deciding not to reveal it at first. I was also left wondering what was going to happen to Natalie's character, and how (and if) her life would be different once the play ended.

Hugo: I loved that even though there was very little movement in most of the play, there was still so much going on. This is actually interesting considering the comment made in class about how moving around the small space that was chosen will help move the play along (or something along those lines), and this play almost did the reversal but I felt it really worked. I loved how Natalie's character remained a mystery, not only to us but to Hugo's character as well. As someone said in class, the reversal at the end was so unexpected and interesting. When Hugo's character went to get the flashlight and bring it back, I was expecting him to say something about how he just missed her, and instead he blamed himself and thought he was going crazy which completely threw me off from my original assumption of what would happen, and I loved that. I thought I knew his character well enough to expect a certain reaction from him and then it ended with this insight into Hugo's character. I also liked how Natalie's character slid away as Hugo's character left. This play, like many of the other plays, left me wondering so much and having so many questions - Where was Natalie's character going when she left? Had she been there before? How often does she come there? - as well as many about Hugo's character and I really wanted to know if the two were ever going to meet again. The space was used in a really unique way, and completely strayed away from its original use, and I really felt transported to where it was taking place. I loved how mainly only one section of the space that was used, and even though there was a lot of space not being used for most of the play, it really brought us to where the two characters were and made the situation more intimate.

Ben: I, like many people, also had many questions. Not only did I have questions throughout, but I had questions wondering about what was going to happen to each character after the play ended. The question of why Montana's character was in that space was slowly revealed and I thought it was interesting to have my character really oblivious to the fact that Montana was homeless. It was an interesting choice, instead of having it come up and have the characters discuss it. I was also wondering certain close questions - How often does Montana's character come to that place? Has my character been there before? How long had Montana's character been there and how long is she planning on staying? - and I loved how it ended the way it began, coming full circle, as Chandler said.

Montana: I really liked how the two characters ended up in the same place for very different reasons, and they were able to connect on a certain level and start to reveal themselves. There were many questions about each character, one obvious one being why each character was there. Ben revealed the answer to this pretty easily toward the beginning of the play (revealing something about his character), but my character was the opposite and was very closed off and annoyed by Ben's character. It was interesting to see how my character slowly was able to reveal to Ben's character about why she left her apartment and how she feels about her parents fighting. I also thought the play ended on a really interesting note - right when the two characters were starting to connect and open up, Ben's character had to leave. It left me wondering "what if."

Plays--Day 3

I think Sophie's interpretation of that tiny, tiny nook next to the English office really innovative and interesting. For some reason when I pictured a play taking place there, I imagined the audience sitting in the nook itself, maybe next to the door that leads to the performance space. I thought she used the space effectively not only by giving the actors the maximum amount of room to work in but also by choosing to write a scene that had an inside/outside component. I loved when Natalie would half-enter the scene by poking her head around the corner, and I loved that Hugo actually looked as though he was sitting outside on the porch. As I said in class, I also really liked Sophie's choice (heh) to reveal Natalie's unemployment at the end of the play rather than the beginning. Before hearing this information, I was confused about the dynamic between the two characters and certainly asking questions about why they were treating each other they way that they were. When Natalie told Hugo that she had lost her job a week ago and that he still hadn't noticed, the entire play came together for me.

I agree with John in that I think Natalie was really smart to use more than just the staircase/small floor space for the setting of her play, and yet she chose to position the audience so that we could only see that area. It really helped to establish the outsider-ness of Sophie's character; she was still in the same room as Natalie and Hugo, and yet she was still separate, still far enough away for them to talk about her behind her back. I also liked the fact that Hugo's character lied to Natalie (and therefore, the audience) that he hadn't seen the cast list yet, but then at the end we see that he had known the entire time. It put a cool spin on his lines that he had said to Natalie earlier when asking her if she would be upset if she didn't get the lead role.

I absolutely loved the way Hugo staged his play. And though I thought that the style of dialogue was a little strange (it almost sounded like Olde English at some points!) it totally worked with the strange plot, the strange staging, and the strange characters. Something I really enjoyed was the stagnancy of the play (in terms of physical movement, not dialogue or plot) because it really brought a lot of energy to the play when Hugo finally ran up stairs to get the light. To me, it signified the impending reversal--someone moved, so something big was about to happen. And I really loved Natalie's exit. The last surprise, too, of Hugo interpreting her absence as a mark of his insanity, was interesting.

On to the basement...

Allison's play was very cool to watch. Out of all the plays we've seen thus far, this, to me, felt the most space-inspired, or site-specific. From my place in the audience, it looked as though this room was built for the play. It was claustrophobic, clinical, fluorescent...all the things that Montana's character would have a negative reaction to. I also liked the way that Ben and Montana's dynamic played out, with Montana's manic pacing and Ben's controlled voice and position on the floor.

Ben's play definitely raised many questions for me, some of which were answered and some of which were not. Where did these people work? How many people had Montana convinced she was locked in the basement? Where did she get the key? And of course, why was she pretending that she was trapped down there? I really liked the prop element of the play--how Montana had spread out and really made herself comfortable down there. It really helped me to believe that she had thought her scheme through very carefully. The play came full circle by the ending, as Montana ended in literally the same position that she started in, which gave the play a sort of slice-of-life feeling to it, as though we had stumbled on this scene.

Finally, Montana's play. This, too, raised many questions for me, and though I found myself confused at the end, it definitely held my attention and curiosity. I felt that the relationship between Allison and Ben unfolded very well, and very realistically. The "getting to know you" awkwardness was captured really well, and they both had moments of defensiveness and inquisitiveness, which was nice to see. I also thought that Montana really highlighted the loneliness of the space really well through Allison's character explaining that she normally sits down there to escape and to be alone.

The Third Stage of our Glorius Plays

The plays in the small area in the basement

This goes for all the plays but I really thought that they used the fact that it was a small space to their advantage. The play with the person who gets claustro phobic was excellent because it made me feel as if the room really was closing. Each person also took use of the difference the room's aura was when the lights were on and off. Each of theirs plays gave characters that showed a complete different interaction to the small dark/light room that would set the mood for the entire play and really would draw the audience in.

The plays in the stairwell of the performance place

The plays from this space, I found, had a distinct personality reversal. With the play where the amazing actress, a huge meanie, finds out the seemingly impossible results that she did not get the main actress, and instead the "ugly" secretary gets the part. Also the play where the man ends up thinking he is insane, despite his belief he was meeting someone special, this to me was a very big mental reversal. One thing I wish to conclude with is that I thought it absolutely brilliant that they used more than simply the minuscule corner of the gigantic performance space, simply genius, if I do say so myself.

Plays This Week

I've been so impressed with everyone's plays this week. I think everyone came up with something original and developed, considering the amount of time we all had to present.

Chandler's: I thought the idea behind Chandler's was really interesting. The way she made the florescent light bulbs a part of the play was really effective. I also thought that her stage directions kept the audience very engaged; as each character exited, the other would do something to develop the plot (such as read the other character's journal). I think Chandler captured the anxiety of the character she played very well, and she skillfully included some of the roots of her character's problems in her dialogue.

Hannah's: Hannah's play revolved around a very unusual concept, which in the end, made a lot of sense. Hannah mastered ambiguity in her play. I loved the way she made Chandler's character move forward as the play progressed, turning the lights on as she went. Aesthetically, her play really worked. Even when audience members were very confused, they were engaged.

Kayla's: I really enjoyed working with Kayla on her play. Firstly, I thought she came up with an extremely appealing and unique concept: going to purgatory. I think she did a very good job with the development of her characters. Even though the man had monologues throughout the play, the audience was still able to get a sense of who Claire was through the subtleties dialogue. Kayla also picked an idea that worked really well within her space. She came up with unique ways to make the space more interesting, such as having Claire tape her and the man's sweaters to the wall.

Oliver's: Oliver's play was fun to be a part of. I think the extreme personalities he used for both of his astronauts were very effective, giving audience members insight into their relationship before it was even specifically introduced. I also think using the vestibule as a spaceship was an extremely creative and difficult undertaking, but also a sensible one. The dialogue was witty and fast, and the concept was clear.

Sophie's: I think Sophie did the best job demonstrating the relationship between the characters in her play better than anyone else has thus far. The dialogue was extremely believable, and that is something that can really sell a play. She effectively used simple props, like the newspaper and the snuggies, to make the set her own. The idea she was going for was easy to picture in the space. On the acting end, I thought that Natalie and Hugo did a very good job, which was an important aid for the audience.

Natalie's: Natalie was really effective in making all of her character's motives very clear. She also cleverly victimized the assistant theater director. I think Natalie's had the most character development out of all the plays we've seen thus far. Within the five minute snapshot Natalie gave us, we were able to see insights into her character as well as insights into how people around her perceived her. The dialogue and "beats" felt very natural as they were read.

Hugo's: Hugo's play was the most thought-provoking for me out of all the plays thus far. Initially, the audience is focused on the mysterious girl behind the wall. However, Hugo crafted a very interesting plot with a fast (and sad) reversal. The play becomes very much about his character, and the audience automatically becomes sympathetic towards him and his mundane lifestyle. The play also made audience members think afterwards about how depressing life can be sometimes. Audience members were also left wondering about who the girl behind the wall really was, as well as what her beliefs were.

Allison's: Allison definitely utilized the space she chose for her play. The concept behind her play was perfect for an area as dark and depressing as the commons. She gave the therapist a great, calm disposition. Similarly, she gave the claustrophobic character a very believable nature. Allison did a great job with the whole "arrive late, leave early" concept that we have discussed in class before. Through the subtleties in her dialogue she gave great insights into the background of Montana's character; the audience didn't have to live through her entire story to know her story.

Ben's: Ben's play left audience members thinking about an interesting concept: voluntary solitude. Montana's character was very unusual in the sense that she intentionally locked herself in the basement. Ben cleverly left Montana's character's background very uncertain, and to me, that was the most effective aspect of his play. Ben's play benefitted from being ambiguous, which is an idea that other playwrights in our class haven't taken on as much. He also made good use of Allison's character

Montana's: I think the relationship Montana created between her two characters was really effective. Audience members easily sympathized with Allison's character. At the same time, not so expectedly, it was also very easy to sympathize with Ben's character, who doesn't seem like a completely normal kid. The relationship they formed was very interesting; by the end of the play audience members felt a sense of security once they knew that Allison had a friend in the building even while her parents were fighting. The play had a good balance between somberness and comfort.

Days 1 and 2

Chandler:
I really enjoyed the suspension and ongoing interest I had in what was going to happen. Throughout the dialogue between Kate and Rebecca I was wondering where the play was going, where they were, etc. This play brought up many questions for me because I wanted to know so much about the play. Are these two girls close friends? If they are, why do they feel like they have to lie and be so secretive with one another? Where did they meet? How long have they been in the dungeon, being experimented on? Do their parents know about this? I think if this play were to be developed into a full length or even just a 30 page play, Chandler could develop the characters and their stories in such detail that would be incredible. Also, do the two students go to Cornell or was it just a coincidence that they were both wearing Cornell sweatshirts? That was just somethign I was thinking of. Also, like Kayle I really started feeling hot and uncomfortable when Chandler's character felt that way. The awkwardness of the placement of the audience only helped the catharsis (as Kayla said) of the piece.

Hannah:
A one woman show is really hard to pull off, and I think Hannah used her knowledge of the theater very well while doing this. The parts of the show that worked the most for me were the effectiveness of the lights, the use of different props to symbolize different characters, and the strong language. All the lines seemed like things that people would actually say, it was very effective. I was a little confused throughout the show, how everyone was related to each other. Who is the main character? Do we get to know anyone's names? It is helpful to me to know someone's name in a play. I still found it really effective though. The combination of Chandler's acting and the design of the show which was very different from anyone else's plays so far was powerful. The fun was an especially powerful prop. For me a gun on stage is always frightening because I hate loud noises and I didn't want it to go off but it definitely got my attention. I was confused about the different noises, also. Where are all these characters? This play certainly brought up a lot of questions.

Julie:
This play was really relevant to me because it very much had to do with certain things we were talking about in Vietnam earlier this year. The relationship that Julie created between these two characters was an interesting comparison with the anxiety from the bomb raids. Oliver's character's necessity to make Kayla love him was an interesting stake to put in the middle of this life or death situation. I did have some questions about their relationship though: Did they actually know each other before that? Did he just admire her from afar? Does she have feelings for someone else? Is there something about him that would make her not like him? Why are they alone? Why do they not question that as much as they should? Are they at school? I think this play's strong themes come out very well through the characters and could come out even further with a few less pauses in the dialogue maybe. The anxiety to me should be so heightened for the two of them that they need to be talking all the time to distract themselves.

Kayla:
I thought this concept was awesome! I never would have thought of making the doors Heaven and Hell, but I thought it was so cool. I also like that I didn't know what the conflict was going to be, and then it became clear. I also liked the way she found out that he knew her, by saying her name. I was wondering up until the end why he killed her? The character seemed to be very apologetic about it, so was it accidental? Did he think she was someone else? Is that why he killed himself afterwards? There was definitely a clear story throughout this play and I would love to see it developed even further. This was one of the plays that actually worked with people walking in and out. It felt like they were people moving from Heaven to Hell or the other way around. The whole Heaven and Hell thing was so interesting that I wanted to know why Claire couldn't seem to get into Heaven or Hell until the end? What was preventing her entering? Was whoever-was-in-charge not sure where each of them were going? All these questions intrigued me.

Oliver:
Oliver's play was definitely not what I was expecting to see at ten o'clock in the morning. It was original, funny, whitty, and definitely surprising. I'm sad that the aliens got lost because I think it would been much more powerful if the aliens had been slightly more lifelike. I was wondering from the beginning of the play, how did Julie's character get into the science field in the first place? Why is she an astronaut? How did they get to the moon so easily? I guess to me some of the rules of NASA seemed a little fuzzy throughout the play and I wanted them to be claryfied a little more. I think the moving audience was a really cool idea because I have done that before where it hadn't worked, and it actually did during this play. This play probably brought up the most questions for me because it was something that I never would have thought to write about in a million years. I wish I could write about something more abstract or unknown like the moon and aliens.

Vicky on site-specific day 2: Oliver

For me, Oliver's play was a light, comedic good time. The dynamic between the characters was an interesting balance of yin and yang, and the characters seemed for the most part believable. However, I was unsure of Kayla's character's motivations; I didn't quite see what she wanted from the situation. My suspension of disbelief was also a bit severed for me with Julie's character, since it seemed unlikely to me that she would have been able to train a monkey to pass Nasa's physical exams as well as convince Nasa scientists that the monkey was her. Also-- we talked about this after your play-- I think the gun was supposed to be the surprising noise? I did a bit of research and since Mars has a thin atmosphere the sound of the fired gun would be pretty faint. However, since modern bullets are self-oxidized you could fire a gun in outer space and would be able to kill someone with it! Fun, huh?

Site - Specific Plays Day 2

Oliver: I thought Oliver's play was very unique, interesting and also funny. I thought the contrast of the two characters was interesting to see and I liked how Julie's character's "Your Mom" joke wasn't a one time thing, but actually was used throughout to show and was used to explain more about her character and expand on what her relationship with Kayla's character was like. I also thought the transition through the scenes was clear and I liked that the play brought us to an entirely new world. I agree with Chandler that the line about the light change might have been my favorite, not only making everyone laugh, but also allowing us to see something maybe we ordinarily wouldn't realize. Also like Chandler, I was curious about the two characters and what their relationship was like before we were introduced to them in the play, and I left the play wondering what was going to happen now that Kayla's character kept Julie's from coming into the spaceship. I like that the play ended on that note which left us wondering what many things could happen next and we were left to imagine it on our own.

Second day of plays...

I definitely appreciated Oliver's use of humor in his piece and my favorite examples of this were the lines that outright stated exactly what he was doing ("what a dramatic light change!"). Not only did they effectively draw attention to what he was trying to do as a playwright/director, but they made me laugh. I also agree with Sophie that the last event (Kayla locking Julie out of the spaceship) was a really good transformation to end on. If this play were to be expanded, I think I would like to learn more about the two characters' relationship with each other; we got a taste of this from some of the dialogue, but I was still asking questions about it at the end.

The use of space was effective. I liked that the audience had to migrate with the show--it kept us engaged, and it was a clear signifier of a new scene.

Site Specific Plays Days 1 and 2

Chandler's:

I think Chandler's play was very successful in terms of raising questions: in the first minute I already had three. The play struck a good balance between peaking our interest and not giving too much away... I think I know where it was but I'm not sure, and I like that it was slightly open to interpretation. For example, when Hannah rubbed her arm coming back into the room, that made me decide where I thought it was. If she hadn't done that motion, I think I would have had a different opinion. I also thought there were good reversals, mostly in Chandler's character: wanting her to open the notebook, then not, freaking out but not wanting help, etc.

Hannah:

I think the choice to have one person play every character was successful at times and not so much at others. I thought it was an interesting concept, and Chandler executed it really well, but I have a feeling that if I didn't know that context ahead of time I might not have understood it. I guess I wish that the transition from character to character had been slightly more obvious, although I thought each character was developed really well (each had a very distinct personality, which was great), and that each of them had distinct mannerisms. What I loved was the repetition of the lion (bracelet? I can't remember what exactly it was). That's what made the whole thing click, and where I understood the relationships between all the characters. Oh wait just kidding, I just read Chandler's blog post and figured out that the woman had multiple personalities. OK then that makes more sense, but maybe it's also good to know that's how I, as an audience member, interpreted the play.

Julie:

I liked the setting a lot. I thought it was an interesting challenge, to set a play not in modern times. Also, it provided an interesting climax. I thought Kenneth's reversal was great because it was unexpected: declaring his love and then dying could have been cliché, but the fact that he admitted that it had been sort of out of desperation was a nice twist.

Kayla:

Like Chandler, I think Kayla did a good job of raising questions at the beginning of her play, although hers differed from Chandler's because they were answered (which , in this case, I liked). I also really liked the concept in general: being trapped in limbo, and trying to get into Hell because Heaven is locked? It was original and of itself a reversal of what we would normally think about heaven and hell.

Oliver

As usual, Oliver's play had a sense of humor and an original concept. I thought the fact that the characters really interacted with their setting (they moved a lot and always made it clear where exactly they were) made the play really effective and helped me get more into it. The characters had very distinct personalities which provided for conflict throughout the play, and I thought that Kayla's characters decision to leave Julie's character out of the shuttle was a good way to end the play because it was unexpected.

The Plays on Day 2

Oliver

This was a very unique and strange play, but still very good. One thing I really liked was the emphasis on the lighting that he made his characters play. I found the use of the different balconies in the atrium as different parts of the stage quite nice because it served as a way to stage different settings. Lastly, I liked how the play was moved outdoors so as to set a whole other stage that was based on landing on mars.

Site-Specific Plays

Hannah's:

The production of this play as a whole was really impressive. I kept thinking how realistic the script sounded and Chandler's  detailed (if that makes sense) interpretation of these peoples' personalities was really great. It's not easy to switch between so many personalities in a couple of minutes, and I find that, personally, when I write, my characters start to sound like each other because they're all made up from the same brain. But all of Hannah's characters were distinct. And I really liked the switching on and off the lights and how Alis started all the way in back and ended up right in front of us. I may just not have caught on, but as a whole I was slightly confused about the order of events- as in, when are each of these characters supposed to be speaking and who/what is the main problem here? Except I didn't really mind not knowing because the performance/script itself was engrossing. And I liked how much the characters talked about the space itself (i.e. black pipes).

Chandler's: 

Again, another really realistic portrayal. I liked the silent awkwardness throughout the play, and I myself started to feel hot and frustrated when Chandler's character was feeling that way--which was a very cool sort of catharsis. The constant silence between the two characters spoke almost as much about their relationship as their words did. The very eerie "dungeon" set was too perfect, and I thought the single-light-bulbs had a really dramatic effect. I thought that the simplicity of the dialogue contrasted the complexity of the situation really well.

Julie's:

Julie's play was extremely fun to be in. "Teenagers" seems to be a theme in most of these plays (I wonder why...) and I thought that this was the most light-hearted. Julie captured teen awkwardness really well in the script, and during a couple of moments it almost felt real because as a teenager I guess I could relate to the sort of emotions being shared between boy and girl. And I think Julie's use of multiple entrances (with the maintenance man and the teacher) was really nice because it created an open sort of set that I imagined to have been extended past each exit. 

Vicky on site-specific day 1

Chandler
I thought Chandler's play had a really powerful protagonist, and the dialogue was well-written and evocative. However, I was a little unsure of the plot and I thought the role Hannah played was a bit under-developed in comparison to the protagonist.

Hannah
I thought the structure was very interesting. The use of sound was a unique touch as well, though at parts I found it a little distracting from what Alice was saying. I think the use and change of lighting could have been more utilized and be a more central part of the transition between each character.

Julie
I really liked your play! What a quaint little moment in time for the life of Kenneth Corfield. I thought the characters were very believable. I wasn't entirely sure what the sound from your ipod was making--was that supposed to be sound from the trash can? I also wasn't entirely sure why the characters were where they were.

Kayla
I think your play was a really interesting analysis and discussion of good and evil. You had some really thought-provoking characters, although I'm not sure if I entirely understood their motives. Especially Rom. I couldn't see his motivation for killing Julie's character. I was also a bit confused about the sweater part and the character that came in at the end seemed a little rushed and I was unsure at first of what her role was.

The Plays (so far)

While working on Hannah's play, I've found it really interesting to see the progression. When she first told me that it was going to be a one woman show about a woman with multiple personalities inside her, I was a little freaked out. But I think that she followed through with it very effectively. First of all, the constricting aspect of the dingy corridor that I think we all experienced while standing in there was captured perfectly by Hannah's metaphor of several personalities trapped within one body. This performance was also the first run-through with props and sound effects, both of which really contributed to the creepiness of the show as well as my own experience characterizing these people. The clanking, to me, was ghostly--almost as if some sort of Jacob Marley were behind Alis, the primary character.

I also really appreciated Julie's utilization of the space. First of all, I really liked that I wasn't sure where the scene was taking place until the teacher enters at the end. The hallway definitely gives off the feeling of a bomb shelter, and I thought that was really clever. I also thought that the humor worked very, very well. This was partly due to Kayla and Oliver's delivery and (purposeful) awkwardness but also due to the script. To me, it gave off a distinct sense of realism, especially during the part where Kayla's character called Oliver's character weird. Lastly, I loved the apocalypse moment. The sound effect was certainly surprising but also effective because it really gave us insight into why Oliver would confess something like that to a girl that just insulted him.

Finally, I also LOVED Kayla's interpretation of the lobby's vestibule. I thought the plot unfolded really well (nice reversal at the end!), allowing the audience to ask questions...a lot of questions...but still maintain a certain level of understanding. My favorite, favorite, favorite part of the play was the explanation of the people walking in and out of the doors. I thought it was SO funny to imagine each of the innocent people walking by as characters in the play, acting nonchalant because, of course, that's how their characters are supposed to act! I also was impressed with the way that the audience was set up...it was almost like theater in the round, which was very cool.

Site - Specific Plays Day 1

Chandler: Chandler's play actually reminded me of mine in some ways, and I thought it was very interesting the way she decided to show the audience how her character was feeling. The breathing heavily, telling Hannah to shut off the light, and pacing - there were very specific movements that really enabled us to get a sense of what she was going through. I also had a lot of questions throughout the play - where were the two characters and why they were there, when they left the area, where they were headed and what did it mean to each character, and answers were slowly revealed through the dialogue between the two.

Hannah: The way this play was done was very interesting. I liked the light being turned on and off at specific points (as John said). Having her pull the light at one point, and then having it go dark again really worked. While there were some points when I was confused, there were definite points when it was clear when there was a specific change of character, for example when Chandler held the gun in her hand and then I think a point when she leaned against the wall and collapsed to the floor (?). I thought the use of the clanking sound added something to the play, and I also liked that the audience stood at the back and was watching the play from that angle because we looked at the space in a completely different way.

Julie: I really liked how we didn't exactly know where the two characters were until the very end of the play. Because of this, throughout I had so many questions - Where are they? Why are they there? Why do they think the world is coming to an end? - and by the end it was clear and the questions were answered, and I loved that the play took place in a shelter, something I wasn't expecting. It's hard to figure out when to reveal the answer to a certain question (timing it to make sure it's not too soon or too late) and I think Julie did a good job of figuring this out - even if I was confused about where the play was taking place exactly, it didn't stop me from understanding what was going on between the characters or keep me from enjoying the play. I also liked that it was a dramatic situation but really funny at the same time. I'm not sure if that's what Julie was going for, but I think it worked really well.

Kayla: The idea of using her space as a place to go once you have died - with one set of doors being the entrance to heaven and the other set leading to hell, was really interesting and really made us view that area in a completely different way. Because of this we were able to imagine the world where the play took place, and I completely forgot that we were in school (except for the fact that people kept walking in and out). Having Oliver explain to the audience why he was there, but then having Julie not know what we knew was interesting, and I liked knowing something the other characters didn't; it created a sense of mystery and we were left wondering throughout when and if Julie would find out and what would happen. I missed the ending of the play! I don't know if it was because I couldn't hear or see what was going on, but from the point when Kayla came in I was confused and couldn't figure out what she was saying, and I wish I had.

THe plays on day 1

Chandler
I greatly enjoyed her play for two reasons, firstly I enjoyed the enthusiasm and distinct detail that each actor took in this play which made it feel very real and very in depth. Also, the part of the play where Chandler had to have a panic attack due to the closeness of the room, was extremely accurate and in fact I found myself having a hard time to breathe through out the play, because of that observation.

Hannah
One thing that I found in interesting about her play was that it was a monologue, except, the play involved the use of several different actors, all played out by a single individual. I thought that the use of turning the lights on and off, as each new scene or person was being introduced, was very smart. The aspect that I thought was very cool was the use of the weird sound throughout the play and the places it was used.

Kayla
This was a really good play, I, one, had no idea what the plot was at first, which made it interessting and really brought me into the action. Also, I think that the use of both doors, each as an almsot different set was very intriguing and really helped to absorb the audience and make htem think about the afterlife and the choices we make during our time on Earth. The ending, however, was the best because once everything came together and all the characters were explained it made the play that much better.

Julie
The one thing I liked about this play was how the set was used as a bomb shettler, which I thought was very accurate decision. Also, I found the weird tension between the two pricipal characters were realistic and helped to connect with the audience on a fundamental level. It was also realistic in the sense that, what would we say and think and do if we believed we were going to die in a few moments.

Site-Specific

I ended up choosing the hallway behind the cafeteria because, for better or for worse, it gave me the most sensory information from just standing in there--the smells, the sounds, the lighting...it's all very strong. Although, when choosing the space, I (like Allison) had no idea what I was going to write about, the ten minutes I spent in there recording how the room made me feel were actually very helpful. When looking over my notes later that night, I was able to come up with story line almost immediately, which made me very happy. The problems came when I actually began writing; I found it difficult to drive the play to where I wanted it to end up, especially within the limitation of 7 pages. I also, despite having a two person group, added a third character. The editing process has definitely been a challenge because I've had to find a solution to cutting out the third character, and when Hannah and I rehearsed in the space, I found it much more cramped than I had imagined when writing it. I'm kind of scared to see how it's going to turn out, but I think that the time I've spent in the space has been very helpful throughout the entire process. Hopefully it'll serve me well during the performance!

Just wanted to say that I'm really excited to see how everyone else's turn out, too.

Site - Specific Play

My play takes place in the nook next to the commons (across the vending machines). I realized when I chose this place I had no idea what my play was going to be about, and I realized other people probably had something in mind when choosing their location. Going into it I had no clue what to do, and even thinking about it over the next two days was a struggle. With the different ideas I came up with, none seemed to work or I didn't know how to make it into an interesting play in the limited amount of space I had to work with. I think I spent the most time going crazy over what to do for this assignment than any other and I was getting worried! Finally somehow I came up with an idea, and then my worry was keeping it from being boring. After writing some of it I realized there wasn't really a middle and nothing was happening in the play. It's a slice of life type of play, and all I imagined was people finding it really uninteresting. I was also worried about making the play realistic. Because my play deals with something I've never really dealed with before, I was worried that maybe my characters weren't acting the way that people like them in a real life situation would (this might not make sense until you see my play). I guess after working with the piece a little more I've been able to make changes and figure a few things out, but it is still really hard to figure out how to execute it with the space I chose. There is hardly any room for the characters move around and then I also have to think about where the audience will be and how the audience will be viewing the play from their angle. It's hard to figure all of this out given the limitations because we actually have to perform the play and make sure it works in the space. It's scary knowing that I have to share it with the class. Not only was thinking up the idea and writing the play difficult, but now directing and acting? AH! It's definitely a challenge and I'm just hoping the play comes across the way I want it to.

Site-specific play

I'm using the nook by the English office. I chose it because
a) I've always loved being in there for some reason, and
b) I thought it could be useful to have an "offstage" (up the stairs, out of sight of the audience).
It took me a while to come up with a concept, but I knew that I wanted the stairs to represent a balcony, and for the play to be about comfort and being sheltered. I definitely need to work on getting my message across (I don't think it's very clear, but instead it kind of just sounds like my characters are rambling about random things). Usually when I write, I struggle with being to subtle, but with dialogue I'm now struggling with being too obvious. It's hard to balance the two and make an interesting play with an important message, and it's definitely different now that I know my play will be performed in front of my classmates. It's good to know I'll have an audience who can give me feedback about my play, but it's also intimidating to have people judge my work since I'm so new at this. I hope it ends up being executed well, and I think everyone will like my costume element.

My Site-Specific Play

My play takes place in the small area behind the theater. I chose that spot because I liked how it seemed hidden from the rest of the room. Usually, most of the drama happens on the stage, so I decided it would be cool for the drama to happen in the opposite place of the theater. Even though I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted my play to about, I knew I wanted mine to be a drama that involved gossip and mean girls, common themes in movies about high school. The only thing is, I’m having a little trouble revising my play. I feel like it’s really uninteresting and won’t keep the audience members on the edge of their seats. The climax is unexciting and the ending is boring. Over the summer, I saw this short play (written by a high school student) about a wife trying to get her husband to move his recently deceased brother’s things out of the house, and during the scene she was working on getting him to bring out the last box. Towards the end, when she finally convinced him to do it and they began to lift the box up, it broke and all the brother’s things fell on the floor (which resulted in the husband getting extremely upset). I remember, as an audience member, how brilliant that moment was because it shocked me so much and completely changed the play. I think my play lacks that kind of climax and shock. I wish I could find some way to have a moment that completely surprises the audience like that play had. I also feel like my play has not point or lesson (does a play always need a lesson learned?) and it just ends. Since I’m writing about teenagers in high school, I also feel like the characters in my play are a little too stereotypical. There’s the mean girl, the unpopular girl, and the boy who really doesn’t do much except keep the conversation rolling. It seems too typical, so I think I should work on that. Like Montana, I’m excited to revise my piece and make it better, but I know it will definitely be a challenge.

Site-Specific Plays

My Site-Specific Play takes place in the small nook near the commons. When we were all walking around the building, I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for in the different spaces. I figured I would just have to pick between the ones that were left over after everyone else had chosen. However, I started trying to think of ideas so that I wouldn't be completely blind going into writing a play that was going to be performed in front of the whole class. However, once I got to the nook I was relieved that I had an idea! It was great to know what I was going to be writing about. However, I ended up writing something completely different. I wanted to write about two people who were hiding from some people who were following them, but they didn't know each other. However I ended up writing about two teenagers who both wanted to get out of their apartments, but with different motives and for different reasons. I started out wanting to write about something that doesn't have to do with my life at all, but I ended up writing about something that is pretty directly related to my life. I think I probably chose one of the hardest spaces in terms of space, since there practically isn't any, but I hope that I can make it work. My play ended up being a lot about the words because there is little space to move around. We will have to see how the blocking goes. Unfortunately, my group and I didn't get to talk about my play because class had finished, but from a few of their comments I am very excited to work on it. I can't wait to continue revising. I really can't. I thought this piece would be something that I wasn't interested in, but I am pretty devoted to it.

Exercises!

I agree with a lot of what everyone has been saying on here--boot camp has definitely been more fun than its name let on. The exercises have also certainly made me think a little bit more outside the box of realism, especially (like Sophie said) when the prompts were very specific. For example, the Mysterious Woman/special umbrella/etc. play that I wrote was very unlike any of the other products that I've churned out, and I feel like this might be because the prompt was so detailed.

That said, I'm still a little disappointed with the way many of my exercises/pieces overall have turned out. I definitely get that the purpose of an exercise is to take us somewhere, and then give us the freedom to go wherever we want to past that point. However, most of the plays that I've written feel very hollow to me. Of course, this could totally be due to the fact that they are, in fact, the first drafts of a very very very novice playwright...but it's been frustrating.

I've really enjoyed the "writing during class" aspect of boot camp. I love that when I come home, I'm finishing something I've already, rather than starting afresh again and again and again. This has made me feel like I'm building something because it does give me the time and opportunity to pause and think about where I'm going, rather than just write for the sake of writing.