Directing (7) - So far...

Scenes:

1. Staging complete // Intentions need work on being portrayed clearer
2. Staging complete // Intentions understood // Needs cementing
3. Staging complete // Intentions understood // Needs cementing
4. Staging complete // Intentions understood // Practically finished
5. Staging complete // Intentions understood // Finished
6. Staging incomplete // Intentions need discovering // Needs a lot of work
7. Staging complete // Intentions understood // Practically finished
8. Staging incomplete // Intentions need work // Needs a lot of work
9. Staging complete // Intentions understood // Finished

Rehearsals:   We are not making a definite rehearsal schedule, as of yet, because we haven't touched on all of the scenes. However, next lesson we shall do scene six and eight, as we have done the least work on these scenes. We can leave scenes five and nine for a while, as we have completed these and they need the least amount of work. Once we have done a substantial amount of work on all of the scenes, we shall do a full run and then create our rehearsal schedule for the lessons leading up to the performance, where we shall work out our priorities.

Staging:   So far, all of our piece has been made up of just two or three chairs. Not only do we think that this may be too repetitive, but we feel it is a bit Brechtian for a very naturalistic play. We are intending on including a table that shall be used for the bar scene, the restaurant and as a coffee table at different places. As Pinter has written in a naturalistic style, we are taking a Stanislavski approach, and so will be using many props in our production where requires (e.g. glasses, the book, keys). Although, above I have written that the staging is complete for the majority of the scenes, we haven't worked with the tables or any props as of yet, so will need to do this as soon as possible. We shall incorporate the table in to every scene as to minimise the length and potential chaos of scene change. This table recycling can help form the set - i.e. by returning the table to the same place for the flat scene, helps establish the setting.

Dealing with problems:   For every scene that contains just two actors, the third person shall direct that scene. For scenes that contain all three of us, the person who is in it the least shall direct. If there are any disagreements the actor shall make the final decision, if the can justify their reasoning.

Characters:   We all have to decide on how we want each character to be portrayed, and how we want the audience to view them. We have agreed that we want the audience to be sympathetic towards Jerry and like him, but still be torn between Jerry and Robert. We want them to go between wanting Jerry and Emma being together because they seem sweet together, but at the same time knowing that the relationship is wrong so wanting Robert to find out. However, the audience would want Robert and Jerry to be friends so everything resolves itself.