Evaluation

The Cherry Orchard Evaluation

Rehearsal Period

The first rehearsal was very relaxed as we were introduced into our roles and scenes so i approached the lesson in a very relaxed way which looking back now i wish i shouldn't of.I should of started learning my lines straight away and thinking how i could of applied Stanislavsky ideology to my work.However i took things into my own hands and decided to just say my lines rather than performing them and looking at the objectives. 

The Second lesson was similar however i decided on breaking up my scene into objectives labeling each section with a heading as this was homework.This befitted my work as i knew my aim while speaking my lines and i understood why my character Ranevskaya was saying those lines.By choice i decided upon not even familiarizing myself with my lines.This effected my rehearsal as i was constantly looking at my book and wasn't able to engage my character fully into the scene.

After this lesson I skimmed over the play again and in detail looked over Ranevskaya's previous lines so i could gradually grow an emotional attachment.I believe looking through the characters journey and in the play and knowing what she's been through can affect how you deliver and woman who's grieving over her sons death whilst also finding out that now shes lost her house.

The question which i should of also asked myself was 'What if?' I struggled with this as i've never lost my house before and wasn't quite sure how to begin and i didn't think my reaction would be the conventional reaction  however i changed it to how would i feel if i lost something very close to me, which identifies me as a person ,carrying so much history that without it i'm lost. 

In the play, the Cherry Orchard is what Ranevskaya believes identifies her and it also carries alot of and history and its the only thing stable in her life.

When using the 'Magic If'' with the question how would i feel if i lost my house ,i should of looked at it as how would i feel if i lost my house in the role of Ranevskya knowing that the character has lost so much already.

If i was to use it in this way i would feel scared as i don't know where i'll be in the future and after loosing my house i would also feel emotionally and physically weak.This could be shown through bad posture and her speech.

When using the 'Magic If' for my own interpretation I  found out that i would be clue

In the third lesson ignorantly i familiarized myself with most of my lines but didn't know my cues so once again i wasn't able to present my character at her best.

In the extra rehearsal I knew my lines but still didn't know my Cues.

If i was to do the play again i would focus more on my lines 2 weeks before the play instead of a week before the play as i know i'm  perfectly capable of learning them in a decent amount of time,I've just have to use my time efficiently which I've done quite well in previous productions.

Luckily i didn't have many lines and i'm a fast learner so i was able to learn them for the next rehearsal however i wasn't confident enough to be onstage without my book as i was scared i would mess up and maybe even get shouted at .My aim next time is to just believe in myself and know that it's better to be able to show to i tried learning your lines and messing up then standing in rehearsal with my book not being able to play my character well and also in life your always going to make mistakes its just how you learn from them that counts.

In the rehearsal the night of the show i added on some physical movements which could portray a aristocratic woman. I did this by her focus always being very far out in front of her and that she doesn't look down below her unless talking to someone which makes her very uncomfortable.

I also narrowed it down to the way she sat. When sitting her back is always straight bending her knees still keeping her focus outwards.

 What went well

On a whole i think i made good physical choices when entering the room i made it clear of my high status by having quite a prestigious look on my face,walking proudly with purpose and taking a split second before sitting to look out into the distance at the Cherry Orchard.

During my scene when i was upset after i found out the Cherry Orchard was sold i was able to capture that moment of sadness but trying to keep composure;this was done by my character slightly slouching in her chair and her sense of focus is completely gone and she begins stroking/touching the chair beside her which shows loss and by me not completely crying and trying to prop myself up after slouching i show slight composure.

Eventhough this is expected,i did remember my lines and spoke confidently when saying them.

What I could of done better

If i were to do the performance again i would of maybe slowed down on some of my lines to make a bigger impact so the audience had time to take in what i was saying however in my scene my character is building up into a nervous wreck so naturally your words become faster and more snappy.

I should of worked on my Circles of attention as i did make the mistake looking straight into an audience members eyes breaking the fourth wall.This was usual as i didn't do it rehearsal but on the other hand there wasn't really a big audience.

Analysis of Niaomi 

What i really admired about Niaomi was that she was the first to know her lines and whilst also knowing them she was able to perform them during rehearsal period making interesting physical choices portraying her character Dunyasha as quite timid,soft-hearted and slightly naive.

Her character is often slightly hunched over in shyness unless she's with people she knows and her pace of walk keeps changing to suit her objectives. Her tone of voice is fairly high pitched with hints of maturity which suggests her late stages of youthfulness.

I was definitely impressed by how well she played her character,bringing her words to life.