I am the Director

You'll Suit Just Fine

Omar, Rami, Karim, Ekaterina

Face audience more

Speak more clearly

Don't block each other

The Connection

Gustav, Alberto, Marcia, Mariam, Adil, Poya

Remember lines

Marking A Script

'Checkout' Play

Outfit

In the one-act play 'Checkout' by Johnny Grim, Mr Morgan is a leading character. An old man in his late fifties who lives in Australia and is a regular customer of the store 'G-Mart'. Mr Morgan should in my opinion wear a simple hat, jacket and trousers like presented below but they should be neat and clean as Mr Morgan is someone who has a lot of respect for himself.

Reference: Google Images

Props:

- Walking cane (for Morgan)
- Expired ticket to a bus tour in Paris (for Morgan)
- Store themed apron (for Jenny and storeman)
- Fat wallet (for Wedgecock)
- Desk (for Mr Wedgecock)
- Cashier stand
- Shelves with supermarket goods

Stage Set

*The blue part on the floor from downstage right to upstage left is where the imaginary customers besides Morgan are walking and Jenny points them to walk in that direction to try the self serve machines.

PlayBill

Front page

Inside page 1

Inside page 2









































Back page

Reflecting on Othello Performance

On the 17th April my drama class performed the comedic version of the last two acts of Shakespeare's Othello. The audience had a good laugh and I feel that the play was a success. Apart from directing one of the scenes in previous classes, my role was as an announcer in Act 4 Scene 1 and Act 5 Scene 2. In comparison to some parts that my fellow classmates were to act out I didn't have much to memorise. I remembered to come out at the end of Act 4 Scene 1 and said the lines. I know myself to have stage fright but after rehearsing in class and at home my small part went fairly smoothly despite the fact that one of the announcers that was supposed to speak alongside me didn't come out in time and remained backstage. At the end of the play, Act 5 Scene 2, I was to come out and bring the play to a conclusion by speaking in chorus with the other 3 announcers on stage. There was an announcer that came from the wrong side of the stage and I had to walk to the other side so that the number of people was even on either side. We only rehearsed the line together twice and started speaking at different times on stage at which point I messed up my lines in confusion, so I would improve that if we were to redo the play. Finally, our whole class was to sit backstage and exclaim 'die' or 'gone from this world' for dramatic effect instead of the actor on stage saying it and I made sure to follow the script as the play went along and say the words when needed.

Othello Play - Clothing

There will be several actors in a position where they are all performing one role in the school play 'Othello' by William Shakespeare, so a certain attire has to be worn by the actors with one feature that will distinguish the role of each character. Preferably, all actors will wear a black t-shirt with black trousers. The following items will be worn or carried around by actors performing certain roles to represent them:

- Othello: Carries a rifle (as he is the head of the military)
- Iago:
- Desdemona: Wears a flower on her head
- Cassio: Carries a book as he is very educated
- Roderigo: Carries around an expensive looking walking stick because he is rich
- Emilia: Wears an apron
- Bianca: Wears a big shiny necklace
- Montano carries around a scroll to symbolise the government
- Announcers: Wear dark robes and each carry a lit candle to look mysterious

Monologue - Roderigo

Monologue:

Impossible! How could it be that Desdemona overlooked me, Roderigo, for that filty rat from the military, Othello!? Be he forever cursed if the rumours are true, and he indeed married Desdemona. It drives me senseless to think that she would hold someone as atrocious so dearly to heart. *thoughtful expression* Of course! Oh poor Desdemona, my dear, you must have fallen to his dark, wicked charms. What a right fool I am to think this was a voluntary marriage. Worry not, Desdemona, not all is lost. He shall feel my wrath, that wretched moor. My revenge will be sweet, I know of the man to help me realise my glorious deed. Iago, I will make use of Iago and win you over from Othello’s evil grasp. News of this tragedy must be brought to Senator Brabantio’s notice immediately, and that is exactly what I intend to do. 

Video:

P.S: Some clips got corrupted and had to be recorder again which is why it looks dodgy.

Othello - The Musical - Ulan, Gabor, Gustav, Alberto

Song 1: Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us

Relation to play: The chorus of the song, "All I want to say is that, they don't really care about us", represents somebody's feeling of resentment towards people around them who do not care about them. This could relate to Iago's hate and plot for revenge which follows after Cassio's promotion over Iago himself in the army. However neither does he have much care for other characters in the play, such as his henchman, Roderigo, who he sends to fight Cassio twice in the play without any concern for him. Cassio too, the man promoted over him. Iago doesn't care about Othello who really did nothing wrong yet was manipulated and hurt in the search for revenge, even his wife Emilia who he murdered so his evil deeds were not uncovered.

Acted out in class: Iago stands behind with a hateful expression while Cassio celebrates his promotion.

Song 2: Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

Relation to play: "You know the rules, and so do I", "We know the game and we're gonna play it". These quotes relate to Othello's and Desdemona's secret relationship and marriage. Othello is a moor that is only admired for his high rank in the military but being a man of colour, marriage with a white girl is prohibited. However they take a gamble and stay in a relationship, which links to the lyrics.

Acted out in class: Othello proposes to Desdemona on one knee, Desdemona is shocked.

Song 3: Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

Relation to play: Senator Barbantio is the father of Desdemona who is not fond of Othello either. After finding out that his daughter married Othello, he accuses him of using witchcraft to seduce Desdemona, but she testifies that she loves him by choice. Barbantio disowns his daughter, which links to the song's chorus "now you're just somebody that I used to know". Barbantio in a way feels betrayed that his daughter would marry a man he highly disapproves of and wants to leave with him, "but you didn't have to cut me off".

Acted out in class: Desdemona defiantly looks at Barbantio as he storms off.

Song 4: Simple Plan - Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me)

Relation to play: The chorus of the song relates a lot to Othello's feeling and state in the final scene when he realises that Desdemona was a faithful wife and he was tricked into killing probably the only person that will love him in this country. "How could this happen to me? I made my mistakes" This links to Othello questioning what he has done "Got nowhere to run, the night goes on as I'm fading away" He knows that he committed murder and now feels helpless. The 'night' part fits in because it is set at night. "I'm sick of this life" Othello's thoughts of suicide.

Acted out in class: The end of the play, Othello looks down on his dead wife regretting what he has done and stabs himself.

Peer Assessment - Othello

Announcers: Substantial (6) - In my opinion my group improved a lot in comparison to our last performance as we stood up, moved around, used levels, and added our own creative bits.
Scene 1: Substantial (5) - Used levels, two of three actors were loud, clear, moved around and used accents. Could be better if one actor could face the audience and be louder.
Scene 2: Adequate (4) - Actors did not really move around and some could not be heard but they knew their lines.

Comparing the Comedic Version of 'Othello' to Shakespeare's 'Othello'

The way that the scene given to me in the comedic version of Othello (Introduction to play with announcers) is that Shakespeare's original version has no announcers at the start of the play and is a tragedy not comedy.

Othello - Play Summary

This is a summary of 'Othello' written by William Shakespeare in my own words.

(Exposition) The play opens one early morning with a Venetian man, Iago plotting revenge on a moor, Othello with his accomplice, Roderigo. Othello promoted a man called Cassio which infuriated Iago because he was passed in military rank. They are in a street and knocking on Senator Brabantio's door to alert him that his daughter, Desdemona, secretly wants to marry Othello. People in Venice aren't fond of Othello because he's 'a man of colour' and Barbantio later accuses him of seducing his daughter with witchcraft before the Duke of Venice but she denies it.
(Conflict) Othello is sent to Cyprus to fight the war against Turks on a ship with Desdemona, Iago and his wife Emillia. (Rising action) Iago decides to take advantage of Cassio, the man who stole his promotion and uses his henchman Roderigo to set up a fight between them which ultimately results in Cassio's demotion. Iago then, acting concerned for Cassio advises him to ask Desdemona to speak with Othello about considering to promote him back. As Othello and Iago enter the next scene, Cassio hurriedly leaves and Iago points out how he seems to be avoiding Othello. Desdemona then appears and earnestly begs for Cassio's reinstatement. Iago "connects the dots" for Othello and plants a seed of doubt in his mind, implying that Desdemona is in love with him.
(Climax) Desdemona loses a handkerchief which Iago claims to Othello that she gave it to Cassio. He also stages a conversation with Cassio which makes Othello all the more suspicious of the faithfulness of his wife. Finally unable to bear it, Othello decides that Iago and him will murder the two.
Iago and Roderigo go out to kill Cassio late at night. Roderigo is killed but Cassio is left injured. Hearing cries of his pain, Othello advances to fulfill his part. (Falling action) As Desdemona comes once more to ask for Cassio's reinstatement, Othello accuses her of being unfaithful and smothers her in bed with a pillow.
Emillia confronts Othello and alerts people before being stabbed by Iago. When Iago's malicious plot is uncovered, Othello sees that he has been fooled and stabs himself, dying next to Desdemona. (Resolution) 

Reference: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/othello/play-summary