Exam Structures.
1. ADA - 25 marks.
1 question on playing a character throughout the WHOLE play to show a theme or achieve a desired effect - this can be open or closed, meaning you can sometimes write about themes of your choice. Obvious ones are: police brutality and stupidity, corruption and greed.
Plan (5 mins).
Intro (10 mins):
- Context of the play, Dario Fo and why it was written (NOT BIOGRAPHICAL)
- Why did Fo write the play?
- What was Fo inspired by? - Commedia and Artuad etc.
- Overview of the plot of play.
- Interpretation of the character in question - I want to portray XXX as YYY.
- What are your desired effects if you need to define them for an open question.
P1 (20 mins):
- First moment (do them in chronological order).
- Aim for 5 quotes and 2 contexts.
- To embed a quote, give small context of scene and stage specific terminology.
- Each point is: embed quote - quote - describe - analyse - link - (context).
- TALK ABOUT REACTIONS WITH OTHER ACTORS.
P2 (20 mins):
- Repeat p1 for second chronological moment.
2. Metamorphosis - 30 marks.
Three questions (10 marks each):
How you would DIRECT a production of Metamorphosis to show ....? [ 25 mins]
Plan (2 mins).
Intro (5 mins):
- Context of the play, Berkoff, and why it was written (NOT BIOGRAPHICAL)
- What was Berkoff inspired by? - Kabuki theatre.
- Overview of the plot of play.
- What are your desired effects in your production of Metamorphosis.
- LINK TO TOTAL THEATRE.
P1 - Design (6 mins):
- Staging.
- Casting.
- Costume (if relevant to scene).
- Lighting - more simple than in a designer question.
- Sound - more simple than in a designer question.
- Make-up.
P2 - Actor moment 1 (6 mins):
- Direct all actors on stage.
- Weighted between proxemics, physical and vocal.
- "I will direct the actor playing XXX to...."
- Each point is: embed quote - quote - describe - analyse - link - (context).
- LINK TO TOTAL THEATRE.
P3 - Actor moment 2 (6 mins):
- Same as p1 but for second moment.
How would you DESIGN a production of Metamorphosis to show....? [20 mins]
Plan (2 mins).
NO INTRO.
P1 - Design element one (9 mins).
- Use quotes for when the design changes - particularly sound and lighting.
- How do the actors on stage interact with the design? (only if helpful).
- MUST HAVE DIFFERENT CONTEXT TO DIRECT Q.
- Analyse the effect of each design move.
- Use specific vocab, eg Gobo (stencils for shapes in lights), Fresnel (can be zoomed in and out with doors), Ambience (low level, scene-setting sounds and music)
P2 - Design element two (9 mins).
- Repeat p1 for the other design element mentioned or go down a different route for the same deign element.
How you would ACT IN a production of Metamorphosis to show ....? [ 20 mins]
Plan (2 mins).
NO INTRO.
P1 - First moment in extract (9 mins):
- Aim for 2 quotes - describe proxemics, vocal and physical.
- Each point is: embed quote - quote - describe - analyse - link - (context).
- LINK BACK TO BERKOFF CONTEXT (DIFFERENT FROM FIRST TWO).
- Obviously the analysis is focused on whatever the intended effect is.
P2 - Second moment in extract (9 mins):
- Repeat p1 for the second moment.