Peer Assessment on Erin Ashade and Luci

- filmed by me ( Daniella Nadisha Dennis)

A week before the show, During rehearsals I stopped and watched Erin and Luci rehearse there dualougue for ‘Born Bad’, there scene linked in with my monologue. Erin also plays Dawta, she becomes my character and has a conversation with her brother where she learns that she was not the only one receiving abuse at the hands of there father. I’ve watched both Erin and Luci grow as actors and I felt like they both understood feedback and showed it in there work. I feel like a slight critique we all share is nervousness, I feel like you could feel it in the performance (although it was good) I could see there was uncertainty in dialogue and blocking. When we had to do a run through I tried to set a pace in emotion and confidence. So I took what I learnt from watching Erin and Luci and I blocked my piece and the emotion and passion in my monologue was strong, so when I pass over my character to Erin she takes over that same emotion and she reflects that on to Luci so then there piece could flow better and the energy would have more of an impact on them and the audience. The difference between my version of Dawta in comparison to Erins is that my version was more riled up and louder and my words were more spiteful whereas I felt that although Erin was still fuming with withheld anger, she humbled her self in her conversation with her brother and just seemed unbothered  about her actions.

In my opinion both versions could have probably been played differently, maybe better or just a different way. Just like the whole class experimented with NUT another piece from debby tucker green. We all performed the same duologue and each one reflected a different view and different impact on our peers.

Talks With Justin

In all of my mentoring sessions with Justin, at some point during or after a session, we would discuss the development of my character and I feel I am progressing with the feedback and techniques I am given.

In a session where most of Justins Mentees were absent, I was given the opportunity to gain some advice from Justin on what I should do after I complete the two year course. There are three options, I could choose.

1) To take a course and study in University

2) To go to Drama school and take a straight acting course.

Or a Musical Theatre Course

3)  Venture off into another career.

I told Justin that I was concerned about the financial side of going to Drama School or University, He explained to me that I could get a loan and nearly everyone is in the same predicament as me. I’ve also been hesistant because I do want to do acting, singing and dancing, just not MT based. But my heart mainly lies with acting and I’m always worried because I don’t want to fork out all this money and time and not get the career I want. But I just have to work harder than anyone else around me, for my own reasons aswell. I do want to start my acting career immediately and get an agent because I want to grow up in the business I want to be a young actress. Justin did make me understand that starting without the training at Drama school is possible but I wouldnt be properly equipped for a variety of different jobs which could get in my way.


After our talk, I had time to think on my future and future decisions and I feel like I do want to go to Drama School and take a Straight Acting Course, however my mind still sways to thinking on starting now and getting myself an agent and becoming a young black female actress.

Born Bad Dawta Monologue Review and Annotations

The temperature is near the boiling point in the crackling opening monologue delivered by Dawta (Heather Alicia Simms), the eldest daughter (hence the generic name) in a “blood-related black family,” as the text has it. Addressed to a poised, only minimally responsive older woman we take to be her mother (a powerful Elain Graham), it’s a rage-fueled attack that hints at but never describes a long-held grievance at last let loose. Dawta’s speech is inflected with a specific vernacular sound suggesting the West Indies. (“Born Bad” was first performed at the Hampstead Theater in London in 2003, and won the prestigious Olivier Award for best new play.) But the language is heightened, fragmented and densely lyrical, mixing the banter and bravado of street talk with the shorthand intimacy of family communication.


- By Charles Isherwood, April 8 ,2011

Above is only a section of a review of Born Bad, written by Charles Isherwood. A publisher from The New York Times. I used this section as an example because it focuses more on ' Dawtas' monologue (the eldest daughter in the family).Considering that I have not seen ‘Born Bad’ in the theatre my experience and opinion on the play  compared to Isherwoods may be very different. But reading this review I believe the impact of seeing the play to the impact of reading it/ becoming that character are very much the same. The language in the play is very strong and the audience would be taken back because although there is only repetition of one swear word, “bitch”, the meaning of the word becomes different and more powerful and spiteful each time it is said. Dawta never says what happened to her and why she is coming for the mother in this scene the way she is. So the audience must piece together why Dawta is so torn and is unreiling all her built up rage on what seems to be her humble christian mother and what brought her family to pieces through her anger and subliminal sarcasm.

Bibliography

Books


debby tucker green




Nick Hern Books, 2003














Websites


Born Bad Review:




Charles Isherwood, 8/4/11
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/theater/reviews/born-bad-opens-at-soho-rep-review.html







Charlie Chaplin Research:

https://www.charliechaplin.com/




What A Friend We Have In Jesus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNFgKot8oh0&feature=youtu.be


















Research:
https://www.survivorsintransition.co.uk/resources/the-impacts-of-childhood-sexual-abuse/

Project Plan

 

Project Action Plan and Timetable
Week	Date Week Beginning	Activity / List Everything that you are going to do - including independent study.	Resources / What you will need in order to carry out this work   When and where?
1	2/5/18	I have to find research on debby tucker green and find three reviews on the play for ‘Born Bad’   + weekly blogs.	I will use a computer to get information and to find reviews. I will do this at home then put this on blogger.
2	9/5/18	Research the Style and Content of my monologue     + weekly blogs.	I will use a computer to get information. I will do this at home then put this on blogger.
3	23/05/18	Read through Script and begin to learn lines.   + weekly blogs.	Recite one line then read it again and proceed to add another line and keep repeating.
4	30/5/18	Annotate Script in order to understand how my character feels and what message she is trying to get across in her monologue.   + weekly blogs.	Take picture of the annotation of my script and upload it to blogger.
5	6/6/18	Block my monologue to vary spacing and movement on the stage.     + weekly blogs.	Rehearse the my script using the blocking
6	11/6/18	Organise staging and set   + weekly blogs.	Put staging and required props plan on blogger.
7	21/6/18	Tech rehearsal     + weekly blogs.	Block my monologue scene on stage awnd rehearse with music lighting and audience.
8	22/6/18	Performance Day.     + weekly blogs.	Write evaluation.

Project Proposal

 

Diploma in Performing & Production Arts
Unit 8 Project Proposal

Candidate Name	Daniella Nadisha Dennis
Candidate Number
Pathway
Project Title
Section 1: Review (Approx. 100 words)
In my opinion my experience of first year was highly not expected and it was anticipated that I would fail my first term due to unforeseen circumstances. However I passed because I had to work twice as hard as the rest of my class in order to keep up and be involved in end of term showcases. This year following the work of Stanislavski I learnt the difference between naturalism and melodrama.In singing I learnt the warm-up exercises taught, I learnt how to articulate my words in order to clarify the sound of my words and project my voice.
Section 2: Project Concept (approx. 200 words)
In order to get my unit 8 qualification I propose to perform a monologue from the play ‘Born Bad’ written by debbie tucker green. A playwright I previously studied and performed a monologue from ‘NUT’ and did a physical theatre and text based piece from ‘Random’. I will be using stylized acting using voice and physicality, in addition I will also be using naturalism. On the stage the only props I will be using is a wooden chair. I will have projected imagery downstage behind me, relating to the monologue. Also two other performers will perform a duologue from the same play and the stage will be split, the two pieces come together as one.
Section 3: Evaluation (approx. 50 words)
To develop and execute this concept I will research debbie tucker green and the play Born Bad so that I can get a more in depth understanding of the play. I will also read critic reviews of the play and watch videos of how the play has been done before. I will be working with and speaking to my mentor to get feedback and my target will be to use characterization and fully embody this character (Dawta) and her passionate views. I will need to relate this to myself and also have knowledge on why she acts the way she does; to achieve a better performance and a better reaction and connection with my audience.
Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format)
I will be reading the book ‘Born Bad’ by debbie tucker green. I will also be reading reviews on the play and writing where the information came from and who wrote it and when it was written.   Born Bad review by Charles Isherwood from The New York Times, written April 8,2011

About my Act.

1. What is the musical, play, dance piece that I am performing from?

The play is called “Born Bad”.

2. What is the song, piece that I am performing?

I am performing a monologue from “Born Bad”, In the scene where Dawta unleashes her withheld anger onto her mother.

3. Where and when is it set?

It is a modern day piece, set in a religious Caribbean household.

4. Who is my character and what function do they have within the piece?

My character is the eldest sibling of three, in a nuclear family. Her position in the piece is basically bringing to light the fact that she has been sexually abused by her father in her childhood. Something her family tried to ignore for a long time.

6. What is the mood and intention of the piece?
The mood is very uncomfortable, because the intention is to bring awareness to sexual abuse.
7. What is my characters objective and how are they feeling?
My characters objective is to really drill it in to her Mums mind that her Mum betrayed her and she was hurt by it. She wants to let her Mum know how angry she is and how she really feels about her. Sumblinally all she really wants is an apology from her Mum for not protecting her.

8. What vocal and physical skills will I use to communicate this effectively in the piece.

I will block my performance and varie my tone of voice, I will also use gestures and facial expressions.