October 16 Critique with Freida and Don

October 16, 2012

Everyone	Be in my room at 12:30. Eat lunch with the sixth graders If you are supposed to freeze, freeze!!!!!!! No eyeballs moving.  Then go into the movement you would naturally go into. Do not move during freezes. The aurynn is special and should be handled with reverence. DO NOT SPEAK UPSTAGE. Be louder than the music. Whoa! Must be loud. EVERYONE is afraid of Gmork. Eat you, not eatchew Do not hit the curtain. Only cross behind the curtain if it is necessary. Do it slowly!! STEP ON LINES. ·         Everyone – lucky with the last lucky spoken by Father and Bastian ·         People noises ·         Posture – be the character ·         Look out over the heads of the audience.  Don’t make eye contact with anyone in the audience. ·         Create bonds with characters.  TOUCH EACH OTHER. ·         Be your character from head to toe; walk, speak, act, think, be exactly like your character. ·         Step on lines. ·         React to one another; be involved in the action. ·         Need FEELING in voices. ·         Freeze like you mean it and once you unfreeze, follow through with the action you were doing before the freeze. ·         Say words like they sound or mean.   Facial expressions and word sounds are important. ·         Move not because the director told you, but because your character has a reason to go there.  Find motivation to do EVERYTHING on stage. ·         Have different noises & movements & actions & facials.  Don’t be the same. ·         Diction and volume. ·         SWAMP OF SADNESS – SPEAK SADLY.  ·         We must SEE the EMOTION of the moment. ·         Vocally, everyone must measure up to the environment of magic, of loss, of happiness, of light, rather than darkness, of LUCK. ·         BE INVOLVED AT ALL TIMES ·         We need to see you make the decisions each time. ·         Don’t look at the floor. ·         Act professionally when on stage and during critiques. Great job overall!!!:) End of show – Bastian says, “see we’re lucky.” Morlas and Urgl and Engywook say, “very, Empress and Cairon, Elder, Buffalo, say, “very; Atreyu, Falkor, and Artax say Lucky – end of show.
Pedestrians	Remember your numbers each time you are a pedestrian. PEOPLE NOISES
COLORFUL PEDESTRIANS	I want Evan, then Brooke, then Drew and Sunny, Blake,then Eribo and the star catchers and troll.  Wait a few seconds  - don’t everyone go out at once.  Remember your numbers.  I WANT TO SEE BLAKE TAKEN OFF.  Nothing people, grab him behind the 6’ pylon.
Sound	Gmork’s yell during Elder’s speech. If people are talking, fade the music, then bring it up. Fade music for Sunni’s line as Elder
Lights	Light down sooner when Bastian says, “ NOOO!  Artax is one of the heroes!”  WE CANNOT SEE THE MUD PEOPLE MOVE.
Father & ERIBO	You are the first person we hear besides Bastian.  You must be louder. You have to have more maturity.  Round out the vowel sounds which will slow your speech down a little.  Move in front of the bench and look at Bastian.  Put both hands on his shoulders.  Speak to the audience.  Be a little bittersweet – your wife was the one who always was creative.  You are putting an end to that with Bastian. When the EMPRESS enters, you do too. In SLO MO be talking on your phone and looking at your watch. As Eribo, follow the Indian in, and speak loudly and clearly to the audience – above their heads. Start off toward the audience, then shift directions USR. LOUD AND CLEAR
Bullies	More people noises. Laugh evilly.  Must have greater intensity.  You are too quiet.  Bullies, work more downstage center and downstage right than left.
Evan	See him first before you say – a child. Use a deeper voice. You are older.  Each can you needs to have a different tone and a different facial expression. Build to a climax in your dialogue. We need for you to “mean” the lines, not just say them.  When Bastian says yes to “…….ridiculous notion that you need a good night’s sleep?” put your pen down and look and listen to him.  We need to feel you become excited as you say your last line before the phone rings. Good luck – both words should be loud and clear. (this is one of the theme’s of the play) As the Buffalo, say the swamp of sadness differently each time and make us believe it is sad.
Bastian	Don’t smile with the bullies.  Stand up straighter. Great job with diction and expression today. Struggle to leave at the beginning Then it needs to build each time.   At the end of the day, pick up lunch box and blanket.  Yell moon child (your frustrations and sadness about not fitting in, your mom dying, must explode at this point) on top of platform, then again at the foot of the ladder. Be horrified as Gmork wants to fight Atreyu. We need to see the decision for you to pull at Atreyu to get him through the mirror. Freaked out - MOVE Your last speech on the platform must build.^ We need to see your decision to call each character. Pause more and let us see you remember each one.  You are so enchanted by the book and being truly “together” with your friends that you are overcome.  We need to see your hesitancy to go to your father. Look at your friends, then look at him.
Atreyu and Artax	Be sure you are out and HUNTING when Bastian says first chapter…..COME IN SOONER!!! It is the job of the stage crew on your side to get you dressed. Can you put the pylon back up while Bastian is speaking?
Stage Crew	Get Artax dressed in time. Move another ladder DSR. Down and right of the pylon.
Gmork Nothing 1	Use the ladder more DSR.
Artax	Atreyu is going to be clumsy when he enters.  Look disappointing at him and make people noises of disapproval. Good job on lines. When Cairon says he cannot take the horse, whinny. React vocally and physically to the troll!!!!  BIGGER Swamp of Sadness – you need to get weaker and weaker.
Artax, Atreyu, Elder, and Cairon	STEP ON LINES Be AFRAID of Gmork.
Buffaloes	Do not look at the audience.  Look over their heads or toward the exit sign.  This will take points off of our score. React vocally and become upset when Atreyu first tries to stab you. DO NOT BOTHER HATS
Elder & Cairon	Good exit. Don’t push your voices.  Think about what you are saying. Cairon, you have good gestures, but use them above the waist. Both of you need to be concerned, but skeptical that Atreyu will be the hero.
Second pedestrian group – the colorful ones	Everyone exit before Eribo comes on.  Star catchers – let me give you your lights Tuesday.
Troll and Artax Ygramul and Falkor and atreyu  &Gmork	Cheat out toward the audience.
Mud and tree people & ROCKS. Atreyu & Artax	Know when you move out.   BE SCARY!!!!! Don’t look at the audience. When Bastian says, “I’m going to sneak to history with Mr. Drone. “ Sneak out at the BEGINNING Of his speech.   Lay at an angle. Make it a longer swamp. Let’s rehearse that in my room. Artax is weakening.  Atreyu tries to help her. When Atreyu is mad, move quickly.  I want all rocks to roll off.  Atreyu, be FURIOUS, then taken aback when you see the Morlas.
Drew, as the tree	Cheat out more and put your right foot out more.  Be scary so that will contrast with your other roles.
Morlas	Louder.  Move out and fuss at each other with people noises.  Move further DSR.  A tug of war.  Use a deeper voice. Struggle to move together. Put some personality in these roles.  We need to hear your explanation about why the empress is sick.
Artax and Atreyu	See where you can show that you love each other.  Artax, ruffle his hair. Atreyu, touch her shoulder at times.
Atreyu	Fumble your footing on the 6’ pylon as you enter.  Fumble your knife. Put it up after the Buffalo maiming. Look at your first lines.  You are trying to be a man – making your parents feel good about what you have become.  When do you finally feel confident? Look at your script and find lines that make you sad.  When Artax reminds you to pray, walk behind her and squeeze her shoulders in a HUG. She will act uncomfortable, but will wink when you go down to pray. You are remembering Artax when you say, a hunter knows when he is being hunted.   Climb the ladder DSR instead of by Bastian. STOP must be bigger. Possessed by demon bigger Relief builds going through each gate. Wings are gone – react!  Look for Falkor.  Be sad. Do not back up. – I’m not a hero. BE SAD. You have let everyone down – parents, Artax, empress. Struggle to admit this to yourself. Stand up straighter throughout the play Interrupt Bastian’s line with your Morla…..You and Bastian have lost loved ones in this scene – you- Artax.  Be angry and mad. With each gate, your confidence grows.  We need to see your success build with each one. I’m not alone – we need to see in your face and voice why you are not alone. Let the audience see that decision.
Payton and Evan as the nothings	I need to give you capes to wear and cover the Indian with.
Ygramul and babies	Step on lines.  Do not speed up dialogue, but by stepping on lines, you will speed this scene along. Laurel, I want to see you BITE Gmork.
Kaydee	Dance as you are chasing Atreyu and Artax.  We can add to the music.  Be fierce. Be louder as the Empress.
Empress and Guards	Enter earlier when Bastian says, “Everyone has wings.”
Ygramul	We need to see you cheat out to the audience because your facial expressions are so good.
Ygramul and Gmork	Fight needs to be more intense.
Urgl	Time for medicine to the audience. Don’t lose your last speech.
Falkor, Engywook, and Urgl	MORE EXCITED WITH EACH GATE.  At the last one, Engywook, cry. Each time Atreyu enters a gate, your enthusiasm must build.
Gates & CREW	DO NOT BE LATE and be SILENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU CANNOT BE LATE. Your cue is Bastian saying,” No!  Atreyu can’t die.  Enter at the BEGINNING of his speech – quietly and standing up. Brooke and Payton, I will fix you a different neck piece.
Father and Bastian	At the end.  We need to see Dad as older.  We need to see your surprise at Bastian’s return.  He has been gone for over a day.  You can’t believe it.  You walk slowly to him, hug him and pick him up. Put him down with “Where have you been?” Stop at see we’re lucky.
Ashlynn	As the custodian, keep sweeping until you  are two feet PAST the curtain line. Great job as the nothing. I will get you a cape too. React more as Artax and be more horselike. As the second nothing, move DSR then to CS so you are not hovering over Gmork and Atreyu so much.  Be almost frenzied.
Sunni	As uyulala, don’t move so much with your feet. Plant your feet. WEAR THE WIG Think about what you are saying and try not to be too POETIC. Meaning before rhyme.
Cairon	I will allow it must be bigger.  Your lines about good and evil – the three groups must be different and HUGE.
Gmork	At times, raise your hands and howl.
Gmork and Ygramul	I shortened the fight.  Before Gmork howls, sting her.  Remind me to let you listen to the CD.
Falkor, Urgl, and Engywook	Be more excited with each gate success.  Urgl and Engywook – louder and slower.  Do not be clumped up by the ladder so much. Watch backs to the audience, Blake.
Falkor and Atreyu	Falkor be frightened when the Nothing takes you away.  Atreyu, be distraught. REREAD the stage directions below for that scene. Some are in slow motion.
Atreyu		Dragon!
Falkor		Call me Falkor.
Atreyu		I’m losing the feeling in my fingers.	Atreyu takes the web off of Falkor.
Falkor		Poison.  It’s going to paralyze us.	He smiles & sits on the pylon. Atreyu sits beside him.
Atreyu		Being paralyzed (say in slo-mo) makes you happy?	Atreyu tries to move his fingers.
Falkor		Following you to the Southern Oracle (slo-mo)makes me happy.
Atreyu		I thought Ygramul was going to eat you!
Falkor		Luckily, I overheard (slo-mo)her tell you that her poison would take you anywhere in Fantastica so when you disappeared I knew I had to make a decision…escape or be eaten…(slo-mo)  I wished to be here.  How lucky is that?
Atreyu		Why didn’t you go somewhere you could’ve been cured(slo-mo)?
Falkor		Who says we’re not going to be cured here?	He gets up and looks around.
Atreyu		Falkor, we’re dying!	Atreyu is feeling the effects of the poison.
Falkor		No.  We’re waiting for a cure.	Falkor gives him a man hug and says his line.
Atreyu		You’re hopeless(slo-mo).
Falkor		No, I’m hope-full! I want to help you. What’s wrong with that?	He helps move Atreyu’s fingers. He slaps him gently on the face.
Atreyu		And you think you’ll fly again when you can’t even stand up?	Falkor’s knees buckle. Atreyu tries to help him  up, but both wobble.
Falkor		Of course!  You saved my life, Atreyu and I want to give my life to you…. If you will accept it.	Falkor grabs hold of Atreyu.  Falkor reaches for Atreyu’s hand.
Atreyu		Falkor, your life, what’s left of it, I accept.  I will be grateful to you forever.(slo-mo)	Atreyu passes out after his speech.
Falkor		I’m so lucky.(slo-mo)	He passes out and Atreyu passes out.