Absurd workshop!!! -Priscilla

hey hey..
well i thought it would be rather unfair to ask Melvyn to post up stuff and then not do so myself.. so yeah, here goes-
I met with Mr Low too, but just 2 times. The first time we read through the first play and i explained to him what i thought of the character, and what i expected of her.
It was a challenge for me to play the part of the minister, because women in general aren't really as cold hearted and severe as this minister.
I tried portraying her as a very confident, cold hearted, emotionless and strict woman.
I thought of using a very bored, cold and direct and sometimes threatening tone for the whole piece. But realized that if i used that method to tackle the piece, it would become monotonous, and kind of boring.
Mr Low taught me to vary, and to use the monosyllabic words to bring out the power of the piece. So using his feedback, i tried to mold my character into shape.

The other problem that i faced was the fact that I had the habit of wavy my hands around in a very 'graceful' manner. This was inappropriate, as the character was supposed to be strict and stern. So i had to keep my hands to myself, and only move them when making certain statements. They also had to be swift, stern, severe and powerful.

My second session with Mr Low was kind of the same stuff. We just went through the rest of the play, and he helped to pick out the parts that he thought i needed to improve on. And then we proceeded to try and correct them. Also, I had to brainstorm over the issue of what costume and props i was going to use. There was a huge problem of me being unable to find the right costume, since i did not know of any way that i could get an army uniform that fit me. I also wanted to add in a scar on my face, but could not cause i don know how to!

Well anyways, on the day of the performance, i managed to get a full set of the army uniform!! THANK YOU KHAI!!!! I OWE YOU ONE!!! well he was such a sweetheart, and got me one that perfectly fit me! So with that, a tight pony tail and eye liner on, i entered the battle field :P.. he he he...
I did talk to Mary before the start of the programme, and she gave me a few headers as to how i could go about playing my character so that i could create more tension, fear and respect from the audience. Things like going up to them, standing beside them, looking them up and down, suddenly pointing to them, giving them the 'your so so so dead' look and everything else. And then after the session that i had with her, i went to be locked up in the storeroom.

The performance was ok, cept for the fact that i kept forgetting my lines! (silly me!) but the tension was there i guess (hope so). Well the audience giggling and smiling at me SSOOO DID NOT HELP!!! thanks Afiqah, Saad and Nishal, you guys really tested my skill of keeping a straight face! Well other than that, I guess it all went well.

Did not stay for long after that, so my learning point i guess was how to play with the audience, and their feelings, and using things like lighting, tone., pace and all sorts of other things to create the environment needed.

-Priscilla Jamir