.:Monologue Performance:.
We finally acted out our monologues today:
We began preparing for our monologues at lunch time. I sat there and had my hair tonged by a friend so that I would feel and look completely different, and I did. The blonde wig idea had vanished as we could not find a blonde wig that looked real enough to make me feel different. However, having my hair completely curled made me feel quite different.
I also did my own makeup, making it appear quite naturalistic. I wore a base coat of foundation as to cover up my freckles. I also used black mascara and eyeliner to make my eyes appear more bold. I used red lipstick to stain my lips so that they would appear more red and defined. I wore small, ‘dangley’ earrings to create a more professional look.
My costume consisted of a black skirt, white silk shirt, black suit jacket and black sheer stockings. I also wore black small high-heel shoes. My aim for wearing this costume was to have a professional look. Once i was in my costume, I certainly felt very different, more Portia than Kate.
We ended up not having very much time to practice our monologue, so I felt a little under prepared. However, I quickly got over my nerves and began to set up the stage for my performance. I used one table as a desk to imply that the judges table was there, one black box to represent Shylock and one black box to represent Antonio. As this performance was mainly about implied others, it was easier to have the boxes there so it did not look like I was talking to thin air!
Preparing for our monologue performance
We quickly ran through who was doing whose lighting and prompting. I was to do Ronelle’s lighting, but no prompting as I was the first to do my monologue. We set up my lighting, which consisted of a pale blue spotlight and a general wash with 2 blue gels. This created a professional look for the stage and made me appear in a professional light as I intended.
Finally, I was able to perform.
A small audience of teachers and students came to watch our performances. I began with my short speech about the play, and an interpretation of my monologue. I was determined to not use a script for this, as I felt like I would look under prepared. I went a bit ‘off-track’ with my speech, but managed to say all that I intended to in regards to the context and meaning of my monologue. I then returned to my starting position, and began to act.
I had Ashleigh prompting me, but I did not need to be prompt until the middle of my monologue. I managed to get myself back on-track after skipping one of my lines, and I think anyone who did not know my speech wouldn’t have noticed. I walked from implied other to implied other, pressing my point to Shylock and the audience about mercy and God.
Once the monologue had finished, I fell back into my own self. It was then that I realized that I truly was not being myself on-stage. I was my character, Portia. I think the exercises Ms. Anketell had suggested (saying my lines into a mirror) had really helped me to slow my speaking down and become Portia.
I had achieved what I had set out to achieve. I had slowed down my pace when speaking and completely changed my movement and gesture when addressing Shylock and the audience. I felt much calmer on stage, and much more like a professional character.
Ashleigh and Ronelle did very well during their monologues. Ashleigh appeared to have taken on the role of Titania and became a strong character when addressing her husband Oberon. Also, Ronelle seemed to have adapted to her character, Queen Margaret, who was also a strong and resolute character.
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