Wednesday CBS

We finished blocking on thursday and got through the end of the play on Wednesday! We started with Joe's cast again by playing Ba-da Ba-da, which is an improv based game. Everyone picked it up quickly and got into it. We asked people not to plan the words they say, and just let them come to you. Joe and I loaded a bunch of tactics and tricks on them about making a choice and running with it in an improv scene, and about not saying no. After your partner gives a line, it is usually best to build off it. Saying no just closes a door. If you say yes, you're giving your partener a break and moving forward with an idea, no matter what that idea is.
We started working in the theatre on the last part of the piece. I'm working more and more on having them cotify sharp movements. Repitition of little moments is extremely important. When Mrs. Barrows enters, Martin and Paige give her a sharp look, and when Lisa enters from the other side, they give the same suprised reaction. As they specify their choices, I need to specify my directions. For example, I need to talk to Jess about the difference between being Indignent and Angry. I may need to give Martin metaphors to help him raise the stakes in scenes. I want Lisa to be more physical with Aaron, and Emma to create even more of a difference in her two ways of speaking. I could go on forever, and that's why I kept them an hour and a half! They're doing a great job, but this work never ends.
I'm still tweaking the diagonals and I need to return to work on articulation. I also need to get some volume so we might go outside next week. I'm planning on bringing candy on Monday and taking a field trip to the costume closet. I have a ton of games to play on Monday too, including floating disc or Angel and Guardian to raise the stakes, toungue twisters, and a game where they practice mirroring each other. When Aaron hides behind Lisa, he starts trying to avoid her and they started mirroring eahc other with Lisa in the middle. That's a perfect example of them trying something new and it working wonderfully. I have trouble saying no to ideas because I want to encourage the spontaneous ideas.