January 25 Critiques

January 25, 2015

Everyone	·         Authentic emotion is a by-product of doing something else- of pursuing a goal, of playing an action. ·         I don't believe you are describing dead kids! ·         After bad speech, let's see Anne and Adam, mom and judge in back -let's see more people in back before the barbeque ·         Some of the speeches seem too long because the crowd is not giving him feedback. ·         The crowd needs to be at back during entire Anne, Adam and Jack scene ·         Willie needs to be campaigning ·         Make sure to have a Lucy & Willie moment backstage before scene where she asks about tramp. We have to know that they are romantic before that scene Scene change between 28 & 29 needs help ·         The screams during shooting sound like jh girls ·         Know the line before yours. ·         Andrew, we will have you moving furniture during the show.  The bench needs to be in the light after the first scene. ·         Carly’s question – what lights do we want DSR when Jack and Willie have two scenes back to back? Let’s have a crowd scene between those.  Carly, which scenes are those? ·         There’s not enough emotion.  Remember that ·         Stay in character no matter if you mess up. ·         Ladies, cross feet at ankles ·         PEOPLE NOISES _ YOU can ADLIB now so do it. ·         Build up emotions before exploding ·         Don’t block faces with hands. ·         Stage business for everyone. ·         Don’t talk to the floor. ·         Be ready for your cues. ·         Step on lines ·         People noises during transitions. ADLIB ·         Scratch umbrellas right now except during funeral scene. No accents ·         Work on fire drill scene ·         Don’t sway side to side ·         Don’t talk upstage ·         Crowd in the back, don’t clump ·         Hand gestures above the weight. ·         When the scene is DSR, the crowd needs to be more USL.  When the scene is DSL, the movement needs to be USR. ·         Slow motion – everyone needs to be slow. ·         Be frozen in the beginning. ·         Transitions are rough. ·         Crowd needs different clapping and shouts.  Girls all sound the same. ·         Hit verbs and consonants.  Look at your script. ·         Work on relationships – not just couple relationships. Work on family and work relationships. ·         Need to work on the judge’s suicide scene, the scene with mother and his monologue. ·         Use the hazer at the end. ·         Dying heartbeat when children fall? ·         Who wrote the two page notes front and back? ·         Scene 7 transition – people in back are a distraction. ·         Scene 10- Crowd rushed out too fast. ·         Look at scene 12 with Paige on crutches. – Why did Adam leave & Brooke and Adam were with Paige.   ·         Crowds – you have to have a purpose for entering and exiting.  In scene 16, there is not purpose to your exit. ·         Scene 20- there was no purpose for everyone leaving. ·         The school tragedy needs to happen BEFORE the editor talks about it. ·         Crowd – study the scenes and know when you are supposed to yell and what you are supposed to yell. ·         Crowd, ignore Willie in first bad speech.  Listen for a bit, then go on talking. ·         Crowd missed How do you know lines.
Willie	Start first monologue stronger. Be even more boisterous when you give speeches. Need to see Willie stumping the state in the back after Sydney says that line I’ll kill him.  Say each one differently. Vary your voice and hit the verbs. In scene 21, we need to see the changes in you.  It’s not believable.  Show more emotion throughout. Watch just reciting lines. ENUNCIATE – hit consonants and verbs.
Pillsbury	You are blocked in the beginning. Don’t sway when talking to Jack.
Hugh	Watch happy feet.  Plant them. You entered too fast.   Remember that like Jack, Willie was your hero.  You are reluctant – vary voice.
Mother	You need to be sad when you say that you love Monty Irwin – he just died. Be more outgoing when you are talking about the party.
Dolph	Sound more country/ good old boy.  When people know that they have done something wrong, they become defensive and attack. Don’t recite lines – put meaning into them.
Anne & Jack	They have to be having a moment before she says “ you spoil everything”  Jack and Anne should embrace and kiss before he pushes her away to say no
Willie’s guys & Sadie Jack & Anne	when they are talking about getting Adam to run hospital, it would be good to see him at back with Anne, so we’d see their relationship
Men	Have stage business.  Look up what people did in the 20s-30s Jonah and Austin are sitting the same way.
Editor	Slow down and enunciate. Lower voice Be more firm with your lines.  Be an authority figure. Great job working when you are not acting. As the photographer, go in with each speech.   Act like you want the best shot. React BIG when Jack quits.  Either mad or with disbelief.
Music	Fade out each time. Cut phone rings after two. Fade out music when Sadie says Damn ou.
Sheriff	Come in earlier.
Lucy	Be sweeping before Jack enters.  Start sweeping slowly See a sad and lonely Lucy during scene when Adam and Jack talk about hospital job At the end, you have to look like you have a purpose.  Look in a compact, wave at Willie – do something so that the audience knows that you are there for WILLIE and to  have a new start.
Willie and Lucy	I don’t believe Willie and Lucy are married. Must have a relationship Scene 7 – why doesn’t Lucy go with Willie? (LOOK at this)
Paige	Paige must be quieter with crutches Too happy in scene 6. You need stage business as Lilly. Fall is good.
Sadie	You can’t push away from Jack before he kisses her Slow down when you are talking about Willie being up for election again. Scene 15- look at your lines, they could be misinterpreted.  Ask Elijah. During scene 27, don’t pick up the phone before it rings. Pause He can’t live without me.
Adam	We have to know why you kill Willie? We have to see you ANGRY at Willie and Anne.  You need to speak to Anne and we need to see you argue – in the back.
Judge & Lilly	Judge should pass Lilly in back and let her avoid him during scene 23
Lights Willie’s group	lights must be off the office when it’s not the scene –not sure if the office group can be frozen that close while judge and jack are center stage- Frozen, perhaps with back to the audience.  Willie turned around and facing SB, T, & Sadie. Blackout backlight at moment of gunshot
Jack	Be more heartbroken. Watch being choppy with words. Scene 18 – why do you exit?  There was no purpose. Watch speaking too fast – especially with Pillsbury. Make sure we KNOW you are lying to Tiny about the drinking.
Lights	Wait until the Judge is behind the scrim before the backlight comes on. Look at lights after fire escape scene.
Willie & Sadie	Be flirtier so that we are building groundwork for your relationship. Why do you leave during scene 8?
Judge	sound more defensive and proud -suicide was horrible
Anne	Louder and deepen voice. Vary your voice Don’t drop your lines.  Let Jack cut you off. After bad speech, watch your back. Look shocked when Anne pulls away.
Anne And Jack	We need to see more of the relationship.
Sugar Boy	Be careful how you handle the gun.  It is always loaded.  Rehearse the ppppleased to meet you. It doesn’t sound natural.  Most people squint or make faces when they stutter. How do you feel when Willie puts his arm around you and calls you his pal?
Jack and Sugar Boy	Jack is blocked in scene 29 by Sugar Boy.
TIMES	10 – Yeah, Willie, I’ve heard the speech 20- Jack:  Well, I guess I will give this a try. 30 – Sadie: If you were a man, you would go in there and… 40 – Jack : Do you remember her name. 50: I heard him