Themes

Themes

 

There are many major themes in the play ‘Road’ I feel like one that is a big part of the play is poverty. I know poverty is a theme because of many reasons like the character Scullery who doesn’t have anywhere to stay and rummages through bins to try and find stuff to sell so he can earn money ”Old tap 30p. Basket, a bob.” He also wore dirty clothing and would get drunk a lot of the time. I feel like this fits in with the theme poverty because most people when they’re unhappy in some way drink they’re problems away and poverty is a massive problem. He would drink to see the better side of it, for example he lived on the streets so he would describe what a great view the road was to him when actually it was just a dirty old road with bins, rubbish bags, bottles, fag buts and maybe a pile of sick on the ground. They lived in poverty because during this time which was the 1980’s Margret Thatcher closed down the coal mines which meant 1,000 of people lost their jobs. I will use this research in the play to show through my character Doreen that she hates. She hates, the state she lives in and is tired of going out drinking every night. I know this because of what Doreen says in scenes for example in the scene with her and Lane when they’re talking about staying out drinking longer and Doreen says “I don’t fancy it” but Lane wants to. In my opinion this does show that Doreen is getting sick of going out drinking all the time otherwise she would have said yes and they would have continued drinking because why would you stop unless you had too?

 

 

 

Another theme is sex I consider sex to be a major scene because in the play characters use it as a tool and it’s mentioned a lot. It’s also used for the women to just get some attention because most of them are single and just want to feel loved. For example Helen who invites Kurt the drunken sailor to her place and then starts flirting with him even though he’s basically out of it. She doesn’t do this because she a bad person she just wants to feel loved and get some attention from a guy who’s new to the road. I also feel like sex and music can be linked as a theme because the music is what helped people enjoy themselves more. Their music in the 1980’s also spoke a lot about sex and would influence it. The popular music was pop and hip-hop and would help you to loosen up. I will use this research in the play for my character Doreen for when she starts to get drunk and after she’s come back from the pubs. I’d do this by showing it through her actions and gestures so showing she’s a bit more loosely after going to the pub, having a few drinks and a good time. In order to show this I’d start by walking all over the play so not in a straight line and laugh more because when people are drunk they do have a good laugh because the drink and music allows them to have a better time and enjoy themselves more. It will also be used in the last scene with Carol, Louise, Eddie and Brink. Near the end of their scene there will be music played to show that Eddie and Brink are going to liven things up a bit. During the time the music is playing you will see the characters start to get looser and looser and they continue to dance and listen to the music.

Social was another big theme when it comes to ‘Road’ because everyone on the road knew each other and everything about each other. Most of the characters have lived on the road are there due to not being able to afford to go anywhere else. For example the professor who wrote books before we lost everything. “I lost my wife, my family, half my stomach, everything.” This was because he wanted to do a study on road and “go down in history” but it didn’t go as planned. He now sales he’s books “for the price of a pint or chips” due to being so short on money. In 1980’s Margret Thatcher introduced poll tax which made many individuals income so low that like the professor they would do any small job just to get money. During to this and when Margret closed down the mines it meant everyone was doing whatever they could to get some money. There was a massive queue outside the job centres as everyone was trying to get some money to help them get by due to 1,000 of people losing their jobs.  Characters like Brenda would even flirt with other characters just so she could get a fiver. I will use this research for my character Doreen by showing her not taking money for granted and to show that she doesn’t have a lot of money. In order to show this for her costume I’ll wear plain clothing’s because if you didn’t have a lot of money back then you wouldn’t of been able to buy fancy fabrics like lace or one with a pattern on it. I wouldn’t talk about it though because although it was a difficult time for those without jobs, after a while you would have excepted it and made do with what you have.

Road evaluation

                                      Road performance evaluation

 

Interpreting the text - After reading Road for the first time I wasn’t really a big fan of it. I couldn’t really see how it was going to work and how we could make it funny and interesting. My interpretation has definitely changed now that we have performed it, it has been one of the best plays I’ve ever done and it ended up being so comical. From the first time I read it I could tell they live in a bad environment in the way that none of them have a lot of money and most of them don't have jobs or have lost them. When I first got given my character Doreen, I saw her as a fun, loose character but she isn’t as loose as her friend Lane. Once we performed I realised that Doreen is tired of going out clubbing and just wants to tone it all down. I feel this way because in the scene with her and Lane they’re talking about staying out a little later and Doreen really isn’t up for it.

Rehearsal Techniques – I feel like I definitely could have done more to help improve my character during the first few weeks of rehearsal, luckily I used the last couple of weeks to my advantage and it honestly helped so much. I always arrived to rehearsals on time and I had a good working relationship with all my peers. I helped them with their characters by giving them my own view on them and by giving them helpful feedback on their scenes. I used helpful feedback in my performance by doing vocal exercises before going on stage as being clear and projecting was something I needed to work on. I worked on my accent with Hannah during our free time just before the final performance as throughout the rehearsal process I was finding the northern accent hard. The other main one was mine and Lane’s scene as it needed more energy so we worked on it before the performance and then back stage we gave each other some words of encouragement in order for the both of us to put all our energy into it.

Process – When first taking on the role of Doreen, due to my interpretations of her being loose but not as loose as Lane I thought for her costumes some colourful leggings would be good. After going through the script the she thinks Scullery looks up her skirts so I wore a mini skirt instead. I also realised she is still a slut because when Scullery says “Tuck in ladies” She doesn’t exactly say no, she basically just says not right now. I took many risks with the northern accent as it was something I didn’t want to do and was finding really hard. I also had to pretend to be drunk during quite a few scenes which was hard because you have to make it obvious and believable.

Performance – I am honestly so happy with our finally performance, it went incredibly well. I felt so confident after taking in all my previous feedback and working on all of it before the show then focusing on putting it in the show. I was fully committed and made sure I put myself out there physically and vocally. There was a clear friendship between Doreen and Lane and even Doreen and the professor. I made sure this was clear through my interaction with the characters. During most of my scenes I was drunk so I had to continue being drunk and getting more and more drunk throughout the play.

Strengths – My strengths during rehearsal would be giving my fellow peers relevant feedback to their scenes and helping them develop their scenes and my own scenes. During rehearsal time I made sure to work on my accent as I found it hard doing it on my own at home so I asked Hannah who kindly worked on all my scenes with me, I luckily improved massively. I also feel that my physicality was really good as I used it to show that I was drunk and to show how ditzy Doreen is. I felt like I was fully committed to showing the audience Doreen so much that I was Doreen, I don’t feel like I showed myself at all.

Weaknesses – My main weakness would be that I wasn’t focused during the first week of rehearsal and if I was I would have improved so much throughout the rehearsal instead of just before the performance. I also did everything too late, developing my character more and the accent, I feel that I didn’t work as hard on it as I should of and that’s something I will definitely keep on top with when it comes to the next show. I definitely need to improve vocally with being clearer and projecting so I need to do regular vocal exercises so that I can improve for future performances.

Target Setting – To grow as an actor I definitely need to stop getting distracted during rehearsal time and focus on what I can do to make my scenes better and develop my character. I need to spend my time working on my scenes and meet up outside of rehearsal time with the people I’m in the scenes with so it can improve quicker. I need to focus on what I need to do to improve within my character to make the audience remember me. I also need to work on things like accents, costumes and things like that ahead of time so if I do need to change anything it will still all be ready in time. I will also do more individual research on the play we’re performing in order to get a better understanding of it all.

Character Profile

Doreen

 

My character Doreen is a flirty character and I think she would show that throughout the play so everything little action she does would be flirty in some way. After going through all of the scenes and blocking them it has helped me get a sense of my characters and their relationships with the other characters in the play. For example Lane and Doreen are best friends in my eyes, the both like to have fun, be flirty and have a good old laugh. I would say out of all the women in the play they are the most loose, they're not really bothered if boys want something from them because they will give it to them. Although I think Doreen isn't as loose as Lane as she is willing to kiss scullery after talking to him for just a few minutes. I feel like even though they're both best friends, Doreen is more of the tag along.

I find this scene with the professor and Doreen a bit hard as it kind of changes my interpretation of Doreen because the scene is supposed to be with Lane. I think this scene could show how Doreen is up for as much as Lane is and she doesn't just follow Lane around everywhere. It will allow the audience to see Doreen without Lane and maybe understand her a bit better. It also allows them to know that it isn’t just about drinking for her, it’s just about living her life to the fullest. In this scene she is trying to make The Professor happy by talking about the stuff he enjoys like “The memories of Wood Street”. The he starts talking about depressing stuff so she tells him that he should enjoy life more “You morbid bastard. Life’s a spree, Prof. Me and Lane, we get our mouths around life and have a chew. Sometimes there’s nowt, sometimes it’s sloppy but we keep on snoggin’ through. (She slaps his cheeks.) See you later, Prof.” This just shows that she is having fun doing it and that she thinks you shouldn’t go through life being sad or not taking risks, you need to loosen up and have fun.

I have come up with a few things for Doreen though, for example I think she might have a small job as she's not trying to get money off anyone and she's able to go out buy some drinks and later on some chips. I do feel as she is very loose and up for anything but not as much as Lane. For example page 16 with Scullery him and Lane just start kissing and as Doreen goes off she says "Snog anything she will. Captain fucking Pugwash" which suggests she has a bit of class in the way she wouldn't kiss any guy walked past. I reckon she's in her mid-twenties so maybe about 24years old because of how loose she is and the fact she can drink. I feel like Doreen may be looking for a relationship and to calm her life down in some kind of way. I think this because the line that Lane says "What about Barry? I thought you were in?" suggests that she is committing herself to one guys. Also a couple of lines later they talk about staying back at the pub and Doreen says "I don't fancy it" which shows that she's getting a bit tired of going out all the time.

I would say that Doreen's closet friends are definitely Lane, The Professor, Scullery, Bald and Barry. Lane is obviously her closet friend because most of the time she is on stage Lane is with her. I would say The Professor is too because when she meets him he says "Dor love" which suggests they know each other quite well. I thought Scullery would be a friend of hers because she speaks to him the first time she comes on stage and the things they talk about suggests they know each other and can have a laugh with each other. Doreen is also very close with Bald because as soon as they see each other he wants to have a drink and a laugh with her and she's more then up for it. I thought Barry would be a close friend because they obviously have something going on and I think she wants to get with him. Her family live close by but not on the Road. She has a mum, dad and a younger sister who is 20years old. I think she would go visit her family every so often but not that often. She is an Atheist, British, she has light brown hair, hazel eyes, heart shaped face, and shoe size is 6, 5ft 6 and size 6-8 in clothes. She is fashionable and try’s to stay in fashion with the clothes that she has. I would think she didn’t have a proper education because I don’t think her family would have been able to afford it. I reckon she is a bit brainy, not really brainy but she is definitely good at the simple stuff and a bit more. She can definitely look after herself because she has her own place and I know this because she said “I’ve lost my bastard keys, I’m locked out. Help me find em” which if she had a roommate or something she wouldn’t be locked out. I reckon should would of wanted to go to college and get a better education because like I said she is starting to get bored of going out and drinking all the time. If she got a better education and a better job she would be able to do much more and live her life even better then she thinks she is already. She's kind, pretty and always up for a laugh. She will say things just to make people happy for example in the scene with the professor she says "I'll give you one on 'Wood Street' because he loves recording everything that's happening or that has happened so when she says that he gets all excite because it's something he enjoys talking about. She is someone who puts other people before herself.

I can relate to Doreen in so many ways which is why I felt like she was the perfect character for me to play. I can relate to her in the way that she is quite loose and just enjoying life whilst taking some risks. I’m quite loose myself and I do stuff like go to concerts, parties, meeting new people and just enjoying myself. She also makes people happy and puts them first which is what I do on a regular basis and she is also really nice and I would consider myself nice too. I’m also really excited to play her on stage and bring out all these great characteristics that she has. I want to be able to show her giggly side, her friendship with Lane and for the audience to remember her.

I have been looking a people who have previously played Doreen to see what they wore and everything so I can get an idea of what to wear as this play is set in the 1980's. In the picture below the one on the left is the one playing Doreen in is scene. I knew that Lane was on the right from the way she's look at Scullery so I'm guessing they’re about to kiss. This picture also supports my idea about Doreen not being as loose as Lane because Doreen is wearing leggings and Lane is wearing a short skirt. Which shows Lane is more of a 'slut' then her because she covers up where as Lane likes to show skin. It also looks like the one playing Doreen looks a bit disgusted with what's going on and what's about to happen. The fact that Doreen doesn't kiss anyone or try’s to kiss anyone throughout the play also supports my idea.

 

 

From the clothing they're wearing I can tell that bright neon colours, hoop earring, ponytail to the side or big hair and scrunches' in their hair was the style which gives me a lot of great ideas for my costume. They also wore tartan shirts, denim jackets and dull colours as well as bright colours. The costume for Doreen would be to wear bright pink tights with a pink top underneath a leather jacket and to wear black high heel boots.

Week 7 - Road

Due to only being in college Wednesday and Thursday this week all our lessons were dedicated to Road. After this week I do feel very disappointed in myself because I don't feel like I've put enough effort and time into this play like I should have. I'm annoyed that I've only just realised on the last week of rehearsal but it just means that this week and this weekend I will be working on Road none stop until I have improved. On Wednesday we started from page 17 of the script and wrote down feedback for each other. I got some feedback from Issie and Jack which I have been looking back to just like my previous feedback from Kirsty and Deborah.

 

 

My feedback from Deborah on Wednesday was:

 

• Improve on Manfred, Doreen and Lanes scene
• Search for the key longer in Bald and Doreen's scene and be flirty
• Remember your drunk
• Energy! and keep it high
• Say the line 'Don't Look' to the audience

After this feedback me and Jake who is Bald worked out that he would start searching for the keys on the left side and work to the middle of the audience and I would do the same but starting from the right side. We then would both meet in the middle where we would find the keys. I also have to act drunk and flirty for this scene so I thought I'd swap to each side and keep moving my feet to try and stand still because when your drunk you feel dizzy and as if everything around you is moving. To act flirty I will do embaressing flicks of the hair because when your drunk you think you look good doing it but in reality it's so embarressing so I think it would fit well. I also have to remember energy! because I want the audience to go home remembering me.

 

On Thursday we did a full run through of the play without interuptions and then at the end Kirsty and Laura gave us all some feedback. My feedback was:

 

• For everyone to remember to walk on stage in character no matter what!
• I need to be clearer vocally
• Slow down the pace when speaking
• Make Lane pull me from the bottom of stage to scullery
• Make 'Don't look' more giggerly, girly and put more action
• During Proffessor scene face front
• React to the proffessor during his last monolgue of our scene
• Remember to be northern when off stage for Mrs Bald
• If suppose to be watching Manfred be giggerly and react to him

Once I got this feedback it became obvious to me I really need to work on my vocal work which I've always had trouble with as I always speak quite fast. In order to resolve this I have been looking through my vocal exercies I have done and wrote about for voice on articulation to help me speak clearer so since then I've been using these exercies to help improve. I've came up with an idea of how I'm going to act when I say the line 'Don't look'. I'm going to point at everyone in the audience whilst saying the line and then turn around to put my leg up on the wall and look back to the audience and give them an over exaggerated wink. For the proffessors scene Laura suggested taking the recorder off the proffessor as Dor would see it as a spot light moment and look towards the auidence so they can see all the expression. We want to show the audience that Dor and the proffessor are close to each other and mayeb even good friends so that's the sort of relationship we want to put forward. I've been working on my northern acceent for Mrs Bald and have tried my best to bring the tone away from the one I use for Dor to show the different characters. Due to only doing the scene with Manfred a couple of times me and Kennedy thought about just being a bit giggerly as it's after we have been drinking and have her maybe rest on my shoulder because alcohol makes some people tired.

 

I'm going to be 100% committed to this play this upcoming week like I should of been all the way from the beginning. My priority is working on all my feedback this weekend and to go back Monday and to have improved. I look forward to performing and giving it everything I have in order to make sure the auidence goes home remembering me.





Week 6 - Road

The main thing this week was going over the play and getting feedback. I got quite a bit of stuff I need to work on. I've been trying to get feeback from everyone to help me improve as much as I possibly can. We went through Doreen and Bald's scene for the first time today and I need to work on:

• Acting drunk
• Act like I'm up for a bit with Bald but not until he finds my keys
• Act a bit flirty
• Energy!
• Giggle and laugh a bit to show that you and Bald know each other and to show a bit of flirting
• Accent!!
• Get lines on point

I've started by going over the lines at home (Monday night/Tuesday) and now I have them all on point. Today (Wednesday) we went over our scene with Hannah who helped a lot. I've already improved so much with the acting and I have the accent for that scene now thanks to Hannah and going over it today in Sarah's lesson.There are just a few more things to work on like saying one in the accent. Issie gave me the great advice to make a O shape with my mouth which is helping Nikey also suggested putting my tougue behind my top front teeth and try saying it like that. I feel like during my scene with Jake there has been much improvement and you can tell I'm drunk and Hannah didn't have any bad feedback about it once we finished with it so hopefully it's all good. 

 

I now know the accents for most of my lines I just need learn it for mine and Joe's scene and my last scene with Doreen, Lane and Manfred. Then I have the accent for all my scene which I'm hoping to get help with tomorrow which is Thursday. After that all I need to sort out is my voice for Mrs Bald and get my outfit for Doreen and I'm sorted.

Today (Thurday) due to only having 2 hours at college we focused on the people who have monologues which was Frank, Kennedy, Soph, Nathan and Nikey. We watched them seperately and have them all good feedback as well as stuff to improve on. After we went through the play from the beginning. Before mine and Kennedys scene we decided to go on laughing and giggerling so just before we stepped on stage we said something funny to each other and then it triggered us off. I think it was a good move as it shows we're close friends who can have a good old laugh together and shows the relationship between our characters Lane and Doreen.

Then it was my scene with the proffessor which I haven't got the accent for yet, I was hoping to do that today but we didn't end up having time. I think the scenes was at it's best today, I did get some feedback from Laura saying to be more flirty and happy when speaking about the memories and the people so I think I'll go over that scene with Joe during the weekend.

I'm happy with how far I am at the moment because I have improved so much since the beginning of the play with the accent and everything. There are a few more things I need to work on with the accent and I need to put the accent with the scene I have with the proffessor. I have to try and conqor the tone for Mrs Bald which I'll do over the weekend. Then all I have to work on is the scene with Manfred and Lane because I'm not sure on the blocking or anything there so I have to figure that out and then I'm ready for the performance. I know what I'm having for my costume so I just need to get that and then I'm completely sorted.

Week 5 - Road

The key things we've done this week is blocking scenes and going over lines whilst working on the accent at the same time. We worked on the pre-show which will be all the characters on stage in a freeze frame of something from one of our scenes. For example me and Jake are looking for my keys which happens in the scene with Doreen and Bald when she's lost her keys. Joe and Matt as the professor and Scullery are talking to the audience before the show starts and then they come around to us.

 

My blocking is that after the pre-show I exit stage right and then come on bottom of stage right with Kennedy  for our scene with Scullery. We walk from the bottom of stage right up to the top where he is and try to climb the wall and then we finally do. I then exit that scene stage left and then enter stage left again for my scene with the professor and exit stage left again. I then go round to stage right in order for me to be Mrs Bald behind the curtains and then enter stage right again for my next scene with Kennedy and Nikey. We exit stage left and then I enter stage left for my scene with Jake and then we both exit stage left together.

 

We went through mine and Joe's scene as we've not yet gone through it and it went okay. I got some feedback about rushing so I need to slow it down a bit and I need to add the accent in. I know all my lines and I tried to add the accent when learning them but I find it hard without someone saying it first so I can repeat. Luckily though we're now doing the accent in voice so that should help me and I've been asking Phoebe as she's really good at it and I might ask Matt as well. I have tried watching people online but then I'm not really sure if I'm saying it right as they can't exactly tell me.

I now know what my outfit will be for Doreen, I'm going to wear pink leggings with maybe a skirt over the top with a pink or blue top, a leather jacket, heels with my hair curly. I also might wear some hoop earings but I'm not sure yet.

I'm also trying to come up with a different tone of voice for Mrs Bald, I'm want to try and speak like Howards mum from The Big Bang Theory but I'm so bad at accents and changing my voice that it is a challenge. I will get the tone of voice in the end though because it will be really funny and she's quite like Howards mum in my opinion.

Week 4 - Road

Costume for Mrs Bald - I have been told that whenever Mrs Bald speaks she is off stage so I don't really need to think of an outfit but if I were I would have a night because Mrs Bald is in bed trying to sleep during the play so a nighty would fit perfectly. For Mrs Bald though I do need to do a different voice for her then I do with Doreen so that's something I need to think about.

 

We went in groups at the beginning of the week to help each other with monologues and scenes so we could help them improve. Jake and I went through the scene with Doreen, Barry, Bald and Mrs Bald. Deborah has changed this scene so Barry is now Bald and Mrs Bald has been cut as I'm Doreen and Mrs Bald. Our first run through didn't go as well as I accidently played as Mrs Bald and Jake played as Blowpipe. When we were finally clear of our characters we did it again and Nathan and Matt who were in our group gave us some feedback. They said to make sure we bring across our characters, interact a bit more with the audience when looking for the keys and when Jake says "How you doing? Do you a fancy a bit?" in a none sexual way as he is Bald now in this scene and maybe refer to a drink in his hand. 

 

We did some work on my first scene with Lane and Scullery as we haven't worked on it. I also tried it with the accent which I did find difficult but then I went with Laura and I think I have it. I just need to remember how to say it in the accent so I will be going over it. We performed it in front of the class and got some feedback.

 

I'm happy with my feedback as there quite a few good feedback that I got and I'm going to work on the bad during the Easter break. I also went through my scene with Joe for the first time which was originally Lane and the professor but it's now Doreen and the professor. I find this scene a bit hard as it kind of changes my interpretation of Doreen because the scene is suppose to be with Lane. I think this scene could show how Doreen is up for as much as Lane is and she doesn't just follow Lane around everywhere. It will allow the audience to see Doreen without Lane and maybe understand her a bit better. I did get a bit of feedback from this which I didn't mind because it was my first time doing this scene so I wanted feedback. The feedback that most people said was to be flirty with the professor because in this scene Doreen wants to get money out of him by sleeping with him and then he starts talking about his work so Doreen knows she's not going to get anything so just forgets it and stops flirting.

 

 

During the Easter break I plan to learn my lines with the northern accent and to practice my scenes to see if I can do bigger gestures and expressions to show more of my character. I also want to try and get my outfit for when we go back. I hopefully will have the northern accent by the time I go back if I practise which I definitely plan to do.