All entries for Friday 15 October 2004

Its shot o'clock!

"Pissed ahoy!"

: 15 Oct 2004 21:34 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Actington Stanley live and breathe!

Team purple

First came the founding members; two bright young things who dreamed the dream and dared to stick their neck outs in the name of excercise and theatre-spirit
…...........
Then came an autocratic takeover by the curly-haired one himself (El Kapitan)
…...........
Four more players were rounded up into warm and loving arms
…...........

Chants of 'Purple Purple Purple' put gusto in the lofty sails of 'The Stanley'
…..........

*Then
The moment of Stanley climax(!)*

The great Hugh Denard himself has gratefully accepted the position of 'Actington Stanley' Dofas (Director Of Football - Actington Stanley)

Read his stirring and emotive first pep talk here

Shit now we actually have to play some football!!

: 15 Oct 2004 18:45 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Visual Performances – The Euminides

Phylax Stage – Adequate?

The Phylax stage shown in these pictures is surprisingly small and would create a very intimate performance (despite the outdoors setting).

The Phylax stage was used mainly for comedy as they are intimate and would make use of the windows in the back wall (that could be used for misunderstandings and over-hearing scenes)

I think that it would be very interesting to see how the chorus would be incorporated onto the set, as the stage looks quite cramped, and only adequate for 5 or 6 performers.
In this play it would be suitable for the trial in the play and the steps coming off the stage suggest that performers may well come down off the stage and perform around and in the middle of the audience.
The chorus was usually situated in the orchestra area ('dancing place')

There was not necessarily a raised stage in these types of theatre....The debate rages!

Using the Theatron reveals that the windows in the back can be used for comic purposes, but this would not be very relevant.

Staging

The opening scene between Apollo, Kltyemnestra and Orestes takes place in the inner shrine which could easily take place at the front of the stage, or alternatively on the floor itself. I think it would be effective if the performers were on the ground with the audience, looking onto the stage as if a shrine.
She could well start in the orchestra, and go up for her entry to the shrine. This would create a nice contrast for the two scenes

I found it interesting tht some scholars say that the stages may have been less simple than depicted here, and we only have this simplified view because of the limited space that vase painters had available to depict them.

The idea that the stage was for the protagonists and orchestra for the chorus was not neccessarily always a fixed technique

Comparing Dionysus (338 BC) and Phlax stages

The limitations of both of these theatres are obvious. The Dionysus stage offers a huge space for extravagant chorus and grandiose scenes. However, it is obvious by using the Theatron and going to the top row of the huge theatre space that the audience is going to find it very difficult to see or hear any of the action.
The Phlax stages in contrast offer audience space for only fifty or so members compared to the thousands in Dionysus, but the performance may be more powerful for the audience, due to their proximity to the action. The small stage, though, will not allow many performers or props to be used.

The 3 Euminides Settings

1 Temple of Apollo, Delphi
2 Inner shrine
3 Acropolis

I believe the scene changes would be very limited, with performers simply going off stage, and perhaps small changes in scenery. However, i think the main indication of a change of scenery would be through the chorus' descriptions.

This professional and concise review, brought to you by Gethin Jones and Jack Howson

: 15 Oct 2004 11:59 |  Tags: Sst1 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Visual Resources – Staging the Euminides

Ancient Vase Paintings

http://www.sikyon.com/Mykinai/orestes_eg.html

The vases depicting mythical scenes would seem to be the artist's own interpretation of the myths (handed down from generation to generation). We have come to this conclusion that, because the vases show women (who did not perform in the theatre at this time) and do not show performers wearing masks, which was the theatre practice at the time, these vases show the myth, rather than the theatrical performance of the myth. The vases don't show any extravagant costumes or masks that were inevitable in Greek Tragedy.

However, it would be fair to say that the artists would probably have been influenced and informed by theatrical performances, because before the myths were simply narrated rather than acted out in a real form.

A couple of other contributing factors to this theory are the fact that the violence in Greek Dramas was done ("largely") off-stage, whereas these vases depict scenes of violence. The vases also tend to put together separate incidents from stories that – in the theatre- would happen at different times.

Finally, these vases were made between 510–500BC, whereas The Oresteia was written in 458BC

This professional and concise review, brought to you by Gethin Jones and Jack Howson

: 15 Oct 2004 10:53 |  Tags: Sst1 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Gethin&Jack's evaluation of William Hill's SST1 responses

Writing about web page http://www.blogs.warwick.ac.uk/williamhill

Unfortunately the only entry he has under the SST1 umbrella is titled Relationships already??

Granted, it has received eight coments but, unless he is talking in some Grecian code, has little to no info about Greek Theatre Websites

Instead it recounts an intimate encounter between our very own HannahCTovey and a random computer student

I believe this site bears no relevance for students of theatre, Greek or otherwise

This professional and concise review, brought to you by Gethin Jones and Jack Howson

: 15 Oct 2004 10:40 |  Tags: Sst1 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Gethin&Jack's evaluation of ScarfyScarfyHatJack's SST1 answers

Writing about web page http://www.blogs.warwick.ac.uk/jackcole

Thorough search of the library, earning himself a nice little comment from Mary Kate Puddle.

Problem!
1.
In his website evaluations he has failed to hyperlink the relevant pages…Lazy…making it hard to skip easily from page to page

Struggles with the English language prevail throughout…'imply' in stead of 'simply'?...gimme a break!

The site he's reviewed is "packed-full" of info, but the photos fail to appear….casting into doubt his glowing review!

'Syage' instead of 'Stage'....hmmm

2.
The second evaluation, again no hyperlinking! Oh Dear!

The photos acompanying his blog entries, however, certainly brighten an otherwise dull morning

3.
Jack tosses in some humour here, but the oddly sized map is not beneficial, even for those with the squintiest eyes.

NB His vague numbering system and cunning nature leaves us questioning if he has in fact completed the task at hand
A slap on the wrists Jack!

This professional and concise review, brought to you by Gethin Jones and Jack Howson

: 15 Oct 2004 10:25 |  Tags: Sst1 |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem