Final Notes

I wrote this piece for my blog for Caroline, but thought that it was relevant to this and that you might be interested in seeing it:

Jack was very fond of using Mike Alfreds in his directing technique and so we regularly did improvisation exercises from him, that helped to build the characters and establish their relationships.

At one point me and Hayden did 2 hours of just Meisner to try and build that tension that immediately exists between the two characters as soon as the arrive on stage, that was very difficult to do but gave way to the style in which I did "I'll damn well make you!" followed by the pacing and eventually the fight. This really helped to cement our relationship in our minds and to create that kind of anger and disappointment I needed to feel against him, which results in the fight. Me and Ffion also did about a half-hours Meisner in order to build the peculiar relationship they have, it worked because on stage it felt like we cared deeply for each other, but that there was something wrong just under the surface, it gave a third-dimension to their relationship.

I also worked a lot using Declan Donnellan, as I mentioned in my other blog, one of things i was commended for was moving with intention. I felt in that play, that I would either be still or going somewhere, i think this was effective and made a bold impression of the audience. If one were to watch carefully to my performance, they would see that in which ever direction I walked, I had always, with my eyes, first identified a target and after doing this a few times, it became natural allowing to do it without thinking, I think it became one of the fathers habits that made him have such a bold presence.

Evaluate your own performance in Commonground.

my own performance I think was particularly good, in fact I think it was the best performance I have done at BRIT to date. I think I did well in three specific areas, by way of what I've been told. One thing I think I acheived formidably was stage presence. I think I really did hold the stage when it was necessary and I tried to make eye contact with the whole audience at some point to draw them into the story that I was telling. I think I brought a dark and forceful energy to the stage and in sends I think I was quite different from most other characters in the play. This energy was built by talking to the audience, holding that anger in and being clear and loud.

This is my second point, I think that my accent, diction and projection were well realised on stage and that this helped to up the energy and interest the audience, as well as having that clear draconian presence on the stage, I think that I kept the audiences attention throughout and held the stage when it was necessary for the character.

My third success is the one I feel I worked hardest on and rewarded me the most, and that was getting and staying, in character. I think I did this well and only noticed myself dropping out of character (twice) momentarily in the performances. The build this character me and Khai started by reading the script and starting with a physicality on which to build from. I then looked at how I could make the character real instead of just a cold robot. The first time I really felt the character was in rehearsals when the son dies. I tried to keep this three-dimensionality on stage and felt the emotion all the way, the first time I really felt the emotion on 'That's it! That's exactly how it was' was in the first performance, I had never realised how much emotion came after and during that line that I could and not just act. This experience was also replicated with the fight scene, a lot of it was improvised, but worked very well, because Hayden had the great idea of squeezing my throat for real each night (but I kicked him in the head one night, so revenge was mine!) which really gave the reality of that moment that we were after. And the last example of my character was my famous chair kick on the last show. I had been told to make sure it wasn't broken for the other performances, so I had to withhold myself and keep from kicking it too hard, except for the last night where I truely let my character take over and scared a lot of people (including myself)!

All in all I think it was a wonderful show to be a part of, it was a stunning professional-level cast, with some of the most stela acting, I've ever seen and of course the direction was absolutely perfect, Jack would have made Hitchcock jealous!

Rehearsal Pictures

Improvisations

During the rehearsal process me and Ffion had a improvisation in which I told her to leave me for Andrew. We had a situation of her coming in from playing tennis with Andrew whilst I was sitting by the fire and then once she came in for a drink, I was to tell her. Looking back I thought we did it well, but perhaps I was little to cold in that improvisation and lacked emotion, to such and extent that it became unrealistic. Although I certainly should have been demanding and stern whilst (effectively) leaving my wife, I think that decision making I spoke of earlier in my blog didn't play a big enough part. 

We also did an improvisation in which my and Khai basically stalked the daughter on her way home from school, for me this was very important, because it was moment I referenced constantly as the time he first sees this person that will have such an impact in my life. Every time on stage when I saw I thought back to that moment, because I thought that's exactly what he would do and so I am very thankful for that improvisation. 

The Group Warm-Up We Lead

Our warm-up that we did as group was mainly focused on finding characters, this was our outline:

. Vocal warm-up: Sirening, Jack's laughing exercise, humming, humming into sound.

. Physical warm-up: walking around the space, running around the space- carefully, basic stretches focusing on the spine (help find posture of character)

. Character: close eyes, visualise character, breathe character in, find physicality, maintaining physicality walk around room, make eye contact with everyone and react as your character would, shake it off

. Game: splat!

How did I respond to direction?

How did I respond to direction. 

This is an interesting question because, as I'm sure Jack will agree, I readily responded to direction and was willing to try new things, but I was adamant about certain things that I felt my character would/wouldn't do, one example of this is with the lines. For example I felt very attached to lines about 'the solid earth' disappearing beneath (her) feet, and so felt very resistant to Jacks idea to cut said lines and I hope that Jack will agree that this was the right time for him to let me have my own way!

One thing I felt I really took onboard from Jack was the idea of my character holding something in all the time, the anger simmering beneath the surface. I tried to show that gradual build of aggression inside The Father and I felt it very important to let this occasionally bubble over. For example I worked a lot on the line 'No madam, not ours!' And what I eventually (hopefully) achieved on that line was a momentary release of the hidden anger, but then on the next line try to regain that control. I think this helped build to the fight scene, because the anger shown in that is not coming from out of nowhere, but it is also a surprise, to the audience, that he looses control quite that much. 

Another piece of direction I really appreciate is Jack's 'move with purpose' line. I really took that on board and tried to implement it and, I think I achieved it, because after the performance both the film actors and agent that came commented on the fact they noticed that about me, that I moved with purpose, of course it's all thanks to Jacks visionary directing!

Me in Costume

The costume is slightly Victorianin it's look, which is fitting considering time in which The Father was born. It is clearly a mourning suit as he is showing solidarity for the families loss to try and ingratiate himself with them. The long black coat helps set up the given circumstances (cold) and also gives an old fashioned (it was always cold and misty and everyone wore long black coats) and slightly sinister look to the character. The makeup mixed with with the out of date (by 1964 standards) costume, behaviour and language all adds to the mystery of the characters and the question of what they are.

It's Four in the Morning

Although The Father is clearly not overly considerate man, I still don't think he is entirely without conscience or compassion and so listening to this 1956 masterpiece of a song really brought home to me what a difficult decision it must have been to tell his wife to leave him. 

It's Four in the Morning- Faron Young

It's four in the morning and once more the dawning
Just woke up the wanting in me
Wishing I'd never met her knowing if I'd forget her
How much better off she would be
The longer I hold on and the longer this goes on
The harder that it's gonna be

But it's four in the morning and once more the dawning
Just woke up the wanting in me

I've never deserved her God knows when I hurt her
That's the last thing that I want to do
She tries but she can't tell how she feels but I know
Too well what she's going through
If I love her so much I don't know why I can't do
The right thing and just let her be

But it's four in the morning and once more the dawning
Just woke up the wanting in me

Last night I told her this time it's all over making
Ten times I've told her goodbye
Last night we broke up this morning I woke up
And for the tenth time I'm changing my mind
I saw more love in her eyes when I left her
Than most foolish men will ever see

And it's four in the morning and once more the dawning
Just woke up the wanting in me
It's four in the morning and once more the dawning just woke up the wanting in me

http://youtu.be/Ml3MJfr_wXQ

Diary Overveiw

I made sure that none of the big moments I spoke of in his life were events that one might feel were of great significance i.e. the day he got married or his first child, as I feel that these events in his career and those on a national may be of greater importance in his mind. I Also tried to write it in such a way that it felt far more formal and structured than a standard diary, because I think this would probably be the way in which he wrote, with a general lack of genuine emotion. I also tried to portray this through the lack of real remorse in his last post, as we know although he feels ashamed, he feels almost justified in his abhorrent act and I imagine him to be concerned about how people viewed him as a result of this rather than how it would actually impact his family. I also attempted to show the development of his writing style from 1914-1957.

Diary Entry 1957

Dear Diary,

It is the 3rd of August in the year of our Lord 1957 and I must confess that I have finally been debased to such a level I thought never possible. I finally gave into the claret wash, that is the sinful lusts of the Flesh and for such a carnal act may The Lord, God Almighty forgive my wicked soul. I was, unfortunately discovered in a most compromising position, by the most unlikely of persons whilst on a sordid appointment at Madame Pace's, the dressmakers.

I found myself coerced into unwanted, inappropriate relations with a young harlot. Whilst in the company of this fallen creature, I was sharply awoken from this, what I can only describe as a nightmare, by the entrance, in the most dramatic of fashions, by my ape stranger wife, Amelia. This of course meant that, on this occasion, I had not indulged in that most wicked of sins, adultery, although looking upon such childish beauty caused my brain to sear with a sinful lust I had not experienced in many a year.

It so happened this young demon was in fact the daughter of my wife and Clerk, that same girl that I have often spoken of in here. That same said girl who I once followed from her school, the girl who I gave ribbons and flowers too, that girl whom I regarded as one of my own. I feel a deep shame, which feel may remain with me from this day forth until God himself judges me in such a way, I can scarcely imagine. My one over-whelming fear at the moment is , however none of this. My fear is that the Fidelity Fiduciary bank's United Kingdom board of trustees may discover me an that my illustrious career at said bank may cease sooner than I had expected.

Only time will tell.

This a brothel 'The House of Lou Graham' that opened in the late 19th century and continued to operate into the mid 20th century

This is Brothel owner Liliane Brown aka Madame Katz

Diary Entry 1939

Dear Diary,

It is the 3rd of September in the year of our Lord 1939 and once again I am sorry to inform you that we The British people, under the leadership of The Right Honourable, Prime Minister Attlee, have once again declared our intentions of a military campaign against Germany. We again involved in war in Europe.

My son will soon be drafted to join the military assault on this heathen nation we find ourselves fighting, where once finished he will return to England to complete his studies. I myself will not be involved in frontline military action, as the occupation I uphold here in London is regarded by Her Majesty's Government as an 'essential service', although why that requires me to remain here to wait to be killed in my home, I can't quite fathom. Having said this it is my aim to involve myself the initiative of The Local Defence Volunteers and to aid said war effort in anyway possible.

Although I must admit that joining the military services would have caused me some fear, it is also with trepidation that I stay in London, what with all the new remote weapons that the National Socialist Party now control. This is unfortunately a sign of our times when such a clearly socialist party is allowed any control in Europe, the immediately start on violent, destructive campaigns without any hope of bipartisan consultation. When dealing with a maniacal socialist such as Chancellor Hitler, there is no hope for reconciliation and as our Lord once spoke, there is no remission for sin without the shedding of blood.

My final comment on our current predicament is that, if only our country had repelled appeasement of Chancellor Hitler by our own Prime Minister Chamberlin and instead harkened unto the words of The Right Honourable Mr Churchill, then perhaps our great nation would not face the storm that it currently does.

Give those Nazis what for.

Diary Entry 1932

Dear Diary

It is the 2nd of September in the year of our Lord 1932. Finally after many years of faithful service to The City of London's, Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, I have been noticed and commended in such a way, that results in me having ascended the ranks and being able to accept the new role of 'General Manager and Head of the Board for Fidelity Fiduciary Bank- London', where I have replaced the position, most recently held by Mr Dawes Sr. I am most pleased with the new prospects that this will provide for me and my wife in providing all that she needs and in saving for any future endeavours. My son may also benefit from such an accolade, as it provides him with more social standing once he removes himself from any Educational institute, he may attend at the time.

I also, today, had the great pleasure of meeting my new Clerk, Andrew. He and Amelia seem to already be acquainted with each other quite wonderfully, this is probably as a result of them being derived from the same cloth i.e. they are both from a class of lowers, who have improved their social standing.

Here's to the future, hurrah!

Walt Disney's depiction of The Board of Trustees for Fidelity Fiduciary Bank- City of London. Mr Dawes Sr. is sitting in the large chair. 

An painting from 1932 of Fleet Street where P.L.Travers puts the fictional bank in her book Mary Poppins. 

Diary Entry 1914

Dear Diary,

It is the 4th of August in the year of our Lord 1914 and Prime minister Asquith has just announced that, due to Germany's declaration of war on The French, we are now at arms against The Germans. I must admit that this news comes with some trepidation to The British people, however as always I can rest assured that Britain will not back down in the face of adversity, but that as always, with much work and that keen English spirit, good will once again overcome the evil that we face in our day. I myself, only wish that I was old enough to fend of The Hun personally, however diary, you can be sure that if this war is such a long and arduous battle, that it continues until my coming of age, that I will pick up my weapon and fight alongside those men, who will be shortly dispatched.

It would be untruthful for me to say that I do not fear the ramifications of this battle and that I am scared for the implications on, not only my country, but also my immediate kin. I simply must put my faith in God and trust that he will deliver my father and every Briton from the foe that lies ahead.

Give those Hun hell boys.

The Two Sides of My Leaflet

Winston Churchill

The Father would have very much admired Sir Winston Churchill, who was prime minister during his mid-30s:

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.

Playlist

Music playlist.

Green sleeves- Henry Tudor: written by King Henry VIII, I can imagine him feeling that it is a very British song.

Abide with me- Henry Francis Lyte: an old hymn, being a British Christian I imagine it would bring him comfort when in need, but that he would also like its classical, baroque undertones.

The Messiah- George Frideric Handel: another Christian, baroque Oratorio written in 1741, I can imagine the father particularly enjoying the movement 'For the Glory of The Lord'

Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)- Thomas Celano or Latino Malabranca Orsini: although not a Catholic, I find it hard to imagine that he would not enjoy this masterpiece of Gregorian composing, written in the early 13th century it is still sung today.

Flug Der Walküren (Flight of the Valkyries)- Wilhelm Richard Wagner: I can only imagine this to be a guilty secret, a piece he very much enjoys, but would admit to liking because of the connotations it held with Nazism and Anti-Semtism, although the father is probably an Anti-Semite and Racist himself.

Opus 27, Number 2 (Moonlight Sonata)- Ludwig van Beethoven: I can imagine him relaxing to this in his study whilst reading a book, whilst preparing to retire for the night and enjoying the simplistic nature of this piece.

Opus 28, Number 15 (Raindrop Prelude)- Frédéric Chopin: again I can imagine him relaxing with a glass of Port or Whiskey to this piece, whilst secretly chuckling to himself about the ease of composing whilst using enharmonic equivalents.

None of the pieces on his playlist are modern (to the era), because I feel he would not enjoy the rock and pop music he lived in. He wanted to conserve his past and part of this past is his music.

Feminism Quotes

Feminism was just coming to a fore in the 60's, I saw these quotes recently and immediately thought of the father and what and abomination he would find this movement. The suffrage movement is epitomised in the strong in impending nature of the stepdaughter.

"The women's suffrage movement is only the small edge of the wedge, if we allow women to vote it will mean the loss of social structure and the rise of every liberal cause under the sun. Women are well represented by their fathers, brothers, and husbands." - Winston Churchill.

"Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."- Pat Robertson.