Comparisons Between Two Characters

Comparisons and Differences Between My Two Characters - Killer Queen WWRY and RiRi DFTA

My characters in these two shows, couldn't be more different. RiRi character, in DFTA, is a sarcastic person who as has something to say, and is very confident and expressive. Killer Queen is also a very confident character but she is american and is very very loud and boisterous character.
These two shows are completely different to each other. DFTA is a telling a story and trying to send out a message that relates to the world we live in now, and WWRY is a musical theatre show with singing and dancing in it although it does have a message about rock message.

I have portrayed these characters by expressing myself through costume, how I talk and how I walk to adapt to each character. For Ri Ri- DFTA, I wore a white school shirt, no and tie and different coloured jacket to the others, because I felt like this character was the type of person who like to stand out and be the leader.
For my WWRY, Killer Queen role, I am wearing a red corset, accessories with studs and leopard print materials, black wet-look leggings and a borrow leopard cape from Charlotte- who is the other Killer Queen. I have decided to where a red corset because it is different to the other characters in my cast, I would say this this characteristic is the same as RiRi, there too characters like to be notice and be centre of attention.

I was very pleased right I was given these to parts as these roles give me an opportunity to perform to the best of my ability. I felt playing two separate characters gives me the opportunity to perform in two different style of acting and shows that I am more versatile as an actor. I will use this techniques I have learnt through both of these plays, for when I am performing again and need to change into different characters.
   

Half Term Rehearsal

Today I think there was a little bit of miss understanding of what we were doing to in rehearsal as to a run through, but Rachel clarified that it was a Tech Run and that Kim and the team were sorting out the lighting for us to make the show look great. Also this rehearsal involved a cue-to-cue tech run, so that you tech team could figure out when the lights and sounds is needed. I think that there was a lot of negativity today in rehearsal, and I think I was apart of this group, as I was confused on what was going on today so it got a bit stressful and we were all bouncing of each-others negativity. Today was mainly based on props, costume, sound and lighting and the staging.

As we were putting up the staging, after it had been taken done for the exams last week, Elle and I had a little discussion about the staging as there was a ramp. This was brought up because of our costumes, as Lauren and Elle are wearing heels and also the Laser scene- where the bohemians were being brainwashed and they were finding it hard not to slide down the ramp. So Elle and I contributed to today rehearsal by changing the staging to see if it worked, this that it was changed into a run way instead of the ramp. We did this and showed Rachel to see what she thought. We knew that it was really close to the show, but the layout of the the ramp was the same as the run way so it was easy to adapt too. Although we had to make sure there was a gap between the Evil End from the Bohemian End we had to take out one of the block to make sure there was a separation. 

There was another change to the staging at the Bohemian end, changing the levels so there is higher blocks and lower block. 

We also cleaned out the costumed cardboard and put in boxes costume and props that we could use for the show. We found piece of material that we are using for the Bohemian end of the staging.

Although there was other little bits going on, Me and Megan got all of our props and equipment together and went down to room 22 to record the bikini wax scene for the show. I prepared and done my make-up and Megan and I record the scene and propped up the background.

Above: Background

Above: Me Above as Killer Queen for bikini wax scene

 I was brought my laptop in and practised my songs and ran through  my lines with Lauren. Whilst Lauren was busy I went and found the sound track and ran through all of my songs. I am feeling really confident with songs now. 

I think today has taught me that it is great to understand what is going on and always asks questions if you don't understand anything, but also to adapted quickly to change without making a fuss about it. I found today stressful, as I had a lot going at home as well as at college. I found it hard and challenging to try and manage stuff outside of college as well as college work. 

I think in the future I will take more time to think about things that are going on and adapt quickly to them, but to also always ask questions if I don't understand anything. I also need to find a way of managing me time, effort and energy for the future so that I don't get to over stressed. 

Extra Rehearsals

Today was a rehearsal do so it was running through songs and scenes. Todays focus was to choreograph the dance to One Vision for the GaGa Kids. I wasn't involved in this so instead I asked Charlotte if she wanted to run through our songs together, so that we could share ideas and help each other improve our vocals and character within the song.

We ran through Killer Queen, Play The Game, It's a Kind of Magic and Another One Bites the Dust.
We did this a couple of times so that we felt comfortable, and then we decided to go into the studio and practised on the stage with the backing track. I was on one stage and Charlotte was on another. We did this as if it was us two competing against each other, so that we could get right in to the song, and improve our confidence and characterisation.

Rachel also got us all together to finish off Act Scene 10. This scene is mainly the bohemian scene and Killer Queen is beaten by the rock music.
For the opposite cast I am a police that come to kidnap the bohemians.

My targets are to run through my scene with songs.

Contributing to the Production Roles

Megan and I have been helping Amy, Danielle and Charlotte with their production roles. Mainly just giving then ideas and helping them out organising the programme. Me and I spoke to Amy about having the picture of us in the programme, so then we decided that it would be a good idea to take a photographs of the cast all in black t-shirts and vest. We organised this for a Wednesday at college, When we are all in as this would be a perfect time to take pictures. 

Megan organised for her to borrow the camera from the Media department in the college so that we could have high quality photographs. 

Amy did a great job in creating the programme. 

Learning WWRY lines and Characterisation.

I have learnt all my lines for WWRY and am now off script. I have found learning my lines rather difficult as I have a bad memory but I have found new ways to how I learn things and remembering lines and cues. I have also been finding it hard to stay in my american accent as I keep going into my English fluent accent too. To improve this I am going to keep going over my lines and performing them, also look on youtube and the We Will Rock You Musical at Killer Queens Scene to see how she pronounces her words.

I have looked at this performance by Ashley J Russell of her take of Killer Queen. I have take inspiration and have been influenced by her confidence and character in this performance. She is confident with her vocals, and you can see in her movements that she is a very big character too, as she opens her arms wide a lot of the time. I will use this in my performance as I perform my character. I will remember that my character is a big massive personality, so I have to show this is my movements across the stage.

 I really very happy that I have got my lines out of the way as this means I can focus on other issues that I have in this role, such as my confidence with singing.
I am still finding my confidence with my songs, as I have had the chance to perform them yet. I am still working on them on my own, and finding the balance between chest and head voice, and also staying in character at the same time.
I am feeling confident with Killer Queen song, although I haven't performed it. I have been working on this song with my singing teacher, and he has given me vocal exercises that help me project my voice. We have also moved into a larger space for me to perform the songs, so that I get used to singing in a larger studio.
My targets are to increase my confidence in singing. I can do this by practising my songs and keep practising them, also I will  practise in the studio with the class watching me so that I can become more confident.

WWRY Costumes

Production Role.

My production role for this play is to be a part of the costume team, and joining me is Millie. 

Me and I got together and started thinking about all the character in the show and looking up costume ideas and coming up with our own ideas for them. 

Ga Ga Kids-For these costumes we looked at Ga Ga Kids costumes online and we also looked at the WestEnd show of We Will Rock You and looked at what they were for the song Radio Ga Ga. 

Production Roles- Costumes

Today in class I found out everyone's size for the White T-shirts for Radio Ga Ga costumes. I also found out their shoe size just incase we could get their plimsolls within the budget. But unfortunately the budget was said to be at £80 minimum, and wanted to spend as little as possible. So we could only afford to provide the White Vests Tops. 
I let the cast now that we were unable to provide the footwear, so that if they could, would they be able to buy their our plimsolls. 

  Year 13                 Vest Size        Shoe Size

Lauren Andrews-           16                   8

Stewart Adams-                S                   5

Amber Newberry-           8                    8

Mel Diprose-                  10                    5

Elle Locke-                     10                    5

Grace Springer (Me)-     12                    7

Josh Mortimer-                 L                   8

Josh Symmonds-               L                  10

Dylan Suddaby-              XL                  11

Millie Clark-                    10                   7

Danielle-                          12                   7

Amy Curtis-                     12                   7

Ben Williams-                   L                    7

Megan Ring-                   10                   6

Emily Partner-                 14                    7

Maisie Sheppard-            12                   7

   Year 13                 Vest Size        Shoe Size

Max Anderson               L                      9

Beth-                             8                       5

Lizzy-                            16                     8

Joe Gibbs-                     L                      11

Emily Green-                  8                       4

Sarah Hoy-                    8                       5

Polly-                             8                       5

Jessica Nixon-               10                      6

Mathew O'Hagan-           L                      9

Abigail Powell-               10                     6

This is just a basic costume list that I have put out side the drama studio, so that if any body isn't able to get on to the blog it is outside of the studio, and Millie and I are there if there have any question for  us.

GaGa Kids

-White Vest Tops

-White Plimsoles

-White Shorts, Skirts or Trousers

- Pink Bow

-No Jewellery/ Accessories

-Skin Coloured Tights

- Minual Make up -- White Lips

Teen Queens
Millie and I also looked at Teen Queen Costumes. As there isn't enough money for everyone costume to be brought we have suggested that we looked in the costume cupboard to see if there is anything that we can use.
Rachel order these Silver Pannies for another musical previously before, and it was a thought that we could use them and adapt them.

Teen Queens

-Silver Pannies

-White Vest Underneath

-Colour Leggins/ Skirt

-Oversized SQUARE (handmade) Handbags

-Hats

Bohemians

Girls

-Corsets

-Tutus

-Waitcoats

-Black Denim SkirtsShort- Black Leather look

- Black or Denim Skirts- Black Leather look

-Fish Net Tights (ripped)

-Gloves (Fish Net Cut up)

My Targets are to look at costumes for the rest of the cast. 

• Yuppies
• Scaramouche 
• Galleio 
• Killer Queen 
• Kashoggi 
• Meat 
• Britney 
• Freddie
• Pop
• The Teacher
• Big Macca

Radio Ga Ga and Rehearsals

We have spent time on creating the staging so that it is suitable for the show and the scene. We have placed the staging so that it has levels and is always to get on and off the stage, and there is also a ramp through the middle. 

Now that the staging is up, is was much easier to rehearse our dance routines, such as Radio Ga Ga. Today we can able to rehearse our dances on the new staging so that we get a feel of the staging  and have a good idea of spacial awareness, so that we are not hitting or touching anyone in our movements. For the Radio Ga Ga Dance I found it hard to remember that I should be singing at the same time as I am dancing. 

The characterisation for the GaGa Kids is very robotic and stiff as they have been brainwashed. For this characterisation I need to convey that I have been brainwashed, so acting like a zombie.
I really enjoy this choreography/routine because I have been a part of creating the choreography to I feel happy to be a part of that, also I think this is would of the best group pieces out of the entire play, she is has to be the best. I think that once we have all learnt the song words and remember to sing and dance at the same time it will be such a great performance