New Girl -- the Best Ugliest Cry

OMG i had to share this. i seriously laughed out loud for a long time in the middle of the night while watching this. i freaking love zooey deschanel. and justin long in this is so exceptional:

Watch the episode (and in better quality) here.

"it's like he's a slow-motion sneeze"...

"stop crying! you are literally the ugliest crier i have ever seen!"

..."you cry smile"

Silent Lullaby

And so it goes on a Saturday night. I was going to go see Snow White and the Huntsman. I'm still going to see it. But, instead of seeing a movie, I made one.

We started about 10:40pm until final editing and uploading at 3:45am. How's that for a super saturday?

Idea for Blog Post

[not absolute on cuz i may not want to do this all the time or ever again.. who knows]


Blog Ideas
So, i just had this thought… a pretty brilliant one.. i think. that will benefit several different ways.

So first read what i write as if i'm saying it. I would just say it but that would give me a lot of ummms and likes and you knows… which i like you know umm… don't want to do.

so whatever i think to write down, i'll do, and record it as if i am saying it on the fly, then i'll have the transcript for easier finding for those of us who aren't audio people [point to me]. me.

what'd think… shall we give it a go? well it's going… and now gone. i kinda like it. how was it for you?

problem is, i'd have to memorize it all or keep looking at what i just typed which can kinda kill the idea.

which it is right now, whatever, but i'll get better at it. as for nowww. peace.

Purpose found through music montage "Be Invited"

I've been watching Bones and i've skipped a lot of episodes to get to the closer dynamic of Booth and Brennan, but the point is...

I haven't posted in a while. I've been hopeless and unmotivated about acting recently, with everything else going on and feeling inadequate, out of shape, and unlearned. But, during the near end scene of episode 7x06 i was re-impassioned. 

It's like i listen to a song superimposed over the montage of visual intrigue (irony, sadness, cleverness, edge, dark, raw depth) and i don't even know how to describe it. You hear a song that empowers you and gives you feeling and therefore life and purpose. This may be my favorite song now.

It makes things clear--that feeling of purpose and passion. It feels good. "There's something at work here." With the song and video montage, i see the actors in character... there's no dialogue, just action to a soundtrack. This reminds me of what is in my future. Playing a character that is so valuable and loved, doing these actions with so much meaning behind every expression.

This is the song. I couldn't find the scene itself on youtube but click here for the episode link (song starts 38:18).

TBBT: Penny Gives Sheldon Acting Lessons

Even though acting has so many uses and gives certain skills that transfer so many different mediums, im not too sure if it will help Sheldon... he's just... special.

Comedic Monologue Early Work Evolution: Luv by Murray Schisgal

 Somewhat progression. Supposed to be comedic monologue. These were the earlier versions of it. I didn't record it recently, but i think it turned out okay at the end when i performed it for my final and for proficiencies (audition to move up to the next level)... though i got to say, comedy is hard.

My T.A. put it best when she gave me this instruction: "Comedy is wide-eyed. Drama is squinty-eyed." And that's how you do comedy... everything very serious and heightened, just wide-eyed. It's harder than it looks. You'd be surprised how unnatural opening your eyes super wide feels, but hey that's why we're learning.

Brad Pitt's profile smolder

let me tell you, I love Brad Pitt. I think he is an amazing actor and plays a variety of characters so skillfully -- ie. Fight Club, Inglorious Basterds, loved him in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

But, in Troy, it crossed my mind, "what?" all he does is stare off blankly to show the camera his profile. it's kinda strange and weird. for example at the end of this scene:

a little insight

i'm feeling really down and comparing myself to others. other people have so much potential. i'm thinkin of one girl in particular from my acting class. she's got the most perfect look to be a star -- eyes, teeth, hair, features---, the right experience, resume, area of expertise, and connections. I don't.

i'm sitting here wondering what the freak is wrong with me? not because i am not as settled as this one girl, but because i feel like i'm inadequate which i know logically im not. i get to thinkin, why is it that right now, i have no hope or ambition? and i realize, it's because i need to sleep.

little sleep does you know good. you become tired on life, and it becomes hard to see yourself as anything but weak and tired. so i am going to take a power nap and revitalize. cuz right now, gotta say i don't feel like being an actor. AND THAT IS SO WRONG.

To Watch: Misery

I haven't seen the movie but i'm going to watch it as soon as i get a chance. Kathy Bates won Best Actress for her role in this. Just from the one scene i watched yesterday --thanks to my sis and bro inlaw-- and watching the trailer, i can see why. She is phenomenal. Check out the trailer and if you've got netflix check it out here.

Ke$ha's "Take it Off" MV

So i'm a little late on the uptake but a friend just introduced me to this video and i love it because:

1) mostly because of Ke$ha's eyes at the beginning when they turn all freaky-like:
"..when the dark of the night comes around
that's the time that the animal
comes alive, lookin for something wild..."

2) its based on the known tune: "there's a place in france where the naked ladies dance. there's a whole in the wall where the boys can watch it all."

3) halfway through the video is colored powder party like the festival of colors

Open Call 'The Lone Ranger' with Johnny Depp in Utah

This is to be an extra in the movie. No audition is required. Just bring a 3x5 pic and a pen and your good to go.  For more info and the official online posting click here.

Casting All Types in
Moab, Utah
Sunday, April 1st, 2012
Your arrival time: 10:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm
Moab Valley Inn
711 S. Main Street
Moab, Utah 84532


I missed going to Moab today. It's a 3 and a half hour drive to Moab.

So i'll do the second option of sending in my pic to the CA office. I hope i'm still picked for the movie. How cool would this opportunity be?! I should have just sucked it up and drove to Moab. I didn't realize how big a movie it was though, now i really wish i went.

'The Lone Ranger' has a budget of upwards 200 MILLION dollars and is set to release May 2013. Armie Hammer [Mirror, Mirror; the Social Network] plays the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp plays his right hand mand, Tonto.

Talk about a "Strange" General Conference

Today, I noticed a similar...... resemblance. I had no idea that Elder Baxter was an observer.

Alright alright, nobody get your panties in a twist. Elder David Baxter (of the Quorum of the Seventy) was diagnosed with brain cancer, and that's why he looks like an observer. All due respect goes to him and his family during this time. It's just... i can't deny the truth, whether its PC or not.

Oh and also, hello David Archuleta in the MTC Choir 

click here for more info on speakers and schedules for the 182nd annual LDS General Conference;

and here & here for more info about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormon; LDS)

BYU Chick on Veronica Mars

Was watching Veronica Mars the other day. Love that show. Kristen Bell is awesome -- strong character, love her sarcastic readings.

In an episode there's a guest star,
Erin Chambers (click here for her IMDb). I just found out that apparently she graduated from BYU. I don't know if she's an active member, but isn't that cool?

I first saw her in that one disney movie "Don't Look Under the Bed." That was SUCH a good movie with imaginary friends and creepy cool stuff... wow good times. that movie was from 1999. Erin Chambers was 20 years old; her character.. 14 years old. YEAH. Watch the movie:

General Hospital. It's so weird how she's got an Irish accent in this. wweeeeeiiirrrrd. and i don't know how accurate it is. It all sounds toooooo irish if you know what i mean.

Errand of Angels. haven't seen it. i will now. she looks so good in this.

She sorta reminds me of Brittni from my acting class:

TBBT: Elevator Explained!

i love starting to watch shows when they've already got like 5 seasons out. that way i don't have to wait a week or for stupid hiatus to end. I've been catchin up on the big bang theory.

"Okay baby-doll pink, let's see if you can cover up the fact that i got my dad's feet." ... the episode i just finished watching:  THE BIG BANG THEORY S3E22
finally! this is the episode that explains why the elevator is broken!

omg i love this show. the writing and acting is so funny. Jim Parsons is exceptionally impressive and Kaley Cuoco is soo great. Sometimes--rarely--she misreads a line or isn't owning her craft, but for this show it's fine. she's always entertaining and on occasion, she has the BEST READINGS more than any other comedic actress. like this one from S2E11 (try to ignore the sound delay and subtitles):

"That's what you took from that?!! The guy is married!" 

I am loving that reading. Just awesome. The explosion of shock, the slight voice crack on "That's," the wide-eyed stare, the head tilt and gesture forward. So great.

The Buzz of Funny Celebs

My mind:

• Watches Revenge and loved the song at the end of an episode --> turns into:
• Finds the song on youtube; got it --> turns into:
• "What was that one song on 30 rock... KIDNEY NOW" --> turns into:
• 30 Rock Bloopers -->
• Tina Fey interview -->
• Zac Efron & Michelle Pfeiffer interview -->
• Sandra Bullok interview -->
• 2 hours later -->
• realizes its been 3 hours of this, in the middle of the night -->
• comes to senses? -->
• hopefully sleeps, but most likely, you know better.

1. love tina fey

2. love katherine heigl

3. sandra bullock; need i say more.

4. love love love zac efron; he's like the robert redford or brad pitt of this generation; i think i'll work with him sometime

many more.. but yeah. don't mind that i spent hours doin this and i have a 9am ACTING class (ironically). whateva kiyum

It's called choking for a reason

Yesterday in class i was last to go. there really wasn't enough time left, i shouldn't have performed. i wasn't prepared enough.

I picked a comedic monologue the night before. i wanted to say the lines really fast and expressively, but i didn't practice enough.

my slow pace and thought process really made it more dramatic, not comedic. my teacher said it really was a great monologue choice, so that's good (for dramatic piece).

but it was an EPIC FAIL.

Lines are the air you breathe. without them, you choke. you break character. you break the truth of it all. lines have to be SO natural to you that you can pull them out of your ass at any moment if you need to. Leighton Meester is great at this as Blair on Gossip Girl, says her lines sooo fast and natural. really, i was so critical of myself for bein slow and needing help with the last lines and stanzas. POOP.

there wasn't enough time for the teach & class to critique, so i shouldn't have even gone. UGH. i did not like that. whateva kiyum.

but it was a lil bittersweet. to know this priority of memorization and preparation. to perform, you've got to be thinkin this all the time.

Comedic monologue i performed (only to find out after that it's not really comedic)
Luv by Murray Schisgal
p29-30
ELLEN: I was lonely, Harry; I was always lonely.

There was no one for me to talk with, or share things with. 

I couldn’t make friends because I never stayed in one place long enough.

I went deeper and deeper inside of myself.

I read and fantasized and was far too bright for my age.

On the one hand I possessed a cold calculating mind; 

it was sharp as a razor, incisive, penetrating.

Men were afraid of me.

They were afraid of my mind, my power of analysis, 

my photographic memory.

They wouldn’t discuss things with me.

They became resentful and standoffish and 

avoided me because I was a threat to 

their feelings of masculine superiority.

You see, on the other hand, 

on the other hand, Harry. I was a woman, 

a woman who wanted to be loved, 

who wanted to have children, 

who wanted all the common dreary horrible middle-class things… 

things that every other woman takes for granted.

I willingly succumbed to biology and sociological necessity. 

I willingly confessed my womanhood.

But how do I bridge the gap?

I didn’t ask for universal education.

Why was I educated, Harry if I’m 

compelled to live this fractured existence?

You say love and yes, what about love?

You know nothing about women, Harry.

For a woman to have never known love isn’t tragic. 

The dream is still there. The dream…

She needs that more than she does the reality.

But to have love become a shabby cynical emotion… 

To watch it change into pettiness and hate…

That’s what destroys her.

She loses her dream and…

It makes an animal of her, a vicious little creature 

who only thinks of scratching and biting and getting revenge. 

Comedic monologue i plan on practicing really well and performing instead of the latter:

Luv by Murray Schisgal

p. 48

ELLEN: You talk about misery! Ha!

That makes me laugh. Misery!

You can’t imagine how it’s been.

He… Who is he? What is he?

Why didn’t you shake me by the shoulders and slap my face and… do anything to stop me.

He… He isn’t human, Milt. That man…

He lays in the corner of the living room, rocking on his back, wearing a paperbag on his head, yes a paperbag, mumbling and groaning hour after hour…

I have to feed him, wash him… I can’t tell you everything. I’m too ashamed.

That’s what my marriage to Harry Berlin has been like.

And you wonder why I continue with it.

Ask me what I believe in, Milt.

I believe in marriage, Milt.

I believe in a man coming home at five o’clock with a newspaper rolled under his arm and a silly grin on his face and shouting, “What’s for dinner, hon?”

I believe in the smell of talcum powder and dirty diapers and getting up in the middle of the night to warm the baby’s bottle.

I can’t help it. I’m made that way.

But why did they teach me trigonometry and bio-chemistry and paleontology?

Why did they so sharpen my intellect that I find it impossible to live with a man?

I’ll never forgive the Board of Education for that. Never.

Rabbit Hole Scene Rehearsal

I play Becca, a woman whose 4 year old son was run over by a teenage by, Jason. This scene is 10 months after the accident, where Jason and Becca are meeting as an attempt to connect in some way because they both share this tragic experience. 

Click here for the written scene! Also, they made the play into a movie, with Nicole Kidman as Becca.

^my scene with Dallen. also some before-prepping and after-fun.


This is the only recording I'll have of this scene. It's rough. We worked on it a bunch since then. We worked privately with the TA who gave us some Meisner exercises to do, which were fun. We made the scene more light and real, not so dismal and blah and long. We perform it a total of 3 times in class.

broadwayworld.com

http://broadwayworld.com/nonequity.cfm

Found this site while looking for monologues.

Interesting that there's a couple Salt Lake City Auditions on this random site. Heat, and Greece is the Word. I'm kinda thinkin i'll go to it, just for the experience, for the fun of it, that is... if i can get my sister to go with me. ;-) April.

Saturday, March 31 10am-1pm, Off Broadway Theatre, 272 South Main Street.  http://broadwayworld.com/nonequitylisting.php?id=249 

'course, Heat is an all black cast... so i'm thinkin i wouldn't fit the part. shucks.

Some Playwrights/Monologue List

Some Playwrights:

Murray Schisgal
John Patrick Shanley
Christopher Durang
Lanfod Wilson

http://broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=871066&boardid=14#ixzz1pgSdWa00
AMAZING AMAZING link for a comprehensive list of potential monologues (monologues not actually located here, but has great detail of dozens of plays and characters for female roles).

books.monologue.google.com--monologue book synopses/locations

Girl, Interrupted Monologue

Help me understand, Daisy.

'Cuz i thought you didn't do valium.

I do. But i'm sick, Daisy. We know that.

But here you are in so called recovery, playing Betty Crocker, cut up like a damn Virginia ham.

Tell me how this safety net is working for you.

Tell me that you don't take that blade and drag it across your skin and pray for the courage to press down.

Tell me how your daddy helps you cope with that.

I mean, you tell me daddy loves you, and I bet he does.

With every inch of his manhood.

They didn't release you because you got better, Daisy.

They just gave up.

You call this a life, hmm?

Taking daddy's money, buying your dollies and your knick-knacks,

and eating his chicken, fattening up like a prize heifer.

You changed the scenery but not the situation.

And the wardon makes house calls.

And everybody knows. Everybody knows that he screws you.

But what they don't know is you like it. Hmm? You like it.

But hey man, it's cool. Whatever.

A man is a dick is a man is a dick is a chicken, a dad, a valium, a speculum, whatever.

Whatever.

You like being Mrs. Randone.

Probably all you've ever known, huh?

I presented this in my acting class, and it got quite a silent reaction. My TA just said, "Okay, well now we're all going to be a little scared of Karyn." 

Kinda fun :)

Fringe -- Short Monologue

Fringe [Season 4 Episode 13]
http://www.sockshare.com/file/E8A0A275723344F0#
Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham

Olivia starts to remember her old life, before the observers took away the memory of Peter ever existing. She remembers her love with Peter and wants him to treat her like she is his Olivia, not some "other-timeline Olivia."
32:12 - 32:52; 33:44 - 34:00

"Look, in case you were wondering it's hard for me too.
You know, I keep expecting to see that look in your eye
and it isn't there.
Or it is, and you're pulling back.

[You say you're confused]. I'm confused, too.
I feel incredibly close to you.
I feel like I know you better than anyone else in the world,
and then when you look at me it's like none of that is true.

I want you to behave naturally.
I want you to treat me like you know me better than anyone in the world too,
because you do."

[you don't understand how this is happening]
"I don't understand it either, but whatever this is, whatever the cause, i told you i'm not scared.
I like the feeling.

Sir Ian McKellen, On Acting

Oh yeah. THIS is acting... such deep insight.

Play Card #6: Once Upon A Lilypad

mask club #4 saw on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at BYU

Once Upon A Lilypad
Written by Jon-Michael Rutter

Prince Tristan is in the forest with his right-hand man and is turned into a frog. Princess Lillian is wandering in the forest with her lady in waiting. As a frog, Prince Tristan meets Princess Lillian and tries to get a kiss from her. They end up getting to know each other very well and find out that they are each other's arranged fiances. Happy ending with several musical numbers and dancing.
3 Characters:

• Prince Tristan
• O: to become human again
• T: 1) to ask princess to kiss him; 2) to bother/chase princess; 3) to provoke sympathy
• Princess Lillian
• O: to avoid her arranged marriage
• T: 1) to delay her time in the forest; 2) to read her book; 3) to allow herself to get caught up in fairytale
• Adelaide -- lady in waiting to Princess Lillian
• O: to keep Lillian safe and get her to the city
• T: 1) to warn Lillian about dangers of forest; 2) to exaggerate, 3) to defend the princess from

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

i liked the musical number at the end. reminded me of Ella Enchanted with the random dance at the end.

Reading a Scene! Finally!

We've finished with exercises, moved on to scene work. Dave and Gabby assigned a part to each of us, from a few different plays: Rabbit Hole, Crimes of the Heart, and Proof. We have about a week--week and a half to cut the scene down, memorize our lines, rehearse, incorporate blocking (the way u move around the stage), etc. so we can perform it and get good feedback.

Goal: read the play (several times), really understand your character, then encompass it in your scene while playing off the other person.

Rabbit Hole 
by David Lindsay-Abaire
I play the part of Becca, late thirties/early fourties, whose 4-year-old son was killed by a car in the street by her house about 8 months ago. She had left the gate open, and the teenage boy had hit him. This scene is the meeting btwn the teenager and Becca at her house.

Jodie Foster Rocks This Shit

Sorry for the "t" in there april (since ur the only one reading this), but there's no other way to say it that shows what i'm trying to convey. I tried "shiz" but it didn't work.

It seems that the best things always come when you're not looking for them.

This one came when I just decided to watch Silence of the Lambs for the first time with my friend. Such a good choice. This movie was definitely a good example of a strong female character. Such presence and power. And yet, layered with a very potent vulnerability. Take a look.

I am so going to try this monologue out. It is a lil intimidating though.. i mean it's Jodie Foster. Can you get any better? Won't stop me though. Will try it out. You may be saying, "this isn't a monologue." well, all you have to do is take out the dialogue of the other character (and if it sounds good) then you've just made it into a monologue.

Play Card #5: Antigone

mask club #3 saw on Thursday, February 16, 2012; 4pm at BYU

Antigone

Written by Jean Anouilh [adapted by Lewis Galantiere]
A woman (Antigone) wants a proper burial for her brother, but her father (Creon) --the nation's general/leader-- would not allow it. In fact, he forbids anyone to try anything like that. So Antigone stands up for what she believes in and attempts to give her brother a proper burial anyway, despite her father's severe consequences. She is found out, but her father wants to save her. Though she is so stubborn that she be treated like everyone else and taunts her father to do something about it. He has no choice. [Spoiler] She is sentenced to death, but not until after they discover that her brother is actually alive. Antigone dies and the brother then takes his own life as a result. Creon is left with no one.
3 Characters:

• Antigone -- strong headed woman in opposition of her father's tyrannical rule

• O: to bury her brother properly and demand fair treatment of all her father's subjects, even her
• T: 1) to ask her father; 2) to conspire without his knowledge; 3) to openly defy him; 4) to sacrifice her own life for justice
• Chorus -- narrator of story
• O: to bring the audience in and help them understand as well as fill in any missing links
• T: 1) to gesture; 2) to excite audience for what is to happen next; 3) to declare the wrongs and rights of the world they live in
• Creon -- strong headed tyrannical ruler that is subject the law he put in place; Antigone's father

• O: to protect his children and his country
• T: 1) to set laws that would fit his command; 2) to appease Antigone so that she will marry her father's suitor; 3) to admit his weakness; 4) to choose to sacrifice his daughter to abide by his law
• Guard -- Creon's brown-noser guard
• O: to please Creon with obedience and servitude
• T: 1) to tell Creon about his daughter's delinquent acts; 2) to be obedient; 3) to keep Antigone's betrayal secret until Creon figured out what to do; 4) to force Antigone to her death

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

This was okay. The acting could have felt more connected in terms of physical actor-actor relationships (standing hips closer together during kiss; stepping away in fear; etc.).

I really enjoyed the Chorus narrator [Sarah Porter]. She had a lot of presence and led the actor-audience relationship very well. I liked her ending monologue about the characters, and how she wrapped it all up.  Also, how she did things on the side of the stage to keep us in check (playing with cards on the bench facing us), that this is still a story.

Antigone had a good monologue. I forgot where.. it was in the middle when she was declaring her right to do what she believed to be right.

Student Commercial Shoot

I had the opportunity to participate in a commercial shoot today. One of the benefits of being part of the advertising program.

I changed into that shirt, was shot at 3 different angles, was directed, was made to look good, etc. etc. Wow was that fun. I loved every minute. There were several takes from each angle and position.

They could have been more specific with what they wanted, but they were sorta just going with the flow of it so whatever. :-)

From start to finish it was probably a couple hours, and this footage is only for a 5-second time slot in the commercial. That's production for ya.

The commercial is for a campaign for Stride Gum.

In this scene, my co-worker and I are ditching work for a minute to play mop hockey outside. I say "Nuckle Puck!" and hit an empty water bottle, then cheer, then get caught by the boss. Basically the campaign shows all of the fun mischief stuff happening... "why does the mayhem have to stop?"

It was all volunteer, but it was soooo great... this feeling of being on camera, being directed, being used and getting real on-camera acting experience.

Also, fun fact. The guy in the top left is part of the Tessa Barton band, whom i think will be big. They are in my previous post Networking: Industry ppl I've Met so far. I had no idea, but he's in the BYU advertising program just like myself. His name is Chaz. Cool stuff.

Play Card #4: Merchant of Venice

saw on Saturday, February 4, 2012; 11am at BYU

Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare
A wealthy merchant, Antonia, borrows money from a minority moneylender, Shylock, with the promise of a pound of flesh if she cannot return the money. Meanwhile, there is a princess named Portia that is searching for the right suitor to pick the right box: one is made of gold, another of silver, and the last of lead. Antonia's close friend Bassanio is a young man that wants to marry Portia. Shylock takes Antonia to court when she cannot pay back the money she borrowed. Bassanio who has picked the right box, now married to Portia, goes to defend his close friend. Portia dresses up like a lawyer and saves Antonia by putting Shylock in a strange predicament. All ends well, but Shylock--the minority--is left unsatisfied.
3 Characters:

• Shylock -- a moneylender who is disliked by many
• O: to receive justice
• T: 1) refuses to lend money to Antonia; 2) lends money only based on satisfaction that he'll get a pound of her flesh; 3) takes Antonia to court and demands justice
• Bassanio -- a young man who spends too much money and who wants to marry Portia
• O: to keep his relationships good
• T: 1) convinces Shylock to lend money to Antonia; 2) to decide wisely which box to pick to marry Portia; 3) returns to Antonia to help her in court
• Portia -- a very wealthy and beautiful young woman
• O: to marry who she wants; and to be happy with him
• T: 1) sets up elaborate box-picking choice; 2) to give Bassanio the money he needs to free his friend from bonds; 3) to dress up like a lawyer, travel, and defend Antonia in trial

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- i enjoyed so many monologues but could not keep track of them

-- Portia's lines were all good: when she was monologuing about how and who she wants to pick the right box; also when she is defending Antonia is impressive

-- i liked Shylok's passion when he was demanding justice

This was a very unique performance. It was in an all-around theatre where the audience is on all 4 sides and the actors perform in the center. Very entertaining. Also, because this play is a traveling play and was directed for a child audience, key aspects of the setting are improvised by the audience. For this performance:
          --Dominant Culture: Tharian                   --Money: Spices
          --Non-Dominant Culture: Curan              --Place of Business: DI
          --Town: Narnia                                         --Far Away Place: Andalasia

Play Card #3: Elephant Man

saw on Friday, February 3, 2012; 7pm at BYU

Elephant Man

Written by Bernard Pomerance 

A severely disfigured man (John Merrick) is a freak to society. A doctor (Frederick Treves) takes him to study, and treats him like a man. The elephant man had been well taught in intellectual and religious matters. He impresses a famous actress (Mrs. Kendall), who at first was very shocked by his appearance. She grows to appreciate him, respect him, and treat him as a man and as a friend. Merrick becomes a wonder and joy to society, only to end up feeling alone and ultimately dies. Get the program here.

3 Characters:

• John Merrick -- the elephant man
• O: to live freely in society
• T: 1) obeys the doctor; 2) produces art work; 3) is civil and intellectually impressive to people
• Frederick Treves -- the doctor
• O: wants to help John live as normal a life as possible, while also studying his condition
• T: 1) takes John in and has him live in hospital; 2) shuts John off to society accept some individuals; 3) introduces Mrs. Kendall, a princess, scholars, and businessmen to John
• Mrs. Kendall -- the actress; Frederick's friend
• O: wants John to live life well and normal
• T: 1) reserves her initial disgust; 2) tries to let John experience life outside the hospital by trying to convince the doctor to do so; 3) to give herself in vulnerability by showing her body to John

Scenes/Monologues/misc:

-- i wish i kept better track because

-- i really liked the scene when Mrs. Kendall is completely vulnerable to John.. what did she say in this part? Gabby did awesome with this [btw, Gabby is my TA for TMA123 :-)]

-- i loved the dream/nightmare sequence that the doctor had, where the roles are reversed and the doctor is the freak and John is the scientist inspecting him. great scene. very impressive reading by Graham Ward; i also liked how this actor had a constant drool trail for the character