6th May

I feel like the performance on the 6th of may went well however because I will ill on that day I feel like my performance lacked in consistency and energy - which is what I was told I need to improve on in my lesson today. I also need to find ways to keep the performance fresh to keep the audience engaged.

28th March

We watched back our run through from the other day -

The main problems I feel like we need to improve on is being confident in performing , as well as pushing as much energy as possible and making sure we're finding ways of keeping the performance fresh for example when I do my revivalist preacher I feel like I need to find ways to keep my voice from coming across as shouting by using different dynamics.

Basic Review

Through the year I think I've improved on my breathing control - I've done this by applying every time I sing, rather than just in the lesson - Originally at the beginning of the year I could only do 2 years and 7 months without breathing and now I can do at least 3 years up until June/July which I see an accomplishment.

I now also feel a lot more confident in singing and realise how to have forward placement without tipping my voice back which has allowed me to become  a stronger singer.

I also feel a lot more confident when Dancing when I first started Wyke -  I feel like I've improved in Alignment, Extension and Control as well as Performance Skills such as Focus and Facial Impressions. This is through being pushed in lessons and doing warm up exercises throughout the year.

In acting I feel Like I've improved in confidence since I've started Wyke as well as technique such as articulation and accents.

Yesterday we did a performance at Biggin Hill, I couldn't make it because my Throat Infection has got worse.

Character Profiles

Singing Lesson

Exercise Down scale have massively improved on breathing and forward placement

Improve: By using Glottel stops in Prepare you and We Beseech Thee
Improvement on Onset making it more sharp

We Beseech Thee  - Requires more Attitude - I will do this by giving myself on objective in the song.
Prepare ye - Christmas Showcase change context to Advent (Offering of Hope to all)

Provisional Dates

Mon - March 31st - 8pm "Shame" performance

April 1st "Workshop"
April 14th - 28th = Easter Holiday
5th - May Day
12th May - Exams Begin
6th - 7th - Matinee Performance/evening

May 19th - 26th - Half term - Final Deadline.
Fri 23rd - Final Grades
21st of May - All Submissions.

“Godspell” Character Breakdown


JESUS – Must have high energy, be charming, funny, gentle but with strength. He is the
sort of person that others follow.

JOHN THE BAPTIST – Small role, will also become one of the other disciples. He also
must be charismatic, and can take charge of a group.

JUDAS – He is both Jesus’ lieutenant and most ardent disciple and the doubter who
begins to question and rebel. He is more overtly revolutionary. He is the most “serious”
and intellectual of the group, though as with all the actors, he must still possess a good
sense of physical comedy.

JEFFREY – Very high energy. Impish and playful.

LAMAR – Not the brightest in the bunch, he is a little slow on the uptake. But there is a
sweetness and innocence about him. Sings “All Good Gifts,” must be strong vocally.

HERB – The comedian, the class clown. The guy who can do a hundred voices and
imitations.

ROBIN – A bit of a tomboy, but basically open and sweet. She is the first of the group to
commit to following Jesus in the song “Day by Day.”

JOANNE – The confident one, the show-off. The first one to volunteer, sometimes she 
jumps in before she really understands what’s going on.  - This is useful when singing O bless the lord my soul. 

PEGGY – The shy one. Sometimes and little slow to get things, but what she does, she
commits all the way. Has an “earth mother” kind of warmth to her.

SONIA – Sassy and slightly cynical, the most urban of the group. Also the “Sexy” one,
but her sexiness contains a large element of put-on imitation.

GILMER – The female equivalent of the class clown. Goofy and a cutie. Must be a
strong comedian.


We will also audition for a small ensemble who will sing all group numbers and
participate in some larger scenes.



This is a character breakdown file, I found on easter.org to give people an idea of the difference in each character

Revivalist Preachers

Definition: evangelist: a preacher of the Christian gospel

If you watch the video around 1:20 we see the revivalist become very passionate about what he's talking about and he does it in a very performance based way to entice his listeners. I like the use of this idea because it emphasizes the stereotype of that we have of a preacher and is entertaining to the audience of which will be primary school children and will probably make them laugh and keep them interested in the show. Therefore I'm going to use the idea of big gestures and a different register/tone of voice to characterize one of my characters of a revivalist preacher to entertain.

Today I went to gym again, I can now run for 20 minutes in three intervals. My stamina is improving however I wish to continue to improve it. I also went on the weights to improve my strength.

Additionally today I also went through my script and marked Vocally things that I should do - I also Did a warm up at home and went through songs using my Keyboard to make sure I'm getting all the notes right. I notice I'm struggling with the harmonies in Day By Day which I will ask Liz about in my singing lesson.


Bbbbbbbbb -- Gets Articulation going


Hmmmmm to ahhh ---- Creates Resonance


Tongue Twister - Ken Dodd's Dad's Dog's Dead - Also helps articulation and pronunciation.

The Three Stooges

The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the mid–20th century (1930–1975) best known for their numerous short subject films, still syndicated to television. They are act is renowned for the slapstick style and physical farce as seen in the video below. 

This kind of slapstick style is used throughout Godspell, such as in "The Good Samaritan" where the Robbers are slapping the man on his journey and as well as in The second parable where the man throws himself at the masters feet as we create the "Thud" sound. This creates a soundscape for the audience which are mainly key stage 2, of Primary School age which they will find funny. 

BSL (British Sign Language)

This is the basics of BSL starting with the Alphabet.

 These are also basic words or phrases that we use in every day life.

Our Director had the idea of using sign language for "Day By Day"

This mean Day


by doesn't have a specific gesture, so we spell it out with the alphabet.

I think this idea is useful especially when showing to a primary aged audience because it's a fun way to learn however useful because it creates awareness to the audience.

Some movements it comes together, other times it falls flat
- Improve this by extra rehearsal time
- Learn timings for lines + Gestures in my monologue.

The next week I will be In New York 10-14 then it's half term

Groucho Marx and The Marx Brothers

The marx brothers comedy was over exaggerated through using stereotypes and large facial expressions and gestures.There work also used music to emphasis a situation as seen in this chase seen. Because Godspell is non naturalistic we could use this form of comedy in our play. For example in the Good Samaritan we use "Here Comes The Judge" as the judge walks over to the injured man and then when he leaves him, the rest of the cast says "There goes the judge" to the same rhythm.

Roni's lesson

In Roni's lesson today to help us let go of our inhibitions the exercise which we did involved is closing our eyes and pretending we're in our bedroom. We then danced about how we would in our bedroom without feeling like we would be judged because everyone else did.

I'm going to apply this to Prepare Ye, as well as other song such as "Save The People" and else where we improvise to push the energy the primary school children don't lose interest.

Create page for character - Voice
                                        - Physical

Godspell is non naturalistic  - Singing is non naturalistic

Rehearsal - Run through show - songs

> Good Energy
> Revise Cue Puck up lines
> Be Precise and Accurate

Attendance is a problem need to improve

Save the people + Day By Day needs to be revisisted

Improve on Cues
Making sure lines are learnt

Note - Look at lines to understand meaning

Prepare ye - remember choreography
                   Dont Rush through it
                   Leave the stage.

14/1/14

Day By Day - Take the bottom note
                       Shannon take top note
                       From bar 16

Today we went through Day by Day.

Lazarus - Character From Parable

Lazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death. This adds context to one of the Parables in Godspell 

Costume - Moodboard

These are the bright colours I picture my character to wear - the Dungarees add a child like feature to my character and the Blazer shows the Geek/Academic side as well as the top. I've tried to chose as many different colour to show the happines and the new way of life that my character has now found.