Comedy of Errors

Stage before the play started

1. Describe the Theater, sets, and costumes
    The Drayton Hall Theater has a proscenium stage that faces an audience of about 400.  The stage is raised just a few feet above the first row of seats.  Although there was a front curtain it was not used for this production.  However, the backdrop curtain was used to block the stuff backstage.
    For the production of The Comedy of Errors the set stayed the same throughout the play.  There were two doors that represented the Chapel, a wall that represented Antipholus and Adriana's house, a wall that represented the Belly Dancer's house, and a wall for the cafe.  During the jail scene, two additional walls were brought onto the stage to off set the jail from the rest of the set.  The wall colors were neutral colors so they would not interfere with the actor's costumes.  The buildings were gray, tan, and a light red color with what looked like stucco on them.  The buildings were off to the side to make it look like there was a courtyard or market place in the middle of the stage where most of the scenes took place.  
    In contrast to the set, the costumes were extremely colorful.  The two sets of twins- Antipholus and Dromio- were dressed in the same outfits, but with a little difference to tell them apart.  The two Antipholus' were dressed in bright orange suits with orange hair, but Antipholus of Ephesus wore a blue flower in his coat pocket and had his sleeves rolled where as Antipholus of Syracuse wore a green flower in his pocket and left his sleeves down.  The Dromio twin wore purple plaid outfits with a large bright yellow tie and yellow hair.  Dromio of Ephesus had his shirt untucked and his socks were worn uneven.  Dromio of Syracuse had his pants up very high with his shirt tucked in and knee high socks.  Adriana wore a bright green skirt to match her hair with a white shirt with green poke-a-dots.  Luciana wore a bright blue skirt and jacket that matched her hair; she also wore large glasses.  The Belly dancer's costumes were blue, green, purple, red, yellow, and pink with hair to match their outfits.  

2. In what period does this play take place? Who is the author? What period did the play write live?
    I was not clear on what period the play take place in because some of the costumes looked like they were from the present day, but then some costumes looked like they were from an older time period.  The author of The Comedy of Errors is the brilliant William Shakespeare.  Shakespeare was an extremely talented play write, poet, and actor.  He lived during the Elizabethan period (1558-1603) of history.  Shakespeare has written some of the worlds most rememberable plays like Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The Comedy of Errors was one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and his shortest.  This particular play is a farcical comedy with slapstick comedy and mistaken identity.  The Comedy of Errors has been adapted into an opera, a movie, a stage production, a musical.

3. Discuss the plot
    The plot of The Comedy of Errors can be confusing if you do not pay attention to the small details like in this production the clothing differences.  The play is about two sets of twins that get separated soon after birth.  Egeon and Emilia (their parents) have one set of twins (Antipholus of Ephesus and Syracuse) and buy the other set of twins (Dromio of Ephesus and Syracuse) from a poor couple.  While returning home they get into a ship wreck and each parent takes a different twin.  Emilia's babies (Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus) are taken from her by pirates and Egeon safely gets back home with his two babies (Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse) and raises them.  Egeon eventually tells the boys this story and they set off on a journey to find their respective twin.  This brings them to Ephesus where they are mistaken for their twins.  This case of mistaken identity leads to many wild mishaps including beatings, arrests, seduction, infidelity, theft, and madness.  In the end it is discovered that they were twins and all was forgiven and it turned out that their mother never died and their father followed them to Ephesus.  In the city the family is happily reunited and all is well.

The Phantom of the Opera

Poster for The Phantom of the Opera

Describe

    The Phantom of the Opera is the film adaptation from Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical.  The Phantom of the Opera was filmed in 2004, but was first announced in 1989.  However, production on the film was halted because Webber's divorce from Sarah Brightman.  Brightman was the star in the original stage production and was the frontrunner to star in the film version.
    The final product stars Gerard Butler in the role as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, and Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry.  The film was directed by Joel Schumacher, produced and co-written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was distributed by Warner Brothers.  The film is 143 minutes.  The Phantom of the Opera was released on December 22, 2004 (in the United States).

Analyze
    The Phantom of the Opera is the story of the Phantom of the Opera that resides in the Paris Opera House and his obsession with Christine Daae, a chorus girl who he has trained through her dreams to be the lead singer in the Opera.  The Paris Opera House has just come under new ownership of Mr. Firmin and Mr. Andre and the patronage of Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny.  The new owners have their hands full with their prima donna- La Carlotta, who refuses to take the stage in a cursed theatre.  Christine Daae, who has been coached by the Phantom, steps in to take her place and does a superb job.  During her debut performance, Raoul remembers Christine from his childhood when they were childhood sweethearts.   As the film progresses, Christine and Raoul begin to fall in love again.  This is where the love triangle comes into play because Christine has an innocent and pure love for Raoul, but when she is under the influence of the Phantom, she is able to explore her "dark side."  The Phantom's obsession with Christine becomes more intense when he realizes she loves someone else.  The Phantom's obsession ultimately results in his downfall and loss of Christine.

Interpret
    The film is ultimately a love story between three people: Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom.  When Christine is with Raoul, their love is an innocent love that developed from a childhood friendship.  Christine's relationship with the Phantom is the complete opposite and is formed under false pretenses.  When watching the movie, you know the right man for Christine is Raoul, but at the same time you are intrigued by her relationship with the  Phantom.  With Christine and Raoul, you get to see a childhood friendship develop into a romantic relationship. On the other hand, when Christine's relationship with the Phantom was more dark and dangerous.  Even through the songs the couples sing, you can see the difference between the relationships.  When Christine and Raoul  would sing together their songs are lighter and pure love.  However, when Christine and the Phantom sang together it is the complete opposite; their duets are dark and more edgy.  The two relationships were something  every girl goes through in falling for and being intrigued by the "bad" boy, but ultimately she ends up with the the "knight in shining armor."


Evaluate
    I throughly enjoyed The Phantom of the Opera.  The film was a classic love story about a girl who falls for a "good' and "bad" boy.  The film keeps you in suspense of which guy Christine is going to ultimately pick in the end.  Although, I enjoyed seeing The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, I understand why Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted to make a film adaptation of the stage production.  With the film version, Webber was able to reach an entirely different audience that may not have ever heard of The Phantom of the Opera or have the chance to see it on Broadway.  I loved the costumes in the film and attention to the small details.  One of my favorite scenes was in the very beginning when the chandelier was being raised in the run-down Opera House and then we see the Opera House in its prime.  I thought the characters were perfectly cast and their takes on the characters.  I would recommend for anybody who loved the stage production or who's hearing of it for the first time to watch the movie!

Assignment 8

1. Describe the difference between opera, light opera, and musical theater?
    Opera-  a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists; usually classical music.
    Light Opera-  a short amusing opera, usually has a happy ending and some of the text is spoken.  Is also called an operetta.
    Musical Theatre-  a modern musical-dramatic work that is performed on a smaller scale than, and without the conventions of, a traditional opera.

2. How long does it take for someone to have a fully trained operatic voice?
    No singer is born able to sing with an operatic voice.  It takes many years of practice and training to be able to sing at that level.  You must work with a vocal coach for 2-3 hours a day for many years and practice diligently, and you must study a foreign language (French, German, Italian).  Most opera singers do not reach their full potential until the age of thirty.

3. Choose an Opera by Puccini? Describe and interpret.
    Puccini was a great Italian composer, who has captivated audiences for years and continues to do so.  One of his greatest pieces ever written was Madame Butterfly, written in 1904.  Madame Butterfly is about US Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton in Japan, who has acquired a house with servants and a geisha wife, Madame Butterfly.  They marry despite her family's opposition to the marriage and later leaves Japan for America promising to return to his wife.  Three years pass and Madame Butterfly still waits for her beloved husband with their son.  During her husband's time abroad, Madame Butterfly turns down many suitors because she believes her husband will return when he discovers he has a son.  When Lieutenant Pinkerton finally returns to Japan, he brings his American wife.  When Madame Butterfly sees her husband's American wife this crushes her.  At the end of the opera Madame Butterfly kills herself because she cannot take her beloved husband loving someone else.
    I was very fortunate to see Madame Butterfly years ago with my family.  Although, I enjoyed the performance, it was hard for me to watch the singers and read the subtitles because it was sung in Japanese.  However, from what I could interpret from the body language of the singers, Lieutenant Pinkerton loved Madame Butterfly and she loved him in return.  When he had to return to America, Madame Butterfly was devastated.  She did have hope of his return with the birth of their son.  When Madame Butterfly kills herself, has to be the most climatic part of the entire opera.  I believe she committed suicide because she could not deal with the fact her husband left her for another woman.

Assignment 7

1. Describe the difference between a thrust stage and proscenium stage.

Thrust Stage

Proscenium Stage

    A thrust stage is a stage that extends into the audience on three sides.  This kind of stage is also connected to the backstage area by its up stage end.  The thrust stage allows for a certain amount of intimacy between the actors and their audience.  A proscenium stage is a stage with an arch that separates the stage from the audience.  The actual stage is a few feet above the first row of seats.  In a product preformed on a proscenium stage, the actors only have to worry about playing to the audience from one direction, unlike the thrust stage, where the actors have to play to three sides.  All New York Broadway theaters are proscenium stages and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis is a thrust stages.

2. What is the fly gallery?

Fly Gallery

    The fly gallery is a narrow elevated platform at the side of the stage in a theater, from which a stagehand works the ropes controlling equipment in the flies.  Scenery can be "flown" in and out.  Many of the lights are arranged on the fly gallery and are then hoisted into the air.  The backdrop and curtains also hang from the fly gallery.  People who work on the fly galleries are normally dressed in all black, so they are not noticed by the audience members.  

3. How does a scrim work?

Scrim from Peter Pan

    A scrim is a curtain of thinly woven fabric.  Opaque when lit from the front and transparent when lit from the back.  A dreamy or foggy look can be created by lighting a scene entirely behind a scrim.  Many times a scrim will be used to project images or colors onto the stage, but they disappear when the light is taken away from the scrim.

Columbia Museum of Art- Art Event

KISS- Dressed to Kill, NYC, 1974

Describe the photograph - how big is it, who owns it, who shot it, who is the photograph of and what year was the photo taken. Is is black and white, color or some sort of special photographic process. If you don't know what this process is, look it up and describe it.
    Bob Gruen's photograph (he also owns the picture) of KISS was taken in 1974 for the rock-and-roll magazine CREEM.  The photo was to be used a "photo comic strip."  The piece was named, "KISS Komix Presents Clean Machine Grip Gotham- But Their Lives Were Saved by Rock & Roll."  It was about an Amish boy from Pennsylvania, moves to New York City and becomes a disc jockey with the intention of eliminating the destructive forces of rock and roll.  The members of KISS, wipe out the forces of "good clean fun," and once again, rock and roll saves the day.  From the photo above you can the picture is black and white.  Gruen focuses on the band members making the objects in the background, like the car, blurred.  Because there were no measurements listed; I looked up the measurements.  I found the original photo to be  14 by 11 inches.

Analyze the photograph - What is the photo about, what are/is the people/person doing in the photo, what is the setting, what are clothes like? What does the photograph reveal about the person in the picture?
    The photo is about how the band members of KISS saved the rock and roll from an Amish boy, who wanted to rid the world of rock and roll.  This particular photo was later used as the cover art for the band's 1975 album Dressed to Kill.  The band members of KISS are posing for the CREEM magazine photo comic strip set on the streets of New York.  The members are wearing what appears to be business suits with their signature face make-up.  I think the reason they are wearing the suits is so they would be like ordinary people who are actually heros.  Their hero side is shown through the face make-up.  I believe it is a play on Clark Kent/Superman because he wore the Superman costume under his everyday clothes.

Relate some of the photographer's or the person in the photographs history.
    Bob Gruen has photographed many famous musicians through the years like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Madonna.  He first concert photos were of Bob Dylan in 1965 where he talked his way into getting a photo pass where he could go down front to get photos.  He moved from New York to London to work.  Later in his career he worked for the magazine CREEM.  During his tenure at CREEM he took this photo of the band KISS.
    Kiss is an American rock and roll band formed in 1973 New York.  The bands most famous attribute is the face make-up the members wear and their flamboyant stage outfits.  Today the band has been awarded 24 gold albums, sold more than 40 million records in the United States.  However, their worldwide sales exceed 100 million albums. 

The Big Apple- Art Event

1. Even though the shag is danced to music that is 4/4 time, how does the dancer count when they are dancing the shag?
    8 count-  1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7, 8
    We practiced the 6 count-  1&2, 3&4, 5, 6.  However, most people keep pace with the song they are dancing too.  They listen to the beat of the music to determine the pace of the beat.

2. Discuss the Big Apple building. Discuss its features architechtural feature of Columbia, and a brief history. What was the first name of the building?
    The Big Apple building was used as an African American juke joint during the 1930s.  Since blacks and whites were not allowed to mingle together the white students at the University would go to the Big Apple Night Club and watch the dancers and their steps from the balcony.  They would take the steps they had seen and go dance them. 
    The Big Apple building was originally built in 1907-1910 as the House of Peace Synagogue.  The Synagogue had a large open floor with a balcony.  During services the women would sit in the balcony and the men would sit on the floor at the bottom.  The dome at the top of the building has the Star of David in stain glass.  The outside of the building is white with two red doors in the front.  There are also stained glass windows above and around the front door.

3. Discuss the Shag. What is the history of the shag and what is its relevance to South Carolina?
    The Shag originated along the coast of the Carolinas.  Some people from North Carolina claim to have started the shag, but most people believe it originated in South Carolina.  South Carolina put a permanent hold on the dance because it is South Carolina's state dance.  The shag was very popular at the beach areas during the 1940s and 1950s.  During the summer in Myrtle Beach, the Pavilion would hold a shag contest.  This contest is portrayed in the movie SHAG.  Like in many other dances, the shag has a leader and his partner follows his moves.

Assignment 6

1. Describe the baroque period of dance.
    The Baroque period of dance began in 1600 and lasted until 1750.  Baroque is characterized by the dynamic movement, overt emotion and self confident rhetoric.  The elements of baroque dance are very grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, vitality, movement, tension, and emotional exuberance.  The word "baroque" originated from the Portuguese word "barroco" meaning mis-shapen pearl.  There was also a tendency to blur the distinctions between the various arts.  During this period art, dance, music, and architecture flourished.


 2. Discuss why people dance?
    People dance for many reasons like: form of expression, hobby, fitness, spend time with significant other or friends, performance, social interaction, is expected at social functions (weddings and parties), and because it is fun!  When I started dancing it was because my mom wanted me to make friends and to learn something new.  However, the longer I kept taking dance the more I enjoyed for me not because my mom wanted me to do it.

My 1998 Dance Recital
(I'm second from the left)

3. Describe on non western dance art form.
    The Argentine Tango is a social dance, but also a musical genre, written in a 4/4 measure and with a binary musical form.  The Argentine Tango originated at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aries.  Its popularity quickly grew and was internationally spread.  The actual dance itself consists of a variety of styles that developed in various regions and eras.  The Argentine Tango can be danced in an embrace that can vary from very open, where the leader and follower connect at arms length, to very closed, where the connection is chest to chest.  In the close in embrace, the chest of the leader and follower are touching and their heads are also touching or close to touching.  This particular dance relies heavily on improvisation- there are no basic steps.  Since much of the dance is based on improvisation, there must be a clear communication between the leader and follower.  It is danced along the outside of the dance floor and it is frowned upon to cross the middle of the dance floor.  Another element of this dance that is important is "Walking."  In the Argentine Tango the walk is on the outside of the legs of the follower.  Throughout its history the Argentine Tango has developed a set of codes and superstitions.  One example is the "cabeceo"- an eye invitation from a man to a woman to dance which is practiced in Buenos Aries.  Today, many people can see the Argentine Tango on the hit television series Dancing with the Stars.