The Notebook - week 2

Work commences with run-through.  In the nicest possible way, one student opines that the result was "awful".  The others agree.  They try again to create a funfair through a montage of movement / mime based a rollercoaster; bumper cars;etc.  They tidy up and move forward but without a director off stage (or even a video of their efforts) it is almost impossible for them to make accurate attempts to improve matters.

They move on to a more naturalistic moment between "the old" Noah and Allie.  Noah is narrating the story a little.

I interrupt proceedings to discuss a couple of points that seemed to be glaringly obvious to me in my privileged position of observer - but may not be to the actors:
1) Noah's benevolence: his even-handed description of events regardless of the way in which they effected him personally - e.g. on the line "Allie's mother was not fond of Noah" needs to be played with understanding.
2) The fact Allie cannot remember WW2 is fairly significant: How frightening for someone to not remember anything?  How can Noah hope she remembers him when she cannot remember World War?
 
Both these things are significant because they are opportunities for the audience to empathise with the characters and understand their situation. The actors have to find a way to communicate their significance to the audience.

The group also needs to recognise the fact they are switching / integrating naturalistic and nonnaturalistic elements.  At present it is happening organically; not explicitly discussed by the group.  This is only right.  They will automatically find the means to make these stylistic transitions because they are creative problem solvers with a good "feel" for the audience response.

When they have made this work, it will be my role to raise a discussion about the degree to which they have been successful - and at that point we can raise the discussion of styles in the performance and means of integrating different ones.

After break the group realise they to prepare a movement sequence ahead of having a musician in the lesson tomorrow and set to work devising the part which shows Allie and Noah aging; their life together; their children.  Progress is slow because they lack confidence and experience in this area.  I think they need to keep working.  One person is losing energy but then others rally to the cause and begin to offer ideas and bolster their confidence.