Last Friday we went to the Biblioteca Nacional and saw a play called Extras. There were only two actors performing the play (Sergio Galliani and Giovanni Ciccia) and it was amazing.
Both actors had to represent different characters they had like 7 each one or maybe more. You could see all the hard work of the actors because they had to create different characterizations with different voices, face expressions, gestures, centre of energy and movements. I noticed that sometimes the actors couldn’t change of character very quickly and sometimes they took a little bit longer to enter in the character. Maybe a little bit more of work on how to change from one character form another could have helped. However, they did a great job and I was able to identify the different characters.
They only used 2 huts and a big black bag as props, the other ones were imaginary. Again, the actors were very imaginative because they didn’t have anything but we, the audience, were able to identify which object or prop they were using.
They had no scenery but the cyclorama was a big screen like in a cinema where images representing scenery were projected. Also some videos were shown. This was a great idea because it helped a lot with the scenery and with the development of the scenes. The lighting also helped with the development of the scenes. When the actors changed the location, from the set to the bar for example, the lights turned blue and a little bit of red and these helped to create the illusion as if it was a bar. Sometimes, lighting was very dim and sometimes a very bright light was focusing just on one character.
Both actors used the same costume but one with a red in the hips an the other one with a green one. They used sandals which helped to express the idea that they were poor, because they were just the extras of the film.
The play was very funny and I spent a good night in the theatre. As I’ve said before, I liked the way in which the actors changed from one character to another. However, I think that they could have done it better with more preparation.
So, to what extent do we need to prepare in order to make a clear change from one character to another?
i think the change of characters was quite right, and i can't figure out how someone could have any grudges against it
ResponderEliminaron the other hand, i think the screen and the whole design idea was crap, the two dimensions of the screen clashed with the three dimensions of the acting space and the actors, and the lights were too simple and predictable, not elaborated or intelligent at all
your reviews should lead you by now to reflect on theoretical issues concerning the theatre, and you can start by assessing the way in which effects are caused (or not) on the audience, and evaluating the pertinence of the plays in our context...
roberto