LESSON THREE - '27|3|13' - 'Berkoff - Lunch'

As we want to do two more performances by the end of the year, we knew that this one would be approaching fast. Sir decided that if he gave us the script now we'd be able to incorporate anything we learn in small workshops into our performance.

We were given the script 'Lunch' written by Steven Berkoff himself. Altogether it is about 20 minutes long, but we only need to do at least 12 - 15 minutes of it. The plot is of a chance meeting of a man and woman at a beach, and the thoughts behind the physical attraction, that leads them to talk and engage in more promiscuous thoughts and actions on a beach. This play is very contrasting to 'The Pillowman' as it is definitely more light-hearted and the comedy is meant to be surface rather than an uncomfortable humour that was present for the black comedy we did for Stanislavsky.

Another reason we were receiving in this script is there is a clear sense of duality in the lines. We decided the submissive and dominate duality would be good to play on, as that allows the movement to reflect the feelings of either shy or confident character. Having two people play one person means not only can there be physical interaction between the person's thoughts but the man and woman and gives a chance for dominate and submissive to clash in an entertaining way to produce humour and interest into the thoughts of everyday civilians as they meet by chance.

The Cast: 

Woman: 

     Poppy (Me)    

                                                       

 Ciara Woodcock

Man:

                                         Matt Goodband   

                                           Jake Bower

                 
                                                   


As Jake was missing during this lesson, myself Matt and Ciara decided to go through the script and split the Man and Woman's lines up into the categories of submissive and confident. For this we looking at chances where the submissive character could be pushed away for comedic effect, and the submissive to take over with their confident and over sexualised view of the other person.

It was decided that Me and Matt would play the submissive parts and Jake and Ciara the confident parts. This is based on what takes our personal appeal and seemed to fit better.

The scene starts of with the woman sat on a bench looking over at the sea, and the man entering from backstage, me and Ciara would do synchronised movements that resemble the emotion we are portraying. This allows the audience to engage with the characteristics of the emotions immediately whilst the man battles with his own idea's of the woman's physical appearance. Matt attempted to define between the two personalities without Jake by changing his posture and his vocal intonation, and made the pitch lower to resemble a smooth sexualised tone.

Next week, when Jake returns we will be able to develop the first page more adding in more of Berkoff's methods of physical movement.