Week 3 at UCC

We began this week by being  joined by Jool’s who came to discuss “Assisted Solo” which we saw the previous Saturday. We discussed the impact it had and explored the different ideas going on within the show. I added that the post show discussion was essential as a part of my understanding of the show as throughout I was completely over analyzing and the significance of scenes as a result flew over my head. The Popeye scene with the intense pornographic audio in the background was then discussed (since it was on everyone’s mind) and we speculated as to why we had been left so uncomfortable throughout. This discussion given me a better insight to Phillip’s method in the bizarre artistic choices he made and a greater appreciation in the end.

Afterwards, we saw the continuation of the tableau scenes in which we get a feel from our fellow ensemble as to when we address the audience with our turning heads.

Tuesdays class was new and refreshing in terms of the exercises we tried. Jool’s given us exercises similar to what an outsiders perspective to a choreographers warm up is. We walked from one end of the room to the other diagonally in the rhythm we were instructed. After the break we ventured into more familiar territories as an experienced ensemble with an exercise in which one person wanders the stage being lost and how they need to find their way. This saw brilliant variants in plot and humor which was welcome  and added some excitement from the previous calmness and serenity of the weeks prior to this. Playfulness of this exercise was greatly explored when a musical element was added. It was a great self refection on the religious based humor Irish members of the group could relate to.

Friday’s class consisted of the one exercise. Eadaoin set us in our childhood rooms to explore different emotions and connections/ties to our nostalgia. The focus of the exercise was to bring out emotions in a way that came off as natural and playful in a sense (eg; Playing around with looking at your reflection in the mirror, sticking out your tongue, making faces etc.)

My experience with this was somewhat difficult as I had unconsciously planned out what I was going to do (Despite this exercise being improv based) My issue originates from trying too hard in expressing emotion, so much that I bring to mind the style of “old timey silent movie clowns”. I’ll eventually overcome that habit like the others before me.