Being Brighella 3:D

Part 1: Performance Task 1 Self-Assessment 

--> What choices did you make for your rough draft performance? 

I did not have a rough draft performance in class, but I performed for a classmate of mine. When I did this, I decided to be sneaky and steal something, then blame it on someone else when I was accused. 

-->How much time did you spend practicing for your performance? 

I think in total I spent about an hour and a half practicing my performance

-->What specific feedback did you get from your Rough Draft performance? 

When I performed for Amara, she said that my hips were too open, it was unclear what I was trying to do, and I needed to have more facial expressions.

-->What did you choose to change for your Final Performance? 

I chose to make my performance shorter, so it only featured my main point and that it was clearer. I also tried to look much sneakier, and instead of steal something, I exchanged it. 

-->How did you feel your Final performance went? 

I think it went very well, and that most people understood what I was trying to show. 

-->What specific feedback did you get? 

I was told that I looked sneaky, communicated with the audience, when I bowed it also showed the servant side and included audience, and that I "blamed" the audience for the crown theft. I also received feedback advising me to be a bit more suave and have smoother movement, like a fox perhaps, to be stealthy. 

-->How did you feel your performance compared to stock character from video (for Classical Group only)? 

I think I did well. I tried to lead with closed hips, and I tried to do something which would benefit me. These were th key things mentioned about Brighella and I think I showed them well enough. 

-->What score would you give your performance out of 10 using Criteria B descriptors? Explain why.


I would give myself an 8 out of 10 because I formed ideas and a theme and realized how they related to my character. I also think I showed a good ability to develop the skills and apply the techniques and process to present my performance with a good level of proficiency. 


Part 2: Performance Task 1 Peer Assessment 


-->Pick someone who's character is completely opposite than the one you chose. 

Nafisa as first actress


-->Evaluate their character based on what you know about the character. 

I think she did really well. The first actress is supposed to be very formal and sort of like a princess from what I understand. I think she showed this very clearly. She had a little fan in her hand, and walked arm in arm with someone who I would imagine to be as the first actor. She seemed quite sweet and she curtsied which seemed very appropriate given her character. Her interaction with first actor was good, however there weren't many interactions with the audience. 


-->How close did they come? What did you like about their performance?

I think she came quite close to the first actress character. I really liked the fan, it was a nice touch and just made her character that much more obvious. Also, I liked how she was interacting with someone else, as if they were on a date, I thought hat was very nice. 


-->What do you think they could have improved from their performance?

I think she could have included the audience a bit more. There weren't any obvious take-outs so that is one thing to improve upon. The other is that she could have held herself higher. As if to show her importance. After all, she is the first actress. 

-->What score out of 10 would you give them using the Criteria B descriptors? Explain why.

I would also give her an 8 out of 10 because I honestly think she formed ideas and a theme and realized how they related to her character. She showed a good ability to develop the skills and apply the techniques and process to present her performance with a good level of proficiency. And I think she did very well. 

Birichino Brighella (Mischevous Brighella)

In Drama class, I was a part of the classic group. I watched a couple videos and got some background information on the stock characters of Commedia Dell'Arte. I think chose to be Brighella. 

--Why did you choose the character that you did? 
I chose Brighella because when I learned about him, I thought he was quite interesting. Ms. Kimi said that genders didn't matter, so I thought, why not? It might be interesting, especially after learning how he acts. 

--How is that character described (personality, physicality, etc.)? 
To describe Brighella in one word, I would use cunning. Brighella is always thinking about himself. Whats in it for him. How it will benefit him. Sometimes, Brighella will do everything, to secretly sabotage his master, but at other times, he will be extremely loyal. This is why I call him 'Mischevous Brighella'. Apparently, Brighella will go to great lengths to have what he wants, sometimes even killing people. 

--What "body part" is their stereotypical feature? How did you attempt to center their energy there? 
Brighella's "body part" is his hips. He leads with his hips. Now, when I was first trying this out, it was a little difficult, because I kept on resembling a master. However, after trying it multiple times, I think I got it. I walk with my hips forward, and bend down slightly. Then I take really long steps. I think this looks kind of sneaky and evil so it's perfect!

--How did you choose to interact with environment/prop? What specific interaction choices did you make? 
For my interaction, I am pretending to be at the masters house. While I try to sabotage a fellow servant, I steal something. Then I bump into the master himself! Startled, I quickly bow down, to show my respect, and rush along. I watch, and clean something, to look busy. Then when the master calls, I rush to him, and fake innocence, pointing to another. As if to say "But master! I would never!". As the other person is punished, I slip away, and tap my fingers together. 

--How did you choose to "take out" to audience in order to "invite them in" to your performance? 
There are three main times when I include my audience. The first is when I steal the object, I look at them, and put my finger to my lips, symbolizing them to be quiet about this. The second, when I am accused, I look to the audience with wide eyes, as if to say "Come on! You know it wasn't me!". Finally, when the other person is found guilty, and I tap my fingers, I  give the audience a sneaky look, and rush away. 

--What feedback did you get from your performance? 

Amara said that is was unclear what I was trying to do. She also thought I didn’t lead with closed hips, but with open hips. Also that I need to have better facial expressions.

--What will you change for next performance?
I will shorten it, so that it is clearer what I am trying to show. I will try to be more closed with my hips and use more facial expressions. 

Classical Commedia Characters-Notes

The World Of Commedia

Masters, Servants-masked

Lovers-unmasked

Magnifico-Like eagle, looks down, when he dies, another appears. Most powerful, top master. Leads with head

First Actor/Actress-Part of court of magnifico. Parents of romeo and juliet. Non-masks. They act with masks, as they are real masks. 

Young Lovers-Children of Pan and Doc. Good education. Could become aristocrats. Just becoming grown ups. 

Pantalone-Merchant, version of magnifico who lost teeth. Mean and "vinegary". Very needy. Mag and Pan live on same. Scruge, Mr. Burns

The Doctor-Man of learning, knows everything, understands nothing. Large, oozes words and thoughts. Belly first

Columbina-Like doctor, pan brig, and harley all together. 

Brighella-Cunning, "mind". Maitre'd like, welcomes guests. How will i benefit, whats in it for me. 

Harlequin-Stupid, unlike Zanni, supid because he doesn't always use logic. He is a "body" character, very happy go lucky, he is amoral. Very acrobatic, cheeky. Monkey, pig (always hungry) Playful. Artful dodger, loose hips

Zanni-Like pigeon. Peasent who came to city, extremely curious and enthustiactic. Magnifico's servant. 

Witch-Magnifico of country, dark, powerful, earthy. Moves in figure of eights. Freedom

Capitan- Solider, spanish? Swagger. But really would do anything to avoid fight. 

Shape/Emotion/Language

Lead with another part of the body. Get the feel of the character. Be bold. 

All together, they are like fireworks. 

The Witch-Amara

Magnifico- Faiz

Harley-Guglielmo

First Actress-Nafisa

Columbina-Kheilah

Brighella-Sapph ( Closed hips )

Captain-Shadman

Doctor-Seong Soo

Masks of a Modern School

Commedia dell'Arte has many masks, which are used to represent different stock characters, characters that everyone is familiar with and who are easy to understand. Kheilah (my partner) and I have thought of all the stock characters that might be found in your average secondary school. We then narrowed that down to six: the popular girls, the wannabe populars, the teachers pets, the nerd, the new kids and the trouble makers. I will be talking about three of them, and the others, you can find on Kheilah's blog, by clicking here.

So, the three characters I chose were the nerd, the new kid, and the trouble maker.

The Nerd(ette)

This is what most people would think of, when it comes to a nerd. Our little girl here has the big, thick glasses, shiny braces, tight, tied back hair, a big, chunky wristwatch, and striped, knee high socks to pull everything together. I call her, Beatrice, Bea for short. Bea is a very nice girl, who knows almost everything there is to know. She is quite, and usually quite lonesome. She only has a couple friends, who she sees during her chess club meetings. She is an avid Mathlete, scoring the highest in her grade. In class, Bea is among one of the shortest, skinniest girls, and doesn't talk much, except for when answering questions. She is a straight A student. However, the popular girls constantly tease her, and she feels really sad, but can't do anything about it. She is unsure of herself, and her self-esteem is at an all time low. If one had to pick a color for Bea, it would be light green. Wether a girl or boy, there is often one student like this in every grade, and so, Beatrice is a good stock character of a modern school.


The New Girl

 This is Charlotte. She is the new student, and comes from a cool country in Europe, or someplace everyone is unfamiliar with. As she is a new kid, others are interested in her, and she is shy. She isn't sure who to hang out with, but likes Beatrice, the other quiet girl. Charlotte knows the fashion, but isn't annoying about it. She is very nice, to everyone. Most of the kids in the grade like her, and her funny, but cute accent. She is of average height, and is quite pretty. She is settling in well enough. When she speaks, she's confident, and she doesn't mind voicing her opinions. Charlotte is very excited for the school, and to describe herr with a color would be simple, she would be a light, but bright pink. Most of the time, there is a new kid every year, in every school, and so it is a character that all would recognize.






The Trouble Maker

Meet Stacy. Stacy is your average, rebellious, teenage girl. With a quick tongue, she jokes about everything, sometimes distracting everyone from something important. In short, she is almost the complete opposite of Beatrice or Charlotte. Stacy breaks every rule there is, does what she wants, and almost never turns in assignments. To show what a trouble maker she is, she styles her hair crazily, wears ripped shirts that plunge down, coupled with extremely low waisted, short skirts, fish net stockings and thigh high, black, leather, studded boots. Not to mention, multiple piercings on the ear and one on the belly button. Stacy doesn't like being told what to do, and never listens to anyone. She is very critical of others, and is always rude. She doesn't care what others think. A color to describe Stacy might be black, or red. Stacy is someone you might find in every class, although, they might not show it as much. The trouble maker jokes around, is never serious, and doesn't care. They like breaking the rules, and being reckless. Now, doesn't that remind you of someone you know?




Commedia Dell'Arte Stock Characters vs. Middle School Stock Characters

Just like in a modern school, Commedia also has certain stock characters. All of these characters would be easy for the audience to understand, whether rich or poor, educated or otherwise. Characters such as: Arlecchino, Brughella (Arlecchino's crony), the captain, the doctor, Pantalone (the retired merchant), Pedrolino (somewhat a clown), a servant and master, lovers, and so on. Now, the characters I chose, were very different, mostly because it is in a very different environment. The Commedia characters were meant for a whole country to be able to understand, the common characters that might be found anywhere. However, my characters were the ones you might find only in a school. Therefore, my characters are much more specific. If these characters were used to perform around the country, everyone might not know what they are about, as not everyone has been to a school. Although our 6 characters are not similar, there are other characters that are. A class clown, for example, might portray Pedrolino. The popular girls and their follows might show us hoe the whole master-servant thing works. Lovers could be any two dating, and Arelecchino could be the trouble maker. Although their roles are similar, they are not exactly the same, as the settings and audience are completely different. I think that all Commedia characters aren't relevant to a modern day society, however, there are a few, like the ones mentioned above, that might be of significance to an audience. There are many of these stock characters represented in todays world, in almost every movie, there is a villain, who may have a crony, a pair or lovers, someone who is in it for the fun. Take the movie "The Mummy Returns" for example. The parents (the two main characters) are the lovers. Evelyn's brother, Jonathan, is the modern Pedrolino, and the evil character would be the scorpion king, or the other lovers, who wanted to resurrect themselves. So, in all, it is evident that Commedia is strongly intertwined with todays entertainment.