We Will Rock You Final Performance: Post Show Evaluation 6th June 2013

Tonight's show was fantastic, a complete success. Everybody had taken on board what had happened yesterday and did their best to rectify any mistakes. Which we did flawlessly. I was very happy with my performance with Millie, finally we were confident on stage and showed that the extra rehearsal had paid off! We were dynamic, we were loud, we engaged the audience, getting them to join in with the song. The singing was a bit flat towards the end but it didn't matter, the crowd loved it! Scene 10 ran without any flaws due to Josh preparing himself by learning lines and being made to feel more confident by the rest of the class. I was really happy to see him do so well as it proved that all he needed was a bit of assistance, someone to read lines with him and encourage him to be the best performer he can be, the potential is there!

'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' was phonomenal, I was so grateful to be able to perform the number and really gave it my all. With all of the bohemians supporting me it was like being at a party and the audience really connected with that, there was an equal amount of dancing in the audience as there was on stage. One thing that really made me reflect on how much I enjoyed it was that halfway through I noticed I wasn't doing the choreographed dance, I was completely engrossed in embracing this wonderful song that I was moving to my own beat, almost like Brit would when he was expressing his passion for the song, this really pleased and made me more confident that I moved downstage and embraced Meat, while leading the Bohemians going back to my idea of leading the Bohemian's like a pastor leading a choir.

It was such a relief and gratitude for me to end the year on such a high, there have been times where I've struggled but I really think I came to grips with everything in time for the end, I'm grateful to have worked with such a talented cast and regret that I will be finishing college this year. I want to do the show again!

                                






Final Notes:
Josh had a good opening as Freddie Mercury along with the Gaga number also. Everybody on stage together looked extremely strong.
Elle had good timing with my her line "did she pluck it" then with her following line "ignorant plucker".
Amber hit a strong note in her song 'somebody to love'.
Emily worked well with her mic breaking and raised her voice in order to cover this.
Me and Millie's characters had an extremely strong interaction.
Elle's solo '7 seas of rhye' was a lot stronger
'Another one bites the dust', Charlotte and Elle had much more movement to show the idea of master and servant.

We Will Rock You First Performance Matinee: Post Show Evaluation 5/6/13

After the first show I feel like my character was fairly strong with room for improvement still there. I think the energy in mine and Millie's scene 8 was good but wasn't put to the test due to the lack of audience making it harder to find the motivation. Scene 10 was very static and some of the lines were forgotten by other characters which affected my confidence and knocked me off balance a bit, I need to concentrate not doing this in the next show. One not me and Millie did receive was to make the most of the stage, remember that the characters are explorers and therefore will be keen to look around the stage and establish just where about they are.

 

I think that with the songs there are some key points that I must acknowledge when projecting them.

Remember to gesture to the audience, get them to join in.

Enjoy the songs, move along to the music.

Keep the Interaction with Millie flowing, it worked really well today.

Killer Queen was not onstage at the end, which was acknowledged by the rest of the cast and thankfully Emily picked up the scene from one of her own lines. 

In our discussion at the end of the show Amy told reminded me and Danielle of a technique we learnt last year called The Circles of Concentration. It helps you keep in character and is useful as a memory technique for when you can't remember your lines. 

I thought that due to Josh again having problems with his lines we needed to firmly cement them so that he knew them for the final show, I took him to one side and took his script away from him to take him out of his comfort zone in the build up to the other casts show, this really took him out of his comfort zone and within an hour we were making real progress and he could almost finish the entire scene.

I was pleased overall with how the audience reacted to me and Millie. I think the extra work we put into out characterisation was really beneficial as we now were more confident with ourselves and each other on stage.

4th June 2013

Rachel's notes on our casts performance:

Act 1 prologue
Needs to be run with media and the guitar timing needs to be sorted for Josh and Stuart on stage.

Scene 1 laser cell
Now we have laser lights we need to incorporate them into all of Killer queen and Khashoggis scenes we will have a chair and the laser light will be placed onto it and projected. For health and safety reasons we need to be extremely careful of laser machine and the wire. Both Poppy's laser cell and Galileo laser cell will be in the same place so we will not have to move the living around for this.

Scene 2 high school
Gaga kids speech needs to be rehearsed in time. Needs 'stage energy' not obvious energy as they are robots. Galileo and teachers blocking needs to be rehearsed as they are slightly wandering.
Somebody to love: teen queens and scaramouche hate each other this means they need to give reflect by showing resentment in their characterisation.

Scene 3 killer queen
Teen queens need to learn the words for the song more confidently. My choreography for the dance is really comingn together and the Yuppies have a good, strong entrance. We have not rehearsed Killer queens entrance on the push along stand so we will try this again today with the audience seating now out. The play the game choreography needs to be less awkward as it is improvised.

Scene 4 laser cell
Lines need to be rehearsed for timing.

Scene 5 police HQ
Bikini wax needs to be projected and timed correctly. 

Scene 6 the hospital
More nerves at beginning of the scene, as this is the first time Galileo and Scaramouche meet. Less at the end as they are starting to become comfortable with one another.

Scene 7 killer queens control room
Punch lines

Scene 8 a wasteland
Bigger entrance from Meat and Brit with more excitement when they find Galileo 'the dreamer'!

Scene 9 descent into the underground
All rush up to Galileo and Scaramouche on their entrance to the Heartbreak hotel with a lot more interaction.

Scene 10 the heartbreak hotel
Bohemians need to be quieter when Khashoggi enters and delivers lines, otherwise the lines are not heard.

Act 2 scene 1 wrecked car
One vision - Needs to be rehearsed!

No notes for Act 2 apart from the last scene which needs to be more Zombified. Heartbreak hotel props need clearing during the interval to show the change from Heartbreak Hotel to the seven seas of rhye (heartbreak hotel sign taken down and props cleared)

After this we went through a cue to cue run, which meant taking a slower more relaxed approach to the show and concentrating on sound, lighting and media support. Although we were all very impatient with this it was necessary to our performance as it meant we could get everything right for a full run through at a later date, and this way there would be less chance of things going wrong in the show. I felt the cue to cue was a big help for me as I was able to run some of my lines, even though I was not able to run them all I was able to rehearse the structure of the show, most importantly my movement for my songs, I knew which verse I would move and which staging id be using and when the lighting and sound would feature, also the extra time meant I could repeat my lines which helped me learn them much faster, the lighting als helped me and Millie finally establish our entry and exit points.

3rd June 2013

Firstly I practiced my song 'I want it all' with Millie in full character as I have not rehearsed it properly on the stage. Firstly, I rehearsed the song in the pratctice area so I could make sure my singing was in the right key and that I could hold the notes whilst managing my breath control. I then asked Emily and Dylan to assist with the backing vocals as I felt that they with their powerful voices would inspire me to be louder with the songs. For the movement of the song I wanted to try and improvise with Millie as we both felt that the set choreography was just too similated. I decided that I would walk around the staging interacting with Millie in a affectionate manner on the emphasised notes of the song and grab her and sing to her to resemble affection. This reflects Britney's compassion and shows his relationship with Meat as being one of importance.

We also need to rehearse 'crazy little thing called love' I am much more confident with this song as we have had extensive runs with Sam and the Bohemians, however I think It needs touching up before the final show. I would just like to have more energy and passion as I think it is a defining point for the Bohemians and I need to reflect their joy after discovering the dreamer. We would hopefully get the opportunity to address this in the run through.

I had to wait until 4pm for my run through with an exam in between, I therefore chose to assist with other production roles in order to be as beneficial to the class. I assisted in painting the guitar case white for props, I also decorated it with gold stars to give a real 'rock and roll' effect. I enjoyed this as it made me feel productive when I could just be doing nothing, and it took some pressure off Lauren who has been working so hard to create all of our props. I also assisted Grace and Megan in filming the Killer Queen 'bikini wax' scene by telling Megan which angle I preferred for the camera and holding the boom mic up to Grace while she said her lines, making sure not to get it within the shot of the camera, this was nice to be a part of as it showed me the media effects going into the show and allowed me to gain more experience working with tech and seeing how everything would feature in the final show.

When we moved onto our casts performance. We started off at a good pace and the energy was very encouraging for the first few scenes. Especially as this was our very first full run through of the entire show. When it came time for me and Millie to perform 'I want it all' the energy just wasn't there, we weren't confident with the song as we were trying to improvise our movements to the music. We were uneasy with each other and afraid of interacting in character as we hadn't really rehearsed it. After careful reflection it has become clear that we need to partly choreograph the song as we are unsure of ourselves and Rachel picked up on it instantly. I was embarrassed and nervous on stage, something that im not familiar with as a performer. I will do everything in ability within rehearsals to change this.

The Scenes that really needs to be worked on is Act 1, Scene 10 and Act 2, Scene 10. Lines need to be run as a few people are missing their cues, me included which I have been trying to rectify, this then leads to the scene loosing its momentum because of the constant starting and stopping. I need to take responsibility for myself and learn my lines so that my cast mates aren't being hold back. I will be running my lines through and through also I am going to help Josh Mortimer with his lines as he is struggling and I feel by working together we can bring out the best in each other. The other Bohemians in the scene could learn the structure of the scene in case they may need to jump in and help, specifically with Josh as he does struggle with lines and it's not made easy for him with everyone putting pressure on him to do better, perhaps we need to more patient with him and offer out assistance as his classmates, rather than giving him aggrovation. 

WWRY Half Term Day 29th May 2013

Today was based around the staging, props, sound and lighting for preparation of next week. As the staging was taken down for exams, we had to put it all back together, we had decided to stay with the idea for traverse staging. We were now able to alter and improve the layout of the stage blocks either end of the studio based on new thoughts and ideas we had whilst rehearsing the shows and made reflect the characters and setting to the audience. For the 'Evil End', we removed the ramp as the costumes for the Yuppies and Gaga Kids involved character shoes that slipped down the ramp so we decided to replace it with three stage blocks, we noted that this would affect the Radio GaGa dance so therefore we made sure that all the performers of the dance were confortable with this change. We needed to make sure there was a separation between each side of the studio and that the strip of staging didn't intrude on the 'Bohemian End' and that there was still space for the audience to view both sections of the stage.

     With the 'Bohemian End' being my main priority as I really wanted to emphasise the stage I would be performing on, we wanted to create a setting of retro, tacky and random memorabilia. What I said to everyone is that we need to show that these people are scavangers. We don't not to highlight the futuristic setting as the Bohemians are only interested in things that they find, things from the 'past' so they are in theory Horder's they build up the heartbreak with the clutter that they find and salvage, we could used this to our advantage by using all our props available and decorating the stage with cloths, clutter and so on. This meant going through the props shelves and picking out old-fashioned, modern, broken and weird items, for example: Queen mask, candles in bottles, a type-writer, a gun... As well as this, a banner was made for the 'Heartbreak Hotel' by sticking letters around a hoop and suspending it from a curtain that hangs from the rigging above, draping around the levels of staging. This was also put around the sides of the stage blocks to cover the gaps in them. By using the tops of the stage blocks to capture the material and double sided sticky tape we secured different coloured material around the sides of each block. Although this image looked like the right sort of setting for rock and roll freedom fighters, I felt as tho it lacked emphasis still, I go back to what Id stated about the Bohemians being disciples of rock and roll, I was keen to show this religious view and though it might be beneficial for the Bohemians to have pictures of former rock stars and their images, over time these pictures would have deteriorated yet the Bohemians look to them as inspiration and I think this was a key feature to the construction of the heartbreak hotel, I told Rachel and she responded really well to the idea. As did the other actors using the stage. The final design captures the atmosphere of the Rock and Roll that has been destroyed and replaced by the clinical lives of the Gaga Kids. A den of squaller that still retains hopes and images of aspiration.

 Another alteration made to the stage blocks was the other side of the 'Bohemian End'. Instead of two levels of staging, there is now a U shape and a lower stage block in the middle; this helps with the hospital bed scene as it creates levels around Galileo and Scaramouche, as well as creating a more interesting setting overall.

We then did lighting cues for staging and the first couple of scenes. As well as planning the setting, this also helps us block each scene to prevent misjudgement of staging and conformation of which parts of the stage to use. Here we confirmed that the Heartbreak Hotel would not be used until the scene following I want it all, this meant that we had to change the lighting and try to reflect the same energy on the opposite siide of the stage. I found this frustrating as had a firm idea of what I wanted to do but as I took into consideration the hard work and effort going into the lighting, sound, structure and other production roles I realised this was a minor sacrifice and took the necessary precautions to re-structure my scenes, deciding on my levels and entry and exit points. Which turned out to be much more effective as I was covering much more of the staging and addressing the entire audience from a confident vantage point.

22nd May 2013

Today my cast had a full run through of the show for the first time. I was really excited about this as it was the first time we had one and it would be beneficial so us all coming together. It started of patchy, there was alot of stopping and starting due to cues and people not knowing their line, regrettably I was a contributing factor towards this. Mainly I thought about how my entrances and exits would work around the staging whilst discussing this with Milly. Within the run I was able to practice 'I want it all' with Meat. This was the first time we had performed the number within the show and we were not confident atall.

Mel gave us some key movements to try and use for the song, and took us through her choreography.


I want it all

Start centre stage and say my line 'we get it all' to signify the start of the song, I then move to the higher tier of the stage it asserts my dominance and reflects the power of the first verse, this really creates an impact. Millie then sings her solo and ushers me down as it is now her turn to take the lead. We circle around one another trying to convey confidence and attitude we then seperate and try to get the audience to join in with the clapping. Finishing side shouting 'I want it all'


When the song starts it starts off really slow. This meant that our original idea of bopping had to be changed as it didn't work in time to the music. Instead we had foot tapping an shoulder shrugs, I felt more confidence with this and felt it better reflected the characters. Trying to remember the movements that there was a real lack of energy and characterisation. Mel pointed out that we could edit this in our free time so we suit it best to the characters.


Following our progress we had to re-arrange our blocking due to editing of the set. The staging for the first verse was now only being used for Act 1 scene 10 onwards meaning that we had to use the stage blocks on the opposite of the stage, we had to alter the choreography slightly and I had to be lower down that previously intended, which I was happy to do.


Whilst I felt that we made great strides with choreographing I want it all. I couldn't help but feel that it made the song look a bit robotic, I had an idea of free spirits doing what that want and going where they want. Not following step by step movements. Me an Millie suggested tampering with the idea of an improvised piece.


After the run through I went into a practice room and practiced with Millie on our vocal range and trying to uplift our confidence, having this time with her to practice really helped me work out our songs and how it is sung, in terms of tone, breath control and so on.


Character:

During our run through, I thought about my character development throughout my performance. I thought about my voice and my over the top, influntial stage presence in which I try to inspire people and encourage them to live for the dream. I thought about how I am completely in awe of Galileo and work with him to try and re-discover music, whilst teaching him more about music. I want to make this obvious to the audience to show my status level, that Brit is an influential part of Galileo's journey and how he shows this on stage. I will show this through my body language and voice. I will be very analytical of him at first we sort of a confused, dull monotone overview. But as I slowly began to discover who he could be I want the voice to become higher and more extravagent whilst the body language is unpredictable and humourous, I believe that adding humour to it will relax the scene and get a great reaction from the audience.

Comparing and contrasting demands of DFTA and WWRY

Don't Feed The Animals and We Will Rock You are very contrasting pieces in terms of location, characters and synopsis. However their some similarities that can be identified.



Character demands

:The character Cam that I played in DFTA was part of a school group on the bunk, he was a follower and would occasionally voice his opinion. He blended into the group and was very much part of the furniture. We all played similar characters that had the same status in the gang apart from Angel who is the gang leader. My We will rock you character Brit was extremely contrasting to my previous character, he is a leader of his people and plays a significant part within We will rock you. Leading Galileo to the Bohemians and helping him become the one to bring back the music. The obvious difference between my characters is the ages of both. Cam is a 17 year old boy with no real passion whereas the character of Brit is an adult male who has dedicated his life to a cause. The similarity is that I am portraying a different age within each role. This involves thinking about: my voice, the pitch, tone and accent, movement, how I present myself and move around the space and finally, what type of personality a person of the age I am playing will have, this involves surveying the public around me and even people of a similar age I know and their characteristics.The Key thing im going to highlight is based on my research. I intend to contrast the character's based on the oppression they have both received, this is where I take the similarities of the 2 characters, neither of them wish to conform to the higher powers, in theory they are both rebels and in both shows they are rebelling the cause. The difference being that Brit is very much one of the leader's of his rebellion, it is clear his passionate and devoted and he continues to relay this throughout the show. Cam however has a different take, he refuses to conform and rebels the idea of school and so on. But are these really his decisions? Or is he just being led astray? Using my own experiences as a child and now as an adult, I would say I am more entitled to my own thoughts, goals and opinions now. Therefore I will use this in my characterisation A major difference between the characters I am playing and the circumstances I am playing the characters is the context of the productions. One being a play set in the modern day in which singing and dancing doesn't feature, and the other within a musical in which I sing and dance and over-exaggerate my character. I feel the difference between performing in a play and a musical is quite opposing as you need to be prepared to begin a musical number during you're dialogue. It requires more movement, choreography, the use of a backing track and strong vocal ability. Adding even more pressure to just remembering a script.



My final decisions for each of my characters.

Don't feed the animals

Cam: I will take inspiration from the idea of the kid at the back of classroom, I want Cam to be uncertain of himself, on the verge of trying to make a good impression in front of Angel. I will continue to slouch and wander about on stage as if im trying to think of something impressive to do. When the scenes pick themselves up I want this energy to appear in him out of nowhere as I feel that this will show he has potentialhe just needs motivation, like alot of modern day teenagers he is trying to find his calling. For example the cartwheel scene, he wants to prove himself to everyone and this is a crucial point for him to do that.


We will rock you
Brit:I will take Queen drummer Roger Taylor as my inspirations for Brit's voice. I really want him to be the polar opposite of Cam. Meat looks to him instead of the Cam looking to Angel aesthetic. Brit will have stage
presence and a passion that is reflected to the audience, for songs like 'I want it all' I want him to encourage
the crowd to join in and get the Bohemians to really engage themselves with Galileo. I want him to reflect and
personify rebellion. Running and jumping across stage for emphasis and often getting lost in his own thoughts
and desires.

Character development following research

BRIT

When focusing previously on Brit I noted that I had a firm idea of how I wanted to take the character. I spoke of how I was using the drummer of Queen, Roger Taylor as the foundations for Brit's characteristics. However after focusing more on the social, political and cultural aspects of the show I feel that the character needs to be given more depth. What he represents is a radical opposition to an overbearing government, in theory he is a terrorist and society infact views him as a villain, in contrast to the globalsoft corperation.

When looking at radical political terrorists I was taken to the idea of Guy Fawkes. The man who attempted to stage a coup against his own government by blowing up the houses of parliament, he was later hanged for this attempt. Although he was made to seem a villain he was in theory trying to break out of a structual regime that was forced upon him, much like the Bohemians he was forced to rebel because he felt that something was wrong with the world around him. 

Obviously it is key to acknowledge that the Bohemian's are not interested in violence or war, they are peaceful and intent on pursuing their goal. I started to review Britney and how this might influence his character, starting by taking away some of his rage an channeling that more into ambition and trying to personify him as a sleuth rather than a brute. I use the line 'Adventure seeker' as a basis for him being more of an adrenaline junkie who is intent on finding what he has most likely spent most of his life pursuing. At one point he discovered he didn't want to fall in line with the Globalsoft regime, instead he wanted to pursue something new, and he hasn't stopped running from Golbalsoft ever since. 

Also going back to the linking of music and religion, this idea that the Bohemians cannot be taken away from what they believe in, the fact that Britney is killed rather than processed suggests that perhaps he is beyond the seven seas of rhye. He is so devoted to his religion that he can't be steered in another direction. He supposedly answers to Big Macca and yet he argues that Galileo is truly the dreamer, he wouldn't dare be  influenced against this fact 'anyone who tries to kill this dude has to come through me' 

This makes him above his fellow Bohemian's. He reminds me of a prophet, preaching the coming of a savior who will bring glory with him. Again this is a defining point to his character, many people look to him for inspiration and hope. He must be certain about what he believes in otherwise his friends may lose faith. The scene in the Heartbreak Hotel I compare to a church choir being led by a pastor, this idea that through music Britney is leading the faith and getting everyone to join in with him.

Relationship with Meat

Meat is key to Britney. She is his muse and I think the only person that truly understands him. A key scene to describe Brit and Meat's background is when Galileo says to Britney 'I wouldn't know where to start' Britney responds by saying 'you start with your baby of course. Like me and Meat' I think that is the most crucial part of Britney's dialogue as it shows just how long Meat has been by Brit's side. He 'started' with her and hasn't stopped, this means that she is clearly very special to him and it is key to reflect that in his character, he puts her before anybody else and want's her by his side, only telling her to leave him when he is fearful of her safety 'I can't do what I need to do if im worrying about you all the time' it almost suggests that he has partly put his mission on hold to be with Meat.

                                                  

Key Costume Changes

• A paint splattered shirt to show a sort of hippie attitude, looks slightly like an altered GaGa shirt. This expresses a rebellion to conforming
• Beads and Necklaces. Trying to highlight the religious aspect to the character, suggesting a more spiritual nature and giving a more approachable image.
• Music note tattoo. Suggests a devotion to the cause, the notes resemble a religious symbol and body paint is often used within music and religion. It unites both.
• Boots. Shows that he has travelled, gives him an asserting demeanor and adds status to his character.

Characterisation Notes

• Tone down on the rage, make him more obscure and dreamy. Use scene 9 in particular 'coming to the surface' be taking in anything new you see and play up the discovery of potential instruments
• Go on the use of Roger Taylor for the voice, it works well with the character and gives him status over the other Bohemians.
• Really play up body language, he is very spiritual and set in his ways, he wants people to understand his message.
• Be wary of what's around you. Convey slight nerves, he's a fugitive.
• Meat is the distraction, she loves him but she also brings him down to earth, give the character the credit she deserves!

WWRY Context

Historical context

The show itself is set 300 years in the future. It gives us an idea of how people live and what has happened to the world but due to it being a futuristic setting the audience are regarded to use their own intuition and interpretation to understand this utopia. 

What the script offers an actor is that references it makes to the music and what life was like. Some of the knowledge of the bohemians is partially incorrect and that is also key to understanding the piece. For instance referring to Elvis as 'Pelvis' therefore when studying the rock and roll culture it is crucial to remember that you shouldn't specifically apply all of your research to your character. You need to remember some of the uncertainty that the bohemians have and how eager they to seek new knowledge and discover.

So why choose a futuristic setting for the show. What influence does this have over the characters and the story?

With the 21st century music has moved forward in a dramatic fashion. Vinyl is no longer used and mp3 downloads are at an all time high. Rock bands like Queen are now much less frequent and this has sparked controversy in the world of music.

So is the trends of modern music that has influenced Elton's writing? I think he has enforced the stereotype of music declining since the late 20th century, that modernisation isn't always a good thing. And I think the idea is that we shouldn't forget these influential figures, we need to remember them. There is a line in the song 'No-One But You' it says 'We'll remember forever' I think this is key to the narrative and setting of the show, that despite the advancement of 300 or more years. The music will live on.

Due to music being forbidden in the time period it gives it more status with the 'Planet Mall' society, it becomes coveted like a illegal drug so to speak. But it represents pro's and cons with how life can adapt, the music always survives and yet it must be fought for otherwise it will become extinct.

WWRY Context

Cultural Context

In an interview with METRO Ben Elton was asked simply Why do you think it has been successful? The question referring to his hit musical We Will Rock You. He responded by saying:


'People like comedy of course, but at heart the real reason is it features the greatest rock and pop music ever recorded, music which is all about coming together and having a good time. The success of We Will Rock You has been pretty spectacular which is fantastic of course, not least because Brian [May] and Roger [Taylor] and myself get to keep working on the show we love. We never take it for granted and I personally never lose the thrill of being in the audience as the music brings people to their feet, I’m waving my arms like it’s the first night!'

After reading this I think that I really began to understand the relevance of the play and the objectives it tries to establish with the Audience. Why do writers choose to do Musicals of a particular group or person?  Because that's what entices an audience. The fans have a connection to the music and want to be a part of it to embrace it and relate to it like they have done previously,  it is an idea of unity once more. Unity under the band. 
The fact that the plot for the show is rather ambiguous is because it is being attentive to the music, Elton says that the music is 'about coming together and having a good time' and I feel that's what he's trying to convey. For instance in Act 1 scene 10 after the Bohemians introduce Galileo and Scaramouche to the heartbreak hotel they all perform the muscial number 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'  I think this number has the best energy in the show due to them all being united under one banner, describing the period of rock and roll and why it came to fruition. This is going to be nostalgic to an audience that remember Queen and other bands from the 20th century music era as it will be the main reason they would want to see a show featuring this music. 

This is significant to me as it is my character. Britney. That delivers the line 'Music these days is generated only for money. Which is why it has no soul'. 

Where does this idea of music and the soul come from? And could it be that the world that existed when Queen were making their music represents when music was this powerful force? Is Elton saying that through cultural influences music will see a decline and good music a possible extinction? I Believe that it is very biased towards the idea of what is music with 'soul'

I have taken an snip it from an article regarding music and spirituality:

'Music and religion are like the obverse and reverse of the same reality-coin. Music in its purest sense is religion and religion in its purest sense is music. This music-religion, this code of life, this universal language of the soul, can only be offered; it cannot be purchased or sold. Music and religion are for the seekers, for the music-lovers, for the truth-servers. Money-power or earthly name and fame cannot lord it over these two immortal realities, these two earthly and heavenly treasures'.

I have chosen to anotate this as I think it is so relevant to the cultural message in the show. Referring to music as a religion makes it definitive, music is the guide to the bohemians lives, like christians look to the idea of heaven and base their lifestyles around christ. Bohemians pledge themselves to musicians and dress and co-ordinate themselves to show this. And as the article says it cannot be bought and sold, Dictators like the Killer Queen who resmbles a 'King Herod' demeanor cannot rule over something which she does not understand, which only influences her fear of it. The Bohemians remain as disciples of music, and a key line is the first line of 'I want it all' Britney describes an 'Adventure seeker' which suggests that seeking living rock is a journey and part of an adventure in order to find a meaning, it's so much more than just music. It's a way of life.

SOURCES USED: http://www.srichinmoy.org/resources/library/music_and_spirituality/music_spirituality/index.html

http://metro.co.uk/

WWRY Context

Social/Political Context

Synopsis of WWRY

Taking place in the distant future. Earth's name has been changed to Planet Mall. Everyone wears the same clothes, thinks the same thoughts and goes about in a brain-dead haze, ruled over by the almightty Killer Queen. Musical instruments and composers are forbidden, and rock music is all but unknown. However, a small group of "Bohemians" struggles to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion, and (most of all) live music. With the help of Pop, an ancient hippie librarian, two Bohemians Brit and Meat, Galileo and Scaramouche, find Rock's Holy Grail, Brian May's guitar buried in the remains of Wembley Stadium.

Played for laughs, there is very little real story to We Will Rock You. While the musical is a spoof of the classic quest tale with some moments of clever dialogue, it exists predominately as a framework allowing a vocally talented cast to perform covers of Queen's greatest hits. Songs included in the production may vary from theatre to theatre, but generally include favorites such as "Another One Bites the Dust," "Hammer to Fall," "A Kind of Magic," and more.

Ben Elton

The writer and director of the show.  Ben Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright, actor and director. His musical credits include collaborating with Andrew Lloyd Webber on The Beautiful Game in 2000, writing the book and lyrics (Lloyd Webber wrote the music). The Beautiful Game won the London Critics Circle Award for best new musical. Elton went on to write a number of compilation shows featuring popular songs taken from the back catalogues of pop/rock artists. The first of these was the musical We Will Rock You. Despite unfavourable early critical reaction, this was successful in London and won the 2003 Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best New Musical. It has since opened in the US, Australia, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada, and The Netherlands. Elton also directed the 10th Anniversary Arena tour, in 2013. Elton most recently worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the sequel to his 1986 blockbuster The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies.

Thoughts and Ideas

The show itself reflects the decline of music and the uproar of political dominance. This idea that controlling government intend for us all to be the same and think the same and do the same. Much like the GaGa kids. The objective is to retain the idea of music as a form of rebellion, the defintion of bohemian is to be different, and by discovering music the bohemians hope to fight back against the opposing government (globalsoft).

The connection between music and politics, particularly political expression in music, has been seen in many cultures. Although music influences political movements and rituals, it is not clear how or even if, general audiences relate music on a political level. Time has shown how music can be used in anti-establishment or protest themes, including anti-war songs, although pro-establishment ideas are also used, for example in national anthems, patriotic songs, and political campaigns. Which is why, almost ironically. Members of Globalsoft partake in performing songs in the show to symbolize and express their dominance over Planet Mall.

(An Example of songs being used for protest. John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed in bed during their honeymoon. when asked by a reporter what he was trying to achieve by staying in bed, Lennon answered spontaneously "All we are saying is give peace a chance"; Lennon liked the phrase and set it to music for the song. It later became an anthem of the American anti-war movement at that time)

The idea that the Bohemians don't physically engage Globalsoft is also key to recognise, It's almost as if Elton wishes to convey that despite them being part of a rebellion, the Bohemians are not interested in bloodshed but instead they want to rediscover music and achieve their 'Rhapsody' In lieu of being part of a dictatorship.

20th May 2013

Today Sam took us for a session where we had to learn the choreography to 'crazy little thing called love' we  had to stage ourselves on the blocks and Sam gave us the routine. It helped to loosen us up for the song and energy levels were really high, we decided that fast parts of the song could be improvised by the bohemians which meant everyone really had to be on their game. I found it difficult to find the energy for this and was performing very lacklustre on stage which meant a good piece of work was made to look sloppy. I opted to record Megan and Maisie as they were very confident when performing and it was impressive to watch their charisma on stage and the way they interacted with one another also.

This the video of their performance: 

I will use this source as inspiration for improvement. I want to have this kind of energy when performing the show, to be at this level, maybe even exceeding it! I think I need to include Millie when practicing also so that we can concentrate on our rapport with one another and be confident for the show.

WWRY research. Who were Queen?

The show we will rock you is based on the music of rock band Queen. But who were Queen and why was their music so successful and well known?

Queen first came together in the early 70's. Consisting of 4 band members, Freddie Mercury the lead singer, Brian May on electric guitar, Roger Taylor and drums and John Deacon on bass guitar. The band had originally intended to be called 'Smile' but this was later changed to the name we all recognise today. Queen.


THE BAND

Freddie Mercury

Regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all time. He was recognised for his trademark moustache,  flamboyant characterisation on stage and his ability to sing over a four-octave range. As a songwriter, Mercury composed many hits for Queen, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "We Are the Champions". He Died in 1991 due to bronchopneumonia which was bough on by the AIDS virus he had been fighting for several years, he is remembered today as one of the great standout performers of the 20th century

Brian May

Queen's leading guitarist. Brian May has been with the band to the present day. He played the Freddie Mercury tribute concert and has also toured with Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers. He is well known for his long curly hair and playing his guitar with a sixpence coin. He built his own guitar 'The red special' with his father and has used it for his entire career. He is a former maths teacher and recently obtained a PHD in Astronomy. He also lent his skills to the band in his songwriting and vocal ability, he wrote and partly sang the song "Who Want's To Live Forever".

       

Roger Taylor

The Bands drummer and final member along with May. He is a multi-instrumentalist. In addition to drums, he can play guitar, bass and keyboards.He started studying dentistry but got his degree in biology. He also released four solo albums over the years. In 1981, there was "Fun in Space", following 1984's "Strange Frontier", containing covers from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. Ten years later, after Freddie Mercury's death, he made "Happiness", a very strong album. His most recent album, "Electric Fire", was released in 1998.

John Deacon
The last member to join the band was John Deacon. He auditioned and was particularly liked by all 3 other members of the band. He became their bass player and wrote the song "You're My Best Friend" in dedication to his wife, he was the only member to never contribute lead vocals. He graduated with a First in Electronic Engineering from Chelsea College, University of London. And used his knowledge to fix Queen's sound equipment in the early days. He last appeared on stage on the 17th of September, 1997, at the Theatre National De Chaillot, in Paris. The last time the three remaining band members performed together.

Influence of Queen

Queen have been recognised as having made significant contributions to such genres as hard rock and heavy metal, amongst others. The band have been cited as an influence by many other musicians. Moreover, like their music, the bands and artists that have claimed to be influenced by Queen are diverse and span different generations, countries, and genres.

Some of the musicians that have cited the band as an influence include Anthrax, Nirvana, Def Leppard, Dream Theater, Extreme, Trivium, Foo Fighters, Franz Ferdinand, George Michael, Green Day, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Journey, Kansas, Katy Perry, Keane, Lady Gaga, Manic Street Preachers, Meat Loaf, Metallica, Mika, Muse, Mötley Crüe, My Chemical Romance, Panic at the Disco, Queensrÿche, Van Halen, Radiohead, Robbie Williams, Trent Reznor, Steve Vai, Sum 41, Styx, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Remembering Queen

Queen remain popular today and the music continues to influence listeners new an old. I am myself a lifelong Queen fan and although I never got to see them perform I find their music so capitivating that I can understand why it is so popular in the modern day. For example in 2002, Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was voted "the UK's favourite hit of all time" in a poll conducted by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book, and in 2004 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Acclaimed for their stadium rock, in 2005 an industry poll ranked Queen's performance at Live Aid in 1985 as the best live act in history. In 2007, they were also voted the greatest British band in history by BBC Radio 2 listeners. In 2006, the Greatest Hits album was the all-time best-selling album in UK Chart history, with sales of 5,407,587 copies, over 604,295 more copies than its nearest competitor, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Their Greatest Hits II album is the eighth best seller, with sales of 3,746,404 copies.

Sources used: www.wikipedia.org
www.imdb.com

WWRY Milestone Feedback

  Worthing Academy of Performing Arts

                       Milestone Assessment of Blog

COURSE: BTEC Level 3 Diploma in          

             Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)

UNIT/S:  Unit 1: Performance Workshop

Unit 5: Rehearsing for Performance

Unit 13: Contemporary Theatre Performance

Unit 14: Musical Theatre Performance

ASSESSOR: Rachel Maddix

Student Name:	Joshua Symmonds
Assignment Title:	Showtime 2013
Key Dates:	Blog Milestone Assessment date: 30/5/13 Assignment Completion Date: 9/6/13

Criteria highlighted in green has been achieved. A criteria that needs more attention to achieve a pass or above. Details highlighted in yellow are particularly important to you!
Task 2   The Rehearsal Process & Performance Blog Milestone Grades - Read each description to understand the differences between each one.	You have achieved
You have achieved P1 of the Performance Workshop Unit You have shown evidence that you have used research to identify possibilities for development. You could have been more adventurous in your use of material. For M1 of the Performance Workshop Unit You considered a number of possibilities for the development of your character based on the scripted dialogue and your own research and used an original creative approach. To achieve D1 of the Performance Workshop Unit You explored in a detailed and insightful manner the development of your character based on the scripted dialogue and your own research source materials. You have shown evidence in your blog of a number of possibilities/ideas and have included those you have not been afraid of rejecting some along the way. You were also able to explain the thought processes behind your choices in a thorough manner.	Pass
For P1 of the Musical Theatre Unit You have been able to discuss your roles but provided little explanation of how or why you arrived at these decisions. You gave some explanation but it is not detailed enough or consistently maintained. For M1 of the Musical Theatre Unit You have explained the reasons for the decisions you have made about your roles, based on the text, research and on the rehearsal process. You have been able to explain how you have arrived at their decisions. You have occasionally used research and some evidence of analysis. For D1 of the Musical Theatre Unit, You have carried out relevant research into your roles both ‘on the text’ and ‘off the text’. You have used secondary sources which have been analysed to support your interpretation. You have demonstrated a consistently informed approach to your understanding. Your artistic and intellectual decisions about the roles are fully supported by  reasoned arguments based on evidence from the text, the performer’s intuition and other sources. You use appropriate language and terminology confidently and accurately.	Merit
For P3 of the Rehearsing Unit, You have provided evidence that you have researched beyond the play script into relevant social, historical, cultural contexts and performance methods/techniques. You have provided evidence of how you have developed your role using the research, in your blog and in rehearsal discussions. To achieve M3 of the Rehearsing Unit, You have made effective use of your research findings into relevant social, historical, cultural contexts and performance methods/techniques. You have provided evidence of how you were able to reach clear and valid conclusions about interpretation and the choices you made when developing your role and application of techniques, etc. in your blog and in rehearsal discussions. For D3 of the Rehearsing Unit, In your blog you have shown strong awareness of how to use/apply research findings which are highly relevant to the role/production. You have written clearly about your progression in both roles and the performance skills you used. You have made clear references to research findings, both in physical rehearsal activities, and class discussions. You have supported your ideas with notes and analysis in your rehearsal blog. You have shown imagination in your use and application of research, you have included less obvious forms of research or research findings, and/or provided additional insight or fresh and unusual interpretations for the performance.	Pass
To achieve P4 of the Performance Workshop Unit You have identified what went well and less well and made some suggestions as to how the work might be further developed throughout your blog. The suggestions however, could be more specific, detailed and include examples. For M4 of the Performance Workshop Unit Your blog includes discussion on the potential of the work making reference to specific examples from the work produced. To achieve D4 of the Performance Workshop Unit You really weigh up the potential of the work and make judgements about the feasibility of further development. You use well-chosen examples from the work	Merit
Learners achieving P1 of the Contemporary Theatre Performance Unit, You have have conducted some research into the two play texts, noting the main themes and style of the plays. There is little evidence of any concerns over the relevance for interpretation for the audience. To achieve M1 of the Contemporary Theatre Performance Unit You have included some evidence of practical research and understood the relevance of the themes of each of the plays to the audience. You have included cultural, social and political content. You have understood the style of the plays and the implications for acting style and design. To achieve D1of the Contemporary Theatre Performance Unit You have shown full understanding of the social and/or political purpose embedded in the themes of the plays. Your ideas for interpretation cover all aspects of the aesthetics of the work in great detail.	Pass