Written Play Reports - Essay Example

?My Fair Lady Write a paragraph talking about the acting/directing in the play you saw: style, believability, quality, specific performances. The musical had exquisite actors enlivening the roles of the central characters, including Audrey Hepburn who though excellent as a cockney flower girl really came into her own element during the latter half of the film. George Cuckor's direction is stunningly elaborate and his skilful handling ensures that none of the script's acerbic wit and irony is diminished under the fluff of the musical numbers. The execution of the musical is indeed praiseworthy and a truly befitting tribute to the George Bernard Shaw's classic 'Pygmalion'. Apart from the main protagonists, the actors playing Eliza Doolittle's father and Professor Higgins' mother, stand out for their acidic sharpness of dialogue and dialogue delivery. 2. Write a paragraph talking about the set design, the lighting, the costumes, the special effects, and the overall effect of the play. The film has sumptuous well lit sets of royal ballrooms where every pixel on screen appears buffed up and polished, with men and women draped in regal finery in sharp contrast to the threadbare and dirt encrusted faces of the poor folks at the shabby flower market. The set of Higgins' library stuffed full of hard bound books and recording instruments seemed quite realistic for a professor of his stature. The background score backed by a full orchestra credibly supports and carries the play through its many moods. The costumes, scenery and production design-the handiwork of Cecil Beaton- was indeed successful in the challenge of intricately recreating London of a bygone era and ensuring that the characters and sets were not reduced to caricatures. It is known that an entire sound stage was converted into a hair, make-up and costume area for prepping for the famous Ascot sequence. 3. Write a paragraph describing the script of the play. Talk about which of the following aspects of the play are important to this script. You may not have to talk about all of these aspects in your paragraph, just the one's important to this play: subject matter, style, point-of-view, language, characterization, theme. While the story may be of a cockney girl's transformation into a lady on the back of a wager between an arrogant misogynistic phonetics professor and his friend- the genial interlocutor Col. Pickering, the subtexts run significantly deeper and are rife with satire and social commentary on how language and dialects create barriers and restrict social mobility; and a lowly flower girl's grit to break that barrier and to obtain a better station in life and be a respected lady as articulated by her in 'Isn't it loverly?' and an arrogant professor whose interest in the matter is entirely selfish. It is the style of presentation and articulation of these thoughts through intelligent verbal duelling and lyrical jousting like that of the pompous Prof. Higgins, the blatantly immoral Alfred DO little that entertains and enlightens the audience throughout. Despite perpetuating cultural stereotypes the musical remains non judgemental and largely fair and the watching the metamorphosis of Hepburn's Eliza Dolittle is quite enthralling. The film succeeds in showing the audience how accents and language reflects class and upbringing and how it can affect a person's life and lifestyle. 4. Who would you recommend see this play? This musical for all its attention to detail, its extravagant costumes and witty banter would appeal to the most discerning of audiences of all ages and watching the story unfold from a third person perspective is quite interesting, the story line itself being refreshing for a transatlantic audience. But even if these fail to impress, who can resist the charm and grace of Audrey Hepburn and the hope that the character of Eliza Dolittle holds out. Sound of Music 1) The movie in its appearance and content has more or less lived up to the source or origin, the autobiography of Maria Von Trapp (The Story of the Trapp Family Singers). The characters are well established but apart from the children, at times the artificiality shows in the acting and especially Christopher Plummer - as he reportedly admitted later- comes across as a bit plastic. The picturesque location on the lap of the Austrian Alps establishes the film with a grand opening. However in spite of having its origin in real life a few, sometimes very evident, errors, anachronisms and lack of attention to detail brings down the believability of the entire narrative considerably, like Salzburg lies on Austria’s border with Germany and not Switzerland, but we see the characters crossing into Switzerland by foot. 2) The locations chosen for the movie have been quite apt and visually appealing however missing details and mismatches are plenty in the movie (structures and props appear in the movie that did not exist in the period which it is established in). The discrepancies in the appearance of the exterior of the Von Trapp villa shot in Salzburg and the relevant interiors shot in designed set in California becomes apparent at quite a few places, for example the house can be seen to have two rows of windows in the front exterior but they disappear when the shots in the sets show the inside. The uniforms for the Germans show numerous divergences regarding their insignia. The film sticks to the classic variations of 3 point lighting and well lit up characters in every situation which though not realistic somehow merges with the film pretty well. The overall effect and ambiance created however is good enough to keep the viewers interested in the unfolding of the narrative. 3) The script is based on 1930’s Austria, about the Maria is sent by the convent as the governess for the children of the Von Trapp family and slowly she and Captain George Von Trapp develop a romantic relationship. They get married and in course the whole family together flees to Switzerland from the German. We watch the whole story from a third person or audience’s point of view. The script is more inclined to highlight a ‘romance’ than to always remain realistic. The characterization too is sometimes a bit too sugar coated to construct a story that falls rightly in place to fit its every little niche. The theme however in a way establishes hope as a key element where it survives through the tests thrown upon, even if in ways that deviates from reality. 4) In spite of the numerous criticisms and mistakes it is indeed an experience worth a watch because as a whole it does capture the audience with its charm. Even with all its diversions it does provide an enchanting window in to lives of a family, a scope to get close to them, identify and feel attached to their feelings and experience a part of their lives as it moves through the course of the film. For decades how, generations have grown up with this musical and importantly with its music. So to conclude it is indeed a must watch in its own merit. Hairspray Question 1 1.In a four sentence paragraph, write about the acting/directing in the play you saw: style, believability, quality, specific performances. The film opens with a bird's eye view of Baltimore- in obvious reference to the opening shot of The Sound of Music, accompanied by energetic drum beats which eventually zoom into teenager Tracy Turnblad as she breaks into song getting ready for school. Along with newcomer Nikky Blonsky playing the part of Tracy all other cast members fit the fill perfectly, and any reservation one might have of watching John Travolta in drag playing a socially reclusive 1960's housewife, is put to rest by his endearing and genuinely earnest portrayal of the character. Also Allison Janney excels in every shot in her role as a fanatically conservative and self righteous mother in the 1960's. Adam Shankman's direction is infectiously energetic with well choreographed numbers with every hair put in place with the use of copious amounts of hairspray. The overall product is kitschy, colorful as bubble gum pop but thankfully far short of being tacky. 2. Write a paragraph talking about the set design, the lighting, the costumes, the special effects, and the overall effect of the play. The movie shot mostly at sound stages in studios in Toronto, has made goof use of costumes and hairstyles to recreate the 1960's Kennedy era America, where girls are seen attired in dresses or skirts with beehive hairstyles, and boys appearing only in formal trousers and suits, with not a denim or cargo in sight. Even Travolta in his fatsuit of layered pads of silicone, requiring hours of make-up time covering him from face to feet with lots of curves in between, is attired the same way. Buildings, roads, built on soundstages supported the time period well, and as such the audience is always aware of the differences. 3. Write a paragraph describing the script of the play. Talk about which of the following aspects of the play are important to this script. You may not have to talk about all of these aspects in your paragraph, just the one's important to this play: subject matter, style, point-of-view, language, characterization, theme. The 2007 musical is based on the Broadway musical which in turn was adapted for stage from the 1988 John Waters' movie of the same name and the screenplay by Leslie Dixon stays true to the source material of 1988. The subject matter is at once a personal fight for acceptance for the overweight but sprightly dancer with an enormous beehive- protagonist Tracy Turnblad, but at the same time encompasses the broader issue of integration of African American people and culture into the mainstream in the face of opposition. All these are interwoven in a mesh of reel along with satirical comedy and one liners - such as where Tracy gets detention for 'inappropriate hair height'- and well executed song and dance sequences. The camera work is fluid and draws in the audience in Tracy's 'fight for fairness'. 4. Who would you recommend see this play? Thus it is highly entertaining and playful, and makes social commentary at the same time- though a bit glossy. Superb performances from a cast which includes Queen Latifah and Christopher Walken, carry it forward, with John Travolta working his prosthetic curves on the dance floor with panache in sequin encrusted dresses make it a truly fun watch, for young adults, but it may also appeal to an older audience who grew up watching musicals in the 1980’s or might even be a nostalgic trip for those who grew up in the 1960’s - Hairspray has something for all generations. Read More