Student Showcase

Quiz Sample

One important responsibility of an actor is being able to make the role you’re playing your own. “…the word on the page to create something highly individual. Ultimately, no two actors can play a character exactly the same way.” (Theatrical Worlds, 50-51) Showing that every actor has their style and puts their twist on the character they are trying to portray.

The second responsibility is being able to decide what their character’s motivation is for every moment. “Based on the given circumstances of the play, the actor would decide what his character wanted in the play overall (the super-objective) and then what he wanted in each scene (objective).” (60) Displaying the actor’s job to create these “objectives” and or goals to understand the character more and make it clear to the audience what their character is feeling/wants.

Lastly, actors hold the vital responsibility to create the director’s vision of the play. “…following proscribed movements dictated by the director, adjusting to the response of the audience, and dealing with any mishaps that might occur (missing props, actors forgetting lines, etc.).” (51) Demonstrating that actors, on top of all other responsibilities, need to keep the director’s vision a priority while working. As well as keeping their individuality and making sure the production runs smoothly on stage between the actors.

Character Analysis

Lord Marshall – “Richard II”

Who be he that serves Richard, the great King?
‘Tis none other than Marshal the Impartial, for whom the Judgement bell rings
His nobility precedes him, for he is addressed as “Lord Marshal”*
Such a title and powerful ties implies over 20 winters and springs of struggles most fearful

Does Marshal seek fellowship? Nay, that be a plebeian affair
What need for camaraderie when you serve he who sits in the throne chair?
The color he likes is clear as day
Blazing Red representing justice as his power play
What future lies ahead for Marshal? Perhaps more or less the same
Marshal would become complacent, with nothing more to acclaim.

A man of his character would be fairly simple to portray.
He’s stoic and commanding, the “straight man” of the play.
He would stand straight and proper and walk with firmness.
When he takes space he will do with purpose.
For an aspiring actor such as I, this role is quite the undertaking.
But since I was cast a similar role, it shouldn’t be too painstaking.

*The evidence for this is from Act 1, Scene 3 where where Bolingbroke says, “Lord Marshal, let me kiss my sovereign’s hand and bow my knee before my majesty” (Page 9).

– Stefon Mcrae

Duchess of Gloucester – “Richard II”

The character I Chose to imitate is Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess is a very interesting character. She is the widow wife of Thomas of Gloucester. Duchess of Gloucester is probably a middle age woman, it can be inferred in act 1scene 2 her brother-in-law being describe as “Old John of Gaunt, a time honored Lancaster. Shakespeare did not give us a real clear picture whether she had a best friend or not. However some of the dialogue between the Duchess and her brother-in-law appeared like there was a friendship before the murder of her husband. I would describe her color as yellow, because she was frustrated and angry by the lack of concern for her beloved husband Thomas of Gloucester death by his immediate family. I can envision the Duchess of Gloucester in the near future campaigning to strengthen the death penalty laws.

Duchess of Gloucester can be reinvented into this society as someone who would fight for equal justice for all of mankind regardless of race, economics, political affiliation, sexual orientation or family dynasty. She did approach her brother-in-law with her concern of why no one was trying to avenge her husband death by the hand of his uncle King Richard and his cohort. She stated to her brother-in-law “Ah, Gaunt, his blood was thine’ In suff’ring thus thy brother to be slaughtered, Thou show’st the naked pathway to thy life, teaching stern Murder how to butcher thee. What shall I say? To safeguard thine own life The best way is to to venge my Gloucester death”. My portrayal of this character would be done in spoken word, with drums beating signifying lost and pain. Although this play was written in colonial time where women voices were suppress. I would use this character aristocratic posture to showcase how the elite in that era would would comport themselves. Oh yes, this character would would be written in every scene because the audience must be aware of the treatment that men in power have over women.

The Duchess of Gloucester was dismayed by her own brother-in-law inaction to question his nephew King Richard about the role in the death of his uncle Thomas. I could see her pacing to and fro with her hands in the face of John the Gaunt saying “Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur? Hath love in thy old blood no living fire? Edward’s seven sons, whereof thyself art one, “She is saying why are you so silent , you should be more angrier than me, how could you be so calm and compose when by beloved husband “But Thomas, my dear lord, my life, my Gloucester, One flourishing branch of his most royal root, is hacked down, and his summer leaves all faded By Envy’s hand and Murder’s bloody ax”. Gaunt responded to her complaints by saying to his sister-in-law your anger is misplaced, it should be at God for allowing this heinous act to happen to your beloved Thomas. She stated to Gaunt “Where then, alas, may I complain myself”?

Carol Job

Aaliyah-Calvin-Character-Analysis

Director’s Gallery

Angelina Caputo

Richard II is Act IV Scene I, The Deposition Scene.

The characters in the scene are Bolingbroke, Aumerle, Northumberland, Hotspur, Fitzwater, Surrey, the Bishop of Carlisle, the Abbot of Westminster, Herald, Bagot, York, and Richard.

While there are multiple examples of external conflict within this scene, I as the director feel the scene is more impactful with a focus on the internal conflicts present – particularly the concepts of mourning and acceptance. These concepts are presented to through the audience through the characters of King Richard and Bolingbroke. In this scene Richard struggles with not only the loss of his crown about also the loss of his sense of self. I would use this scene as an opportunity to show a more human and emotional side to Richards character, playing on the way that people tend to connect their identity to their societal roles. In the script there is a point where Richard says “ay, no. No, ay.” This can be viewed as him being flippant about giving up his crown – being as the way it is written means “yes, no. No, yes.” – however it could also be viewed as him saying he doesn’t know who he is without his crown – the line sounding like “I know no I.” He also goes on to say that while he is giving up his crown his emotions are still his, and he is mourning not only the loss of his crown but also what he views as a betrayal by his subjects. Bolingbroke also experiences an internal conflict in this scene. While he does legitimately love his cousin he also cares deeply for the people of England. He knows that Richard has done a bad job as king and that it is for the best if he is no longer in power but still morns from the change that is required as well as how this will impact his relationship with his cousin and the friends who have remained loyal to him.

My concept focuses on the roots of feminism and how feminists’ movements began. My version of the play would take place in the 1920’s during the women’s suffrage movement and this scene would represent the passing of the 19^th amendment. Bolingbroke would be played by a woman and would represent the suffragettes and the exchange of power within the scene would be used to show women gaining new societal power that they did not have before.

This production is needed by my community because feminism is still relevant in todays society. The struggles of women did not go away with the 19^th amendment. This production would celebrate the accomplishments we have already achieved while also acknowledging that we still have a long way to go.