colder than here Flashcards
non-verbal elements
gesture body language mime facial expressions characterisation movement and speech relationship props space levels and proxemics entrances and exits, style and influence intended impact stillness text as a whole eye contact
costume designer
communicate ideas characterisation colour/cut make-up actor/audience relationship audience embedded examples whole play - seasons fabric/texture period
verbal communication
links to non verbal e.g props and levels proxemics entrances and exits movement direction eye contact pace tone intonation pace and pauses dynamics
lights
colour effects season/passing of time types of light light in relationship to speech light in relationship to movement scene changes intensity special effects e.g fog and projection mood and atmosphere
sound
types of sound effects scene changes mood and atmosphere sound in relationship to movement
scene one
burial ground - no headstones, westmidlands, mid-september
Introduction of each character
scene two
living room, mid-evening, late october
First time all characters are seen
scene three
burial ground near Leamington, level meadow, mid-November, bleak
Introduces the tension between sisters
scene four
living room, sunday afternoon, late November
Alec and Harriet finding ways to cope
scene five
civil cemetery - Coventry - patch of earth, industrial, early December
Alec relationship with Jenna
scene six
living room, friday evening, late January
first signs Myra feeling scared
scene seven
burial ground - Coventry, Wednesday afternoon, mid-March, warm, trees with plaques
sisters swap from scene 3
scene eight
living room, early evening, mid-March
Alec monologue/emotions
scene nine
same burial ground as scene 7, late March
contrasts scene one, myra and jenna swap
context
first performed in 2005, Soho theatre
Myra - 56, advanced secondary bone cancer
Alec - 57 - socially awkward and old fashioned
Harriet - 29, eldest and well behaved daughter
Jenna - 27, young and rebellious daughter
themes
terminal illness/death coping with loss natural burial relationships/sibling rivalry eating disorders black comedy
What the significance of the word beat?
Awkward moments
Change in topic
Heart beat
Pace of play
Give an example of the word ‘beat’
Mums thinks we should spend time together. (beat) I think she switched your phone off deliberately ~ scene 3 ~ Harriet
How is Myra described on scene 1?
She is noticeably thin but surprisingly energetic. She is suffering from advanced secondary bone cancer but today has little pain
How is Jebna described in scene 1?
Aged 27, stands a little way off, a large picnic basket beside her. She wears mostly black with a long stripy scarf
props of scene one
picnic basket
‘Myra opens the basket and pulls out a large blanket’
Cigarettes
‘Jenna fumbles in her bag and takes out her cigarettes. A look. Jenna looks away’
scene one themes
Black comedy ;
‘Can’t say that’s good innings, can you?’
Relationships ;
‘you and daddy don’t have sex’
Eating disorders; ‘
you’re looking for a toilet to go to after you eat that’
Death/Terminal Illness;
‘You have to find things to do. When you’re off work dying’
scene one sound
non-diegetic - birds chirping
scene one lighting
bright
profile spot on each character
dims
scene one special effects
fog machine
scene one characterisation
Jenna - level 4/bound/indirect/defensive
Myra - level 3/bound/direct/trying to engage
Myra early play costumes
Bright flowery dresses well dressed smart shoes natural makeup hair up
Jenna early costumes
Leather jacket tight denim jeans band shirts dark eyes/make-up long hair with fringe
Harriet early costume
Hair up Neat Coloured shirts Tucked in Smart shoes
Alec early costume
Gelled hair Brown, chino trousers smart, dark shirts smart shoes long, tweed trench coat
Alec late costume
Becomes increasingly more tired
scruffy hair
untucked shirts
Jenna late costume
White shirts Grey jeans neat, tied back hair fringe pinned back natural make-up
Harriet late costume
scruffy untucked jumper unstyled hair no make-up
Myra late costume
Wears warm, fluffy dressing gown Large coats scarfs large bags tired
Jenna smoking symbolism
Learnt in a graveyard-cycle of life
In control
How is Myra described in scene 2?
‘She wears warm clothes and has a large glass of wine next to her’
How does Jenna enter in scene 2?
‘a large sports bag slung over her shoulder. She stands just inside the door, hesitant’
Key props in scene 2
Laptop
‘thought i’d give it a go now i’m never going to work again’
Newspaper -
Alec picks up the newspaper and opens it, obscuring his face
Key themes in scene 2
Relationships 'Have you and Mark had an argument?' Dark humour 'A watched pot never boils love' Death/coping with loss 'Get better first, yeah?'
Lighting in scene 2
dim, warm orange
dims when Jenna enters
ends with Spotlight on Myra
Special effects in scene 2
powerpoint (projector)
sound in scene 2
incidental - Brahms
Diegetic - powerpoint
Characterisation in scene 2
Alec - anti-social, level 2, indirect
Myra - social, level 3, direct
Jenna - awkward, level 5, quick
Harriet - open, level 2, light
comedy from powerpoint
A clip Art picture has appeared beside the caption
A tree appears with twinkling sounds
Hungarian dances
21 dances two pianists, one piano - intimate changes in tempo, dynamics and melody melancholly sections and upbeat sections Alec portraying emotions without expressing them
Baggins the cat
Symbolic of how Jenna copes with loss
‘fucking cat thief’
How are the girls described at the start of scene 3
‘Harriet and Jenna stand facing each other by a wooden stile’
Props from scene 3
Tupperware box
; ‘Harriet holds her lunch - couscous salad in a Tupperware box’
Jennas phone;
‘Fuck! Always forget to frigging - forget to fucking lock it’
Harriets plastic bag;
‘Harriet spreads out the plastic bag on the upper step of the stile and sits down’
Cigarettes;
‘Jenna takes her cigarettes and lights one’
scene 3 themes
Sibling rivalry;
‘and you’re still fucking about like- Like it’s your disaster’
Relationships;
‘Mum thinks we should talk about sex more’
Black Comedy;
‘postman made some funny about enormous packages’
Coping with loss;
‘like the chord or something being ripped out from’
scene 3 characterisation
Jenna level 4 and indirect/heavy
Harriet level 2 and direct/light
