Exams and Solo Productions . . .etc

This blog links in > > > http://www.theatre.asn.au/blog/tari_xalyr/solo_productions_and_exams_contd < < < There. I'm doing these in two blogs to make them easier to handle and smaller in size. lol. So my mock drama practical exam was on Thursday morning. I would have posted sooner but An Arty Affair was on at the same time so been kind of busy and over tired. Anyway. The exam went well - generally. We went to Lakelands SHS to do the exam. So we were there for 4rs because our teacher was one of the markers - there were only suposed to be two and we ended up with four!!!! So we sat in the dance studio on the other side of the theatre (the exam was in the green room). My exam was third last so I had 3hrs basically to panic, warm up, stress a little more. When I'm nervous I pace. So I paced teh studio for over an hour and it got incredibly smaller. Us and the LSHS girls banded together in the end for support and comfort more then anything. The waiting process is the worst part of the exam - although it wont be a 3hr waiting game in the real thing - but it does add to your nerves. We warmed up together then we were all left in the dance studio and the waiting began. Every girl that went in and came out just had massive smiles of relief on their faces. some came out jumping and screaming for joy - until they saw the girl who was next and then spent the next 5mins (we had to wait 5mins between for the markers to grade it) talking to them about the interview and examiners etc. Then the rest of us would get the full recount. So by the time I went in we'd mulled over the questions and worked out that they were running out of questions to ask in interviews and ideas of impro's were beginning to run a little short. Unfortunately they hadn't run short for me because apparently my choices were very different from everyone elses. I got the questions and ideas they hadn't asked yet which in honesty I preferred. My solo went well. I missed a small section but I was one of few who wasn't penalised for time problems. I do remember when hearing the comments after the exam - the examiners took us each seperately and offered feedback and advice after everyone had done - that the "independent" marker had said my twirl at the beginning was perfectly placed. I'll explain. Tarsha spins around in excitement and is suppose to stop right in front of the desk so she can sit on it staright after but I had not worked in that space before and I had twirled and my leg had hit the desk and I had wobbled a little. So she was mightily impressed i got it perfectly square - until the leg wobble. lol. The other problems were only minor but I have a bit of re writing to do in the next 2wks. My improvisation was okay but in honesty I was so nervous I don't remember it. All I recall of that 30second wait for them to come up with something - that for me turned into somewhere btween 1 and 1.5 mins because they couldn't think of anything. The markers were slack in their lack of emotion and me standing there nervous as hell and they suddenly burst out laughing at someone's idea didn't help me! lol. Just freaked even more. I found out later they were going to get me to play an opposite gender role (I only mention one character of an opposite gender) and put him in a hard situation - how thats funny I don't know???. Anyway apparently my impro structure was good but I needed to add a little more to the story. The time was a perfect 2mins. My monologue - The Crucible - went well but it went over a minute over time so I was heavily penalised for that. Other then that the comments were good. They were shocked at my 30 second costume change into this 18th century workers dress with a massive skirt - which my fot got stuck in - so i got brownie points for that! My primitive sewing paid off. Acting wise my voice was a little breathy which they said was out of nerves - I'm glad they recognised that - but my non-verbal got good marks. So overall good but needs to be cut down alot! The interview I was relieved I got what I would say was the easiest questions out of them all! I was asked to explain the different effects that creating your own original piece had to interpreting a scripted piece. Which was straight forward but took me over a minute to answer properly. And the other question was why I chose my monologue which for me was a brilliant question because it was the only thing I was definate about for the exam. I knew what monologue I was going to do and why. So overall some work needs to be done but I'm generally happy with my scores and the comments are things that I had begun to realise anyway. So thanks to all people who offered their support and well wishes for my exam. Thanks in particular to Kirilee who drove down to my rehearsal Wednesday arvo to give me some outside feedback and support. Muchly appreciated! :flowers: and :kiss: 's to all! ~ Tari