F.M.P REHEARSING FOR PERFORMANCE WEEK 2 MON-FRI

WEEK 2

During this week we continued working on our F.M.P. pieces. The piece I was mainly focusing on this week was ''The Fastest Clock in the Universe'' piece with me and Cameron. We've literally just started blocking it roughly. We are starting to understand the scene more and the atmosphere within this. Again this is another comedy scene that I'm doing for this showcase. The character I'm playing in this piece is 'Captain Tock' and Cameron is playing 'Cougar Glass'. Although me and Cameron are not completely off script, we just spent our time analysing the script seeing which stuff works and what doesn't. When we showed Yusuf what we done so far he quite liked our piece, he could see that it's got a lot of potential and the comedic elements within this. Yusuf couldn't really give us that much feedback since we don't know our lines yet completely but he did suggest a few things for me specifically he wanted me to play the oldness of my character more and make it clear that 'Captain Tock' wants Cougar's looks. Overall he said our piece was good but the main important thing for us to make sure we know our lines so he can see clearly what needs working.

After that me and Cameron continued reading through our script, I was trying to memorise my lines since I have quite a lot to say. For me to understand this piece more I'm going to have to watch these British buddy comedy sketches such as Dick & Dom, My family and Only fools and horses, by watching these comedy sketches I can easily get some ideas on how we can fit some of those comedic elements they offer into our piece. Also as I read through the script I noticed that there is a lot to think about when we start blocking this properly. The main key feature in our scene is the language because the way how Cougar and Captain Tock talk in this scene is completely different to the way me & Cameron speak. I know for a fact that Cameron pull the cockney accent better than me, for me this will be quite a challenge since I don't speak in an old east end accent. So for me I'm going to have to watch an episode of Only fools and horses and see what I gain from that. That way it wouldn't be to difficult for me to grasp. This can also help me explore the role of Captain Tock more. Although I had to put on a cockney accent for our Brecht performance last year but it's just not really my forte.

My mission now is to find the naturalism within this and being truthful. After I read through my script I highlighted a few words that may be  cut out or changed since I have a feeling that if I say certain lines people would just take me for a joke and it would spoil the whole vibe of the scene. Again there's quite a lot for us to think about for our piece and these things include setting, scenario and the language in our scene. Hopefully within a couple of weeks we'll be off book so we can start blocking this scene properly. 

Here's the script for our scene:

Captain: I wish I could look into the mirror with your confidence. Inspect my face with such interest and find only delight. Mirrors have never been kind to me. I even approach shop windows with caution in case my reflection leaps into view. You see, I have this image in my mind of what I look like. But for some reason, it doesn't correspond with what mirrors tell me. It must be glorious to know your appearance is a source of wonder. No matter where you go people are content merely to gaze at you. That has always eluded me. I can't even say I was beautiful once.

Cougar: You had hair once.

Captain: Was I beautiful when I  had hair?

Cougar: No.

Captain: Your honesty is crippling. And by the way you've missed a few.

Cougar: Missed a few?

Captain: Grey hairs. Round the back.

Cougar strains to see with mirror.

Cougar: I can't see

Captain: Well, they're there.

Cougar: I left the dye on for two hours. Even did my eyebrows.

Captain: The eyebrows are fine. It's just the grey hairs round the back that give the game away.

Cougar: Get the tweezers, Captain.

Captain: I'm busy getting the party ready what time's your guests arriving?

Cougar: Same as usual

Captain: Then we haven't got long.

 checks wristwatch

            Good Lord, stopped again.

 looks at mantelpiece.

             Where's the-? Cougar? Where's the clock? And the one over there?

Cougar: I smashed them.

Captain: What?

Cougar: Warned you I would.

Captain: Why? Why?

goes to waste bin

Cougar: They deserved to be smashed! Fucking clocks! Nothing to do but sit there ticking!

Captain: They were mine. From my shop.

Cougar: Oh, your junk shop!

Captain: Antique shop!

Cougar: You sell people's old crap!

Captain: Antiques! 

Cougar: Junk clocks from a junk shop!

Captain: Well, at least we can tell the bloody time!

Cougar:............ You going to get the tweezers or what? I can't have a nineteenth birthday party with my hair turning grey. 

Captain goes to cupboard, gets tweezers, approaches Cougar.

Captain: Turn that lamp off then, You know how delicate my skin is.

Cougar: You turn it off. I'm cooking nicely. 

Captain: Your selfishness is awesome. You don't put yourself out for anyone. You're nothing but a fiend who expects everything-

Cougar: Fiend! Where do you dig up all these words from?

Captain: It's too dark now.

Captain starts to look for grey hairs but-

Captain: It's too dark now.

Cougar: Christ Almighty!

Captain: Don't be so irritable all the time.

Captain goes to main light switch. He flicks it on. The lights flick on and off violently.

Captain: Come on, lights!

The lights continue to flicker.

Cougar: One day this whole fucking building will just.......crumble away.

The lights stay on.

Captain: There!

Cougar: Hang on! Show me your fingernails.

Captain: What?

Cougar: Fingernails!

Captain: They're fine, Cougar.

Cougar: Then show me!

Captain shows Cougar his fingernails.

Cougar: Oh, they're revolting, captain. Christ Almighty! You've been biting them again. I don't how you can just gnaw and gnaw at them like that. Look! All the skin is chewed away. They might leak at any minute. Put the gloves on.

Captain: But it's hard to get a grip on the tweezers with the-

Cougar: I'm not having you leak all over me, Captain. Gloves!

Captain gets some pink, rubber gloves washing-up gloves and puts them on

Cougar: You know what you should do? Go outside and stick your fingers in some of that bird shit. That'd stop you biting your nails.

Captain: Don't be disgusting.

Cougar: I'm not being disgusting. I's a good Idea. There's so much shit everywhere, you might as well put it to use- Oww!

flinches as hair plucked.

That hurt!

Captain: Don't fuss.

Cougar: You're doing it on purpose.

Captain: Stop squirming.

Cougar: You're only jealous-Oww! There you go again. What is this? The baldy's revenge?

Captain: Don't, Cougar. Please

Cougar: You must walk around with a pair of tweezers in your pocket. Then, when you see a man with a healthy head of hair, on a bus or something or when you're walking through the park, or in your junk shop-sorry! antique shop!- you creep up behind them and pluck out a few hairs. 

Captain: Stop it, Cougar. It's not funny. It's hurtful. 

Cougar: You should set up your own little society. You know, the Bald Phantom Hair Pluckers or something like that. You get together once a month-when the moon is full, or something-and compare how many hairs you've managed to pluck. 

Captain: I'm not laughing.

Cougar: Well, I am! It's fucking hilarious! I can imagine it now. When.....when you beome a member you're given-not a comb, but a piece of cloth and some polish and...and you sit there having skin-polishing contests.

Captain slams tweezers down and walks away

Captain: Do it yourself! I can't take it any more. All the little jibes and jokes. Upsetting me for no reason. After I've been running around to get things ready for your birthday party aswell. Getting the cake. Everything. And what thanks do I get? None. Well I've had it

Cougar: Captain......., I'm sorry Captain.

Captain: Too late. You think you can just say you're sorry and everything will be forgiven. Well, you've gone too far this time.

Cougar:.........Is it over then?

Captain: Yes.

I think this piece will need a lot more working on than my other piece, having to find the naturalism within this and understanding the text more. I understand the whole text all it is for me is just blocking this and applying the acting styles in this. Also me and Cameron are going to need a lot of props for this scene as it says above in those small stage directions. The props we will need are tweezers, a lamp, waste bin, shelf or cupboard, a wristwatch etc. These are things we will need when it comes nearer to our performance, but at the moment that's not important right. All that matters to me right now is blocking this properly, understanding the text and the scenario within this and getting on top of my lines before we even think about props. 

This week was fine.............