Video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MUuskbyFvN4

How script is going

My group has been doing well so far. As a whole I think we work well together. We get along and fit our characters. I think that we are good at making the characters are own. Especially Bryn and Wiebke. They bring a lot of laughter to the scene, which has dark humor to it. They created this dynamic that is really great, and their lines are so different from everyone else's. It adds a different element. Adler and Taylor also do a good job of embodying their characters.

As an individual I think I need to improve on slowing down in my script. I sometimes talk to fast and speed through the dialogue. This causes confusion because then people don't know what I am saying. I struggle with this a lot, because I always talk fast whenever I talk. I just have to be more aware of what I am saying. However, I think I had my lines down pretty well, I just need to add more humor to them to make it funny. I was playing it more dramatic and it needs to be more humorous even though the scene is dark.

As a group I think we need to improve on filling the silence. There are a lot of awkward silences that are not funny and don't add anything to the scene. We need to fill them with lines that add humor to them. Also, I think everyone needs to project more. We are all quiet when it is on tape. However, I think this will change once we memorize our lines and become more comfortable with the staging. It is also important that we make things more clearer. There are certain areas of our script where it gets confusing. Like who is who and how we know each other. As

a whole we need to go through the script and add lines where they are needed. Once we do this I feel like our script will be greatly improved. 

I have not seen the other group go, because I was not there that day. But, I was able to read some of their script and see them practice backstage. It sounded good when I was watching parts of it backstage. I think that they need to become more familiar with their script as well from what I saw. But, they may have been more prepared the day they went. Also, I noticed they had good emotions going on in their script, which was very good. However, I think they have similar problems to my group.

Overall, I think our group is doing well, but there is room for improvement. I think it will come along better once everyone becomes more familiar with the blocking and the scripts. This way we can be more comfortable and change things up a little to make them sound better.

Comedy Review

The comedy show was very funny and good. The students did a great job putting the show together and working together to make the show run smoothly. I would like to congratulate them for writing the scripts, staging, putting the music together, and so much work they put in to make the show very good. The skits were all different then each other, but I found myself laughing in all of them. They used comical lines that everyone can relate to and understand.

Right from the start, the show got people laughing. During the teen pageant, there was so much going on. However, it worked and it blended together. Adding Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump added dimensions to the skit, and I couldn’t help but laugh. They sounded just like them, and enraptured what everyone thinks of them. Grace did an amazing job during this scene. She played the perfect Christian mother. Her lines that she shouted out, and how she sat there and prayed was so funny. Her character was my favorite in the entire, she brought a lot to the scene. Also, making the boys girls made it even funnier. I couldn’t imagine being a boy and standing in the sandals they were wearing either the dresses, it was great.

My favorite skit was “Morning Meeting Gone Wrong.” It was interesting, creative, and all around hilarious. It is amazing how much we learn about our teachers after being around them for so long. Their little habits, and things they say often. Abby as Mr.McBreen was so funny. Mr.McBreen was sitting right behind me in the play, and he was laughing really hard when Abby said “Blue Slip,” instead of official note. That is one of Mr.McBreen’s famous lines that people hear on a daily basis. Also, John did a great job as Mr. Dykman, he was just like him even the cup of coffee. I think everyone did an amazing job as being the teachers. It was almost scary how much like the teachers they were.

Overall, I think everyone did a great job like always. The plays are always great, and the students who do them are always so invested. They do a great job engaging and becoming the characters that they are. They really transform themselves, and make the show amazing. It is sad to see all the seniors go, because they added a lot to the theater. 

My Project

    The project is going well so far. My group worked efficiently and hard to get the work done. It took a lot of work to finish the script and add lines to it. We added some comical lines, in order to highlight the dark humor of the play. In the original script, there were not a lot of funny lines, so we wanted to make sure to add that in there. Our adaptation still needs some work, but we have created the main skeleton of it. There are just a few adjustments to make to it, but overall it is really good. We have to see how it looks when we actually stage it, until the script is fully concrete.

   The character developments were good, and we each added qualities to the characters to bring to the stage. I think it will change a little when we actually stage it. For example, someone might want to act a different way than originally planned, so it fits better with the script.  We also shortened the character list by making 2 people into one person. This also made it more comical, because this one person can have a lot of dimensions to them, in order to compensate for the missing characters.   

    The group assigned certain jobs to each other so we could make the deadline on Friday. My job was to help work on the script and create stage diagrams. I worked with the group to see what kind of diagrams would be best and fit what we need. Even, though we had separate jobs, we all communicated our ideas with each other. This allowed everyone to have a say in how the script would go. Our group did a good job at communicating with each other, and participating in making the script good.

Character Development for Lamb to the Slaughter and Script

Character Development:

Mary Maloney: My character

Mary Maloney has many dimensions to her. In the first seen with her husband, she has to stay calm and collected. However, at the same time she has to react to the husband wanting a divorce, which is her motivation for killing him. Therefore, I need to play her with a mixed sense of emotions and oblivion. When she kills her husband, she has to seem very calm, to the point where it is creepy. It is almost like she didn’t realize what she has actually done. I have to be close to the police officers, and talk to them like they are my close friends, because they knew Patrick (the husband) well. Therefore, they would be able to see through her if she was frantic and pancy. Instead, I have to be sad, but not to the point where they realize what she has done. She has to act as though she is not suspicious of the crime that she has committed. I have to be sweet and innocent, and then they will never know it was me.

Mary has close relationships with everyone that is on stage. So, she has to act calm and collected with everyone. She can’t act differently than she normally does, because they would see right through her lies. When playing her I have to have a middle ground for emotions.

Mary is a middle aged women who is pregnant with a child. She has to look worn down from all the work she has done around the house, but at the same time she is put together.  She looks like a typical housewife, and stay at home mom. She would wear a pink dress with a white apron and heels. The hair would be put up into a tight bun, it has to look very stereotypical.

Staging First Draft:

Script:

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER by ROALD DAHL

Scene 1:

MARY is in the living room, she is pacing around the room. She seems anxious like she is waiting for something. The door opens.

MARY: Hello, darling

PATRICK: Hello

Mary takes Patrick’s coat from him and hangs it up. She brings 2 cups of alcohol, one for her and one for Patrick.

MARY: Tired, darling?

PATRICK: Yes [sighs] I'm thoroughly exhausted.

Patrick drinks the entire cup of alcohol and gets up to exit upstage into “ Kitchen”

MARY:  I'll get it! [jumping up]

PATRICK: Sit down.

Patrick enters from upstage with a cup and a bottle of alcohol. He pours it all the way to the top.

Mary sighs

MARY: I think it's a shame that when someone's been a policeman as long as you have, he still has to walk around all day long [he doesn’t answer] Darling, If you're too tired to eat out tonight, as we had planned, I can fix you something. There's plenty of meat and stuff in the freezer. [she forces a smile, he doesn’t react] Anyway I’ll get you some bread and cheese."

PATRICK: I don't want it.

[She moved uneasily in her chair]

MARY: But you have to have supper. I can easily fix you something. I'd like to do it. We can have Lamb. Anything you want. Everything's in the freezer.

PATRICK: Forget it

MARY: But, darling, you have to eat! I'll do it anyway, and then you can have it or not, as you like. [stands up and places sewing on table]

PATRICK: Sit down, Just for a minute, sit down. [pause] Go on, sit down.

[MARY sits watching him all the time with large, puzzled eyes, he  finishes his second drink stares into the glass]

Listen … I've got something to tell you

MARY: What is it, darling? What's the matter?

Patrick stays motionless and does not make eye contact with Mary

PATRICK: This is going to be a big shock to you, I'm afraid. But I've thought about it a good deal and I've decided that the only thing to do is to tell you immediately. [pauses]  I think that I need some time and distance to myself..

MARY: That's fine dear are you thinking of a vacation for us?

PATRICK: Yeahhh... more of a vacation for me.. Permanently

MARY: What? ..What are you saying…? [In a sad voice]

PATRICK: I'm a rolling stone Mary, that's just how it is.. I met a girl at the casino last Month we’re eloping

MARY: I… I don't know what to say..Patrick. Please tell me this is a joke

PATRICK: No, Mary.. I've simply outgrown you, I'll be packing my bags tonight.. I'll be gone by the morning.

MARY: Patrick..

PATRICK: I did us the favor of going to the town hall and getting the divorce papers..  [hands Mary the papers and Mary ignores them] So there it is. And I know it's a tough time to be telling you this, but there simply wasn't any other way. Of course, I'll give you money and see that you and the baby are taken care of. But there really shouldn't be any problem. I hope not, in any case. It wouldn't be very good for my job.

MARY stays silent for a minute, a look of confusion washes over her face. She gets up and acts as though nothing happened.

MARY: I'll fix some supper [happy]

MARY exits upstage

PATRICK: I've already told you.  Don't make supper for me. I'm going out.

PATRICK:    Well that was weird, well anyways I can't wait to Shelly tomorrow, she makes me forget all about this boring old witch. I don't know how I'm going to see the baby, but whatever the money should take care of that.

MARY comes behind PATRICK and swings a leg of lamb, she hits him with it and he falls to the ground dead.

MARY: I have a baby coming, he deserved it. I mean he wasn't going to take care of us with another girl around. What was he thinking? Another women in this child's life? No that can't happen, I'm the only mother. There is not going to be a stepmother or whatever other mother. It's me just me. [pauses]. Wait… I can't go to jail for this. Can I? He technically forced me to kill him. He was practically asking for it. I have to protect this baby, and I think I might have the perfect idea.

Practices to herself

MARY: Hello, Sam [speaks loud and strangely] I want some potatoes, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans. [Not happy with how she sais it she tries again] Hello, Sam I want some potatoes, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans. [gives her reflection a nod, EXITS]

Scene 2- Grocery Store

[ENTER Sam and Mary]

MARY: Hello, Sam [smiling]

SAM: Good evening, Mrs. Maloney. How are you?

MARY: I want some potatoes, please, Sam. Yes, and perhaps a can of beans, too. Patrick's decided he's tired and he doesn't want to eat out tonight. We usually go out on Thursdays, you know, and now I don't have any vegetables in the house.

SAM: Then how about some meat, Mrs. Maloney?

MARY: No, I've got meat, thanks, I've got a nice leg of lamb, from the freezer.

SAM: Do you want these potatoes, Mrs. Maloney?

MARY: Oh, yes, they'll be fine. Two pounds, please.

SAM: Anything else? [pause] How about dessert? What are you going to give him for dessert?  How about a nice piece of cake? I know he likes cake.

MARY: Perfect. He loves it.

[Sam brings stuff and puts it in bags]

MARY: Thank you, Sam. Good night.

Blackout

[MARY enters the kitchen by the back door, quietly singing to herself]

MARY: [calls out] Patrick! How are you, darling?

MARY  sees that Patrick is dead, she runs into the living room and drops the groceries on the ground.  She runs over to him and drops to her knees.

MARY goes over to the phone and dials a number

MARY: Quick! Come quickly! Patrick's dead.

POLICE: Who's speaking?

MARY: Mrs. Maloney. Mrs. Patrick Maloney.

POLICE: Do you mean that Patrick's dead?

MARY: I think so, He's lying on the floor and I think he's dead. [crying]

POLICE: We'll be there immediately.

Scene 3:

Sirens go off and a knock is heard at the door. MARY opens the door and four policemen walk through the door. They all crowded around the dead body.

MARY: Is he dead? [crying]

JACK: I'm afraid he is. What happened?

MARY: I really loved him…..

ALLAN: There is evidence of trauma to the--

BOB: The frontal lobe!

ALLAN: There must be trauma to your frontal lobe.

Jack is pacing and MARY is sitting on the couch in front of him. BOB and ALLAN are fighting but you can't hear anything.

JACK: Dammit.

MARY: Who would have done such a terrible thing?

BOB: He was clearly shot

ALLAN: Thank god! You might be right for once!

Start to look for bullet wound.

MARY: What am I going to do with the child now?

JACK: You don't need to worry. You have all of us. [gestures to ALLAN and BOB]

BOB: We can't find the hole!

ALLAN: Well if you weren’t such a dumbass!

BOB: Well you find it then.

ALLAN: I just did.

BOB: That's not a hole.

ALLAN: You’re blind!

BOB: Idiot!

JACK walks over to BOB, ALLAN, AND PATRICK’s body.

JACK: You’re both idiots!

ALLAN and BOB: How?

JACK: It was obviously not a gun shot.  It's not a deep enough wound.  Blood doesn't automatically mean there is a gun wound.

MARY starts crying loudly.

JACK: Mary, calm down.  We will solve this.  Did you know that your oven is still on, and the meat is still inside?

MARY: Oh, So it is! I'd better turn it off [EXITS returns shortly after in tears] Would you do me a favor? Here you all are, all good friends of Patrick's, and you're helping to catch the man who killed him. You must be very hungry by now because it's long past your supper time, and I know that Patrick would never forgive me if I let you stay in the house without offering you anything to eat. Why don't you eat up the lamb in the oven?

JACK: I wouldn't dream of it.

MARY: Please, personally, I couldn't eat a thing, but it'd be a favor to me if you ate it up. Then you can go on with your work

The detectives hesitate but eventually follow MARY off stage.

Black out

Scene 4:  Eating the Lamb

BOB: Have some more, Allan.

JACK: No, we'd better not finish it.

ALLAN: She wants us to finish it. She said we ought to eat it up.

JACK: That's a big bar the murderer must have used to hit poor Patrick. The doctor says the back of his head was broken to pieces.

ALLAN: That's why the weapon should be easy to find.

BOB: Exactly what I said.

JACK: Whoever did it, he can't carry a weapon that big around with him.

ALLAN: Personally, I think the weapon is somewhere near the house.

BOB: It's probably right under our noses. What do you think, Jack?

Blackout

Stage Diagram for Lamb to the Slaughter

Living Room (Scene 1)

Grocery Store (Scene 2) Stage right is a counter where Sam the grocery man will stand. On the bottom is a box with Mary's fruit.

Living Room/ Detective Investigation: Stage right Mary will be sitting on the sofa and Jack will be pacing behind her. Stage left Bob and Allen will be investigating dead body in front of the table.

Kitchen scene: Detectives sitting around table well Mary serves them.