Today was the big day for my senior class who’ been rehearsing the Explorers play. NO scripts! Except my own, of course. And one for my assistant.
The students clustered around me as we walked from the playground to the hall.
“We’re not using our scripts today, Jennie, are we?”
“No, we’re not!”
“But what if we forget our lines?”
“That’s totally okay,” I reassured them. “Fiona and I will prompt you. No problems. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine”.
To their credit, not a single student complained, whined or asked if they could have their scripts just for one more lesson pleeeeease. The only lass who did had taken on an extra role, so I didn’t mind if she hung onto her script for one more lesson. My assistant, a bit less forgiving, made her put the script aside.
Both students playing Burke and Wills were absent, so Fiona and I stepped into the breach to deliver the opening lines. Lucky we had those scripts, eh? The play duly proceeded from there, with nary a hitch.
A few promptings aside, Scenes 1 and 2 were great. Most lines were delivered, most entries remembered, most staging directions followed, and there were relatively few back-stage dramas as students waited their turn to come on. Fantastic,, for a first run-through without words.
By Scene 3 we were near the end of the lesson and the end of the day. Memories were flagging and the prompting rate lifted. That was fine. Fiona and I were already blown away by what the group was achieving and what a few individuals in particular had demonstrated they could do.
Captain Cook strode confidently to the front of the stage to deliver his lines, looking as though he was thoroughly enjoying being a bossy Royal Navy captain, and an “all around good Cook”.
The three recruits looked vaguely enthusiastic as they contemplated their suitability to be explorers and one of my “Groupie Girls” was almost jumping with enthusiasm as she delivered all her well-rehearsed lines.
At the end of the lesson, I asked for feedback. My dual role girl shot up her hand, and said: ‘It was good’. When I asked why, she said: ‘Because I remembered all my lines. And I’m proud.’
I think she spoke for all of them.
These students, for whom so much is difficult, had risen to a challenge many couldn’t have imagined achieving – especially those who were new to Drama this year. I was confident they could do it, but I know many of them were doubtful. Seeing what they achieved today – the result of practice both at school and at home – will give them greater confidence and renewed energy as we work to polish the play before performing at the end of November.
I had less time with my Juniors today, but we still managed to do the promised filming. Instead of going up on stage, we sat around the tables and sang. While I hadn’t planned it this way, it worked out well. It was easier both to film them and show them the recording afterwards. There was also a lot less wriggling (and wandering).
It was valuable for all of us to listen to the recording. With each song, the first verse was hesitant, but subsequent verses were more confident.
The recordings also showed the students the difference between singing at their own pace and singing together. Now that they’ve seen and heard the results, hopefully it will help them listen to the singing of others, and follow my cues more closely.
Also, as they become more confident with the words, they won’t be in such a desperate hurry to get them out in an effort not to forget. In theory (don’t you love theory?) this should make them more relaxed, which should also help them be more aware of the singers around them.
My narrators are gradually learning their words. I had assumed – wrongly, as it turned out – that they could read. Luckily, I had only written a few lines for them to learn and they’ve learned almost all of them already.
Once again, I’m working on the principle that confidence begets confidence, and that I’ll have two classes raring to go next week. Let the polishing begin!
