AQA GCSE Drama sample

SET PLAY 2: ‘Blood Brothers’ by Willy Russell 2 Using the performance space and interaction with others There are opportunities to explore the space and interaction with others in a number of different ways in the play. There are large ensemble scenes and intimate two-person scenes. Some productions may choose to perform the play very naturalistically, while others rely on the conventions of musical theatre, such as group movement or dancing. Many productions combine both naturalistic and stylised acting. Willy Russell also provides additional challenges by having some scenes overlapping or cross-cutting . When you are writing about how you will use the performance space and interaction with others, make sure you focus on the effects you wish to achieve, such as tension, surprise, humour, pity or sorrow, and how you will achieve them. TASK 12 Focus on the scene between Mickey and Linda in Act 2, which begins: ‘Mickey, Mickey, come on, you’ll be late …’ to Mickey’s exit with the pills. a Read the scene, taking particular notice of any stage directions. b Agree what stage configuration you are going to use: end on, theatre in the round, thrust, promenade, proscenium or traverse. Mark where the entrances will be and any pieces of furniture. c Decide what effects you wish to achieve in this scene. To help you do this, answer the following questions about the various issues: Mickey’s character after leaving prison. How have his mental state and dependency on drugs affected his movement, facial expressions and entire personality? Linda’s reaction to him. Linda has always loved Mickey and is now his wife. However, he is very changed. How does she look at him? What are her motivations in this scene? Use of props. How does he feel about Linda handing him his lunch? How important is it to Mickey that he finds his pills? Where does he look for his pills? Turning point. What convinces Linda to give him her bag so he can find his pills? Use of subtext. Are there any instances when you believe characters are not saying entirely what they are thinking or feeling? How could that be conveyed? d How will you use stage space? Try the following: Mickey’s entrance: Mickey enters quickly, avoids eye contact with Linda. Begins looking immediately for pills around the flat. Mickey enters slowly, with careful movements. He goes to where his pills are usually kept. Freezes momentarily confused when they aren’t there. Mickey enters putting on his jacket. His hands are visibly shaking and he struggles to get his jacket on. He pushes aside Linda’s hand offering the lunch bag. Linda’s reaction: Linda follows Mickey around the room, like a mother dealing with an uncooperative toddler. Linda smiles brightly, trying to pretend that everything is all right. She continues to get ready to go out herself, putting on her earrings and chatting casually to him. Linda tries to block him from finding the pills and hides her bag. She clearly feels worried and guilty, finding it hard to meet his eyes. e Continue working through the scene, experimenting with different staging configuration ideas. When you have finished, answer the following question: You are performing the role of Mickey . Focusing on the lines ‘I didn’t sort anything out, Linda’ to ‘Now give me the tablets … I need them’, explain how you and the actor playing Linda might use the performance space and interact with each other to create tension for the audience. KEY TERM: Cross-cutting: alternating between two different scenes. 63 SECTION B  STUDY OF A SET PLAY