So yesterday evening I recorded the simultaneous conversation. Timing was incredibly difficult! There were moments when I had to wait 30 seconds to come in on time for double-up lines.
But it was an interesting experiment. In some places it actually really worked! But in other places it was awful. Because of the confusion of it all, the comedic effect was lost. But I think that mainly is because of the difficult timing. I may even need to slow it down for it to work better, but it's a working progress.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Act One - Berenger/Jean & the Old man/Logician scene (at the cafe)
This is the part just after Berenger knocks over the glass onto Jean when he sees Daisy.
This is a difficult scene because there are two conversations going on at the same time. I saw a production of Rhinoceros by Annex Theatre, and they did this scene by 'taking turns' - sort of like freeze framing between each transition from Berenger/Jean to the Old man/ Logician. (You can have a look at this on Youtube - the link is below) - By the way, I personally don't like this production, especially the Berenger!
Personally, I found that this really slows down and stilt the scene. So instead, I think I might have the two conversations going on at the same time. The idea is that it would speed things up - like having a real conversational tone - and it would be more real (seeing as people in reality don't wait 'til someone has stopped talking to put their bit in - there is always an overlap). My only concern now is timing, because there are parts where there are double-ups of lines (being said simultaneously). So, after I post this, I am going to record myself acting out the conversation between Berenger and Jean, and then on top of that, add the conversation between the Old man and the Logician. Then I will put up another post, telling how it went.
I think this is a very interesting scene, especially because of the double-up lines. In a way, I think Ionesco was drawing connections between Berenger and the old man - and likewise with Jean and the Logician.
I see Jean as a 'rationalist' - he rationalizes everything. Just like the Logician gives his logic on everything.
Jean is right about many things such as that drinking excessively is bad for your health and that willpower is a strength. But as Jean is saying these things, the Logician is coming out with cookey things - like, that a cat has four paws, a dog also has four paws, therefore it is a cat. Is Ionesco saying that you can rationalize even the absurd?
I also just want to say that Ionesco breaks the fourth wall in a really cool way:
JEAN: /Do you know anything about the avant-garde theatre there's so much to talk about? Have you seen Ionesco's plays?/There's one playing now. Take advantage of it.
BERENGER: It would be an excellent initiation into the artisic life of our times.
FUNNY!
Annex Theatre production of Rhinoceros:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129HGO1G2x4&feature=related
(From 4:45 on)
This is a difficult scene because there are two conversations going on at the same time. I saw a production of Rhinoceros by Annex Theatre, and they did this scene by 'taking turns' - sort of like freeze framing between each transition from Berenger/Jean to the Old man/ Logician. (You can have a look at this on Youtube - the link is below) - By the way, I personally don't like this production, especially the Berenger!
Personally, I found that this really slows down and stilt the scene. So instead, I think I might have the two conversations going on at the same time. The idea is that it would speed things up - like having a real conversational tone - and it would be more real (seeing as people in reality don't wait 'til someone has stopped talking to put their bit in - there is always an overlap). My only concern now is timing, because there are parts where there are double-ups of lines (being said simultaneously). So, after I post this, I am going to record myself acting out the conversation between Berenger and Jean, and then on top of that, add the conversation between the Old man and the Logician. Then I will put up another post, telling how it went.
I think this is a very interesting scene, especially because of the double-up lines. In a way, I think Ionesco was drawing connections between Berenger and the old man - and likewise with Jean and the Logician.
I see Jean as a 'rationalist' - he rationalizes everything. Just like the Logician gives his logic on everything.
Jean is right about many things such as that drinking excessively is bad for your health and that willpower is a strength. But as Jean is saying these things, the Logician is coming out with cookey things - like, that a cat has four paws, a dog also has four paws, therefore it is a cat. Is Ionesco saying that you can rationalize even the absurd?
I also just want to say that Ionesco breaks the fourth wall in a really cool way:
JEAN: /Do you know anything about the avant-garde theatre there's so much to talk about? Have you seen Ionesco's plays?/There's one playing now. Take advantage of it.
BERENGER: It would be an excellent initiation into the artisic life of our times.
FUNNY!
Annex Theatre production of Rhinoceros:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129HGO1G2x4&feature=related
(From 4:45 on)
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