Who is Stephanie Crossley?

Here is a simple breakdown of the journey Steph makes through the play and the relationships that are formed between the two characters that Steph interacts with. Ofcourse Steph briefly meets Sharon and Holly in the park and is rushed off by Martha to the hospital but the biggest relationships I have to develop are between Ruth, John and I (Steph). 

This mind map is just a quick reminder that I can keep in my notebook. its really useful because I can refer to it before scenes or if im feeling a lack of dynamics within the scenes I Perform in. 

Laban Efforts:

Above I have also included Two laban efforts….Why? From studying the Laban efforts in acting technique I decided to look further into the method. I honestly think this is one of the top three most helpful things I have learnt in terms of creating character and making discoveries. 

EXTERNAL = Glide

INTERNAL =  Flick 

My internal effort has changed because I feel like Steph is slightly impatient. That impatients stems from a frustration she feels towards other people lack of understanding in regard to simply theories and arguments. This fliskyness is not sustained or direct, its erratic and slightly out of control. The Glide is Steph's urge to disguise this lack of control in terms of temper and opinion. Being a high status female intellectual I think that Steph is a character who is respected by many people, this has lead to a certain style of public speaking. Where pauses are take in to ensure that people are hanging on every word that is spoken. 

Getting to Grips with public Speaking and 'The God Delusion.'

This video is of Richard Dawkins and evolutionary biologist and atheist. Dawkins was a professor at New College Oxford. This is a lecture on the 'God Delusion' based on his 2006 book here dawkins discusees religion and science. It is wideley interpreted that Mike Bartlett based Stephen on Richard Dawkins. I felt like it was vital that I understand atheist theories and explanations despite being brought up and atheist I have never even questioned my thoughts on 'god' its just always been that there isn't one.  Scientific explanation is all I have known and I think that this part of my character research wasn't incredibly tricky because I don't have to fight against my own belief system. However some aspects of Dawkins argument are quite complex so I had to watch it more than once. (Im still uncertain on parts)

Not only was I listening to the content I was also looking at the way Dawkins delivers his argument. I must say that I didn't find him a particularly captivating orator. His voice has a lovely quality but he is not exceptionally charismatic. 

Layering Steph 

What Im really enjoying at the moment is the fact that I can play Steph in loads of different situations. From working on Act one Scene seventeen i've noticed that there needs to be a gear change. Steph and Ruth love one another and have been friends for years. They relax and become themselves. They allow themselves towards to the end to even have a little fun…..

                    

                      No children 

No partner

                                                                         Career orientated 

                         Heavy Drinker

These things about steph reminded me very much of 'Patsy' from Absolutely Fabulous. I love looking at how Joanna Lumley plays such a real yet ridiculous character. Her voice is fantastic and I feel like my way into a character is through the voice and the physicality. Using 'Patsy has helped me find a ridiculous side to Steph which I think I will use through the piece. 

This clip show's Joanna Lumley moving around as Pasty in a loose gliding and flicking manor. She is an interesting older woman. Her voice and movement in this is what helped me to shape Steph's physicality as she is an older woman that uses her body in a free and expressive way.

A strange combination…..

You may think that Richard Dawkins and Patsy from Ab Fab are a strange combination. However Ive taken Dawkins intelligent, gliding authority and mixed it with a reckless and incredibly charismatic matriarch.