Fit as a Fiddle

Question 1

What are the actions used?

Answer 1

1. Tap vocab - shuffles, maxi fords, pickup time steps (double), pickup timesteps (triple) travelling, one footed wings
2. Arm movements revolve around playing the fiddle or using the fiddle in choreo
3. Magic tricks - adds comedic value to the piece
4. Bent knees (tap + jazz technique)
5. Charleston style movements (e.g. kicks)

Question 2

What space is used?

Answer 2

1. vast use of space
2. linear pathway
3. direction facing front
4. mainly mid-high levels, moments of low levels
5. close proximity

Question 3

What are the dynamics

Answer 3

1. starts slower, calmer, then builds in speed as tap begins. Full speed reached during instrumental
2. energetic
3. rapid/chaotic
4. direct/indirect
5. sharp

Question 4

What are the relationships

Answer 4

1. contact - lifts, counterbalance, support, touch
2. unison
3. formation - side by side mostly
4. patterns - move around in a circle formation

Question 5

What are Kelly stylistic features within the number

Answer 5

1. energetic movements (athleticism) - strong dynamics/big movements
2. dance reflects character and progress the narrative
3. blending techniques - tap, jazz, Charleston
4. inspired by MT
5. Down to earth character

Question 6

What’s the aural setting

Answer 6

1. starts with Cosmo playing piano
2. the fiddle music begins – it’s of a medium-fast tempo
3. Both singing.
4. Any time they are not playing the fiddles in the routine, there is no fiddle in the music to give the illusion that they are playing them.
5. Music speeds up as the song goes on, eventually ending with a very fast tempo at the end for the instrumental section.
6. All of the instrumental section comes at the end of the routine.

Question 7

What’s the physical setting (lighting/set)

Answer 7

1. They are on a stage – Stage lights, white wash. Shows basic performance
2. Bright – to enhance positive mood – comedy
3. They are on stage – performing as though in a vaudeville show or variety show.
4. Painted background and curtains – to show the falseness of show business and lack of money.
5. Advertisement signs – to show a ‘cheap’ theatre. They haven’t ‘made it’ in
   show business yet.
6. Wooden floor – suits setting but also ensures you can hear tap sounds

Question 8

What’s the costume

Answer 8

1. Costume – both wearing the same.
   Green and white chequered suits
   and matching hats – comical but
   also smart.
2. Flowers in lapel – clown like
3. Props – fiddles – bows – they use
   these for comical effect – Don
   stealing the bow, playing each
   others fiddles, playing them above
   their head, in front of them,
   having them on strings like a
   yoyo, Cosmo plays his like a
   guitar when Don steals his bow –
   comedy. Fiddles have flowers
   ‘sprout’ out of them at the end –
   magic.

Question 9

What are the meaning/interpretations

Answer 9

1. face front as they are performing to an audience
2. painted background shows falseness of show business and the lack of money Don and Cosmo had and also the theatre company. (links to lies and deceit)
3. clown like piece; with flower on lapel and magic tricks (e.g. at end flowers come out of fiddle)
4. props - add to comedic value

Question 10

What is an action description of the pickup time steps?

Answer 10

Both Don and Cosmo face downstage (towards the audience) and perform a pickup tilmestep, moving in a liner pathway towards stage left. Whilst holding the fiddle with their left hand, as it rests on the shoulder, and holding the bow in their right.