Little Red Rooster Flashcards
Describe the rooster strut
enter DSR. Slow motion exaggerated lunge walking step on the spot and propelled forward in space. Isolated head action which slowly pecks in time with the transition of weight from foot to foot. Torso angled forward, arms hanging low infront of body with flexed wrists and drooping hands. The movement is languid and lazy.
Describe the LRR call
on the lyrics “I am LRR”, the dancers abruptly switches his focus to address the audience, he pushes his weight into his right leg, whilst his left leg is bent and on the toe, turned out to the side of his body. He holds his lapels and circles his elbows link wings. His lower right leg is lifted to circle behind his body, toe taps the floor and then is lifted into attitude position as the hands are raised to the face, framing his mouth as if he is calling/crowing upwards.
Describe the female entering
runs into the space from USL, runs between the two males, as if chasing the exiting Rooster. Her focus moves from DSR (after Rooster) to the audience. She setps onto her left foot and circles her right arm and right leg as she changes direction and steps on the right foot. Her hips perform exaggerated circular gesture at the same time as the step. The right arms then hangs suggestively over her head with right hand framing her head. The movement is overtly feminine and loose hipped.
Describe two motifs in this section (4 marks)
The Rooster strut
The preening the men do - sorting out tie, slicking hair back, altering the buttons on their jackets, alterning their jackets
Describe two movement phrases from the male soloist in this section (4 marks)
The Rooster sturt
The preening
The Rooster call
etc
Discuss how the use of costume relates to the subject matter (6 marks)
Females all having the same costume showing how they are invisible - quite literally as they have a mostly black costume against a black background so they blend in - pleated dress with flashes of red - red has sexual/ dangerous connotations and becuase the red is hidden this could link to women being shamed for wanting sexaul freedom in the 1960s - influence from the 1960s - close fitted, high neck, no sleeve
The males are wearing different colour velet suit jackets, shirts and ties - all the colours clash with each other making them vibrant and stand out - they all have a sense of individuality unlike the women - hints to their egotistical and showing off behaviour - allows them to preen themselves which shows how much pride they have - relates to the 1960s where men are caring more and have more freedom of what they wear
1960s fashion - trousers and tie
Semi uniform as they are all wearing suits showing they have the same culture as they are all men
What are the themes linking to the LRR solo?
Narcissism, animalistic characteristics with grooming actions suggest he is the rooster of the song
He interacts with four men challenging them with his masculinity and they jump back in fear
The other men don’t move when Rooster is on stage aside from when he is on the floor - they sway side to side with their hands on their belts - he is less of a threat now he is on the floor - when he stands up they stop moving
The character of Rooster is seen as unredictable - when he suddenly drops to the floor
Describe what happens when the woman comes on
Her solo includes exaggerated femmenine qualities like her arm drapped suggestivley over her head and her hips circling as she steps
There is one girl and four other men - power imbalance
She is trying to get thier attention and when it doesn’t work she moves onto the next one
The duets and trio illistrate the shabby treatment of women by men as they literally brush her off
One man raises his knee at her head when she is on the floor and appears to knock her out
This shows that the men are more concerned about their appreance to compete with each other rather than to attract girls
How does the LRR solo link with the music?
During the Rooster strut he leans back and looks at the audience on a high note of the guitarre
When he confronts the two men who jump away it refferes to the lyrics (keep everything in the farmyard upset in everyway)
Larger forcefull head/ torso isolations mimicking the 4 deep louder strums on the guitarre
Describe the lighting changes in this section
Starts with a spotlight on rooster highlighting him as an imporant character straight away
Then there is a white wash over the stage
When the female soloist enters the lighting becomes warmer and brighter
Name some aural examples
‘Dogs begin to bark’ - 5 harsh deep strums on the guirattre
Fluttery, light, playful guittare when Rooster is on the floor dreaming
‘I am the little red rooster’
‘Too lazy to crow for the day’
‘Keep everything in the farmyard upset in everyway’
Describe the use of dancers
Focus on the male soloist - Rooster
4 other men in the space
Rooster leaves
Female soloist enters the stage and performs two duets with two of the men and then a trio with the other two
Lady Jane cast come on at the end
Describe the transition of LRR to Lady Jane
Closing LRR
Lighting dims and music fades
Female soloist continues dancing – she hugs herself and wraps one leg around the other
Cast for Lady Jane come on stage performing the Rooster strut
Opening Lady Jane
Lights come up
The men are adjusting their ties down stage and the women are backstage stood still
The female soloist from LRR is still dancing – she unfolds her arms and raises them bent whilst she shuffles her feet (happens in silence)
Music doesn’t start until a couple seconds after lights come up
When the music starts a blue wash fills the stage
