Live Evaluation Flashcards
live evaluation paragraph structure
context of scene what the actor is going to show how actor shows this in their acting make an inference how it achieved overall aim effect on audience
introduction
On the 23rd of May I watched Yerma - a captivating and enthralling Young Vic Production filmed by National Theatre Live. In this engrossing play the inescapable character of ‘Her’, played by the phenomenal Billie Piper, is driven to the unthinkable. Set in Contemporary London, this radical and striking adaptation of Lorca’s classic tragedy accumulates with elemental force to a disturbing and staggering climax. Cunningly brought to life by the ingenious director Simon Stone, this ground breaking production uses naturalistic acting within an abstract set to rigorously bring the story of ‘Her’ to life, by constantly constructing moments of genuine shock and discomfort. I found the experience of watching Yerma was immensely unique and unexpected but also unbelievably breathtaking and astounding. Billie Piper’s exemplary performance is a testament to ‘the everyday woman’ bound by society’s patriarchal chains that attests to Stone’s aim to evoke a culmination of concern and sympathy from an audience unable to help.
First paragraph focus
Chapter 1 Scene 1.6
Her and Helen talk about pregnancy and having children; Helen was an unaffectionate mother who barely hugged her daughters
“You never hugged me”
from the exposition of the play…
Yerma forces the audience to feel like strangers eavesdropping on intimate moments or scientists dispassionately researching the habits of a strange species as we witness the protagonists’ increasingly stormy interactions
Her spurts : ‘you never hugged me’
In an accusatory tone with furrowed brows and a wavering pitch
Leaning on a bent leg - clutching her elbow awkwardly
In blatant contrast …
Helen sits casually with her legs resting in front of her and her hands on her lap - a couple metres away from ‘Her’ in upstage centre
This showcases…
The coldness and lack of intimacy that pervaded Her’s childhood
From my perspective…
this scene further reveals the Social turmoil internalised by Her, leaving a gaping abyss earnest with a desire for unconditional motherly love.
This scene amplified the total dramatic effectiveness of the production …
since it allowed the audience to delve deeper into Her’s character
Paragraph 2 : Another scene in which Billie Piper excellently conveyed Her’s fragile mental state is when
Victor revealed that he is leaving for Hong the next day. Undoubtedly, Victor’s decision overwhelms Her, leaving her heartbroken.
The scene is replete with…
fragmented pauses, fast-paced talking over one another, which juxtaposes with the stillness of their physicality
Her is sat…
Upstage Centre, with a mug of tea in her hands, while Victor stands a few metres away, arms hanging loosely at his side, unsure of what to say.
This reinforces…
the barrier that has now formed between them, caused by Her’s inability to have a child and this imminent fatherhood
Her’s envy was clear throughout the entire scene, particularly when she burst out
“I think you should go”, eyes filled with pools of tears which she uses the back of her trembling hand to wipe, fluctuating in pitch.
Victor only serves as a reminder for…
What she can no longer have, seen by her desperate pleas for Victor to impregnate her earlier on within the play in scene 3.5
