live theatre DNA Flashcards
who played Phil?
Harry Freeman
what is the general intro?
- play: ‘DNA’ by Dennis Kelly
- theatre company: Quirky Bird
- 2020 digital production
what is the second part of the intro for Phil?
- acting skills of Harry Freeman, who plays Phil
- mysterious, often silent, gang-leader in the play
- interprets his character with real humanity, rather than as an unfeeling psychopath
what is your first paragraph on Phil about?
D:
- the character Phil is partnered with Leah, who sits behind him and says excruciatingly long monologues, while he says nothing at all
- Freeman chooses to direct Phil’s gaze away most of the time
- head very still, except for occasional eating actions
A:
- impression of disinterest in Leah, despite her extended efforts for his attention
- implies some psychotic pleasure in Leah’s discomfort
E:
- Freeman’s ‘lack’ of acting emphasises Phil’s unique/unusual personality and apparent inhumanity towards others
- awkward to watch - Freeman’s aloof acting deepens the sense of dark mystery/aura for audience around Phil in the early part of the play
- comical aspect too: Phil values food over relationships
what is your second paragraph on Phil about?
D:
- moments in these awkward monologues where Freeman shows that Leah can break through his shell
- ‘Can you remember the happiest moment in your life?’ - Freeman changes his facial expression. purses his lips at ‘happiest moment’, lowers his eyebrows at ‘your life’, squints eyes
A:
- change in attitude caused by this specific line makes the audience question whether Phil has a troubled background - potentially more fragile/dangerous?
E:
- perfect/clever timing: 1 technique on each beat of the line
- suggests a more sensitive side to Phil - humanity
- sweet/tender moment with Leah too, intriguing the audience and possibly gives us affection for him
- sets up for us to then feel conflicted when Phil commits evil acts later on in the play - cliche?
what is your third paragraph on Phil about?
D:
- as the play unfolds, we see Phil is the brains behind the kids’ plan to cover up the murder of Abbie, Phil has long speeches here
- in the first of these speeches, Freeman’s movements/dialogue are fast-paced and his body language is decisive (e.g. leaps out of eating position).
- downward double hand gestures when explaining key parts of the plan, emphasis and volume on key words, ‘do NOT touch the jumper’
A:
- Freeman here helps to show Phil isn’t actually distant - he’s always thinking/planning. he seems like a more dangerous character
E:
- Freeman’s body language here is powerful due to a stark contrast to his previous body language
- makes Phil more disturbing to the audience: a school-age audience can picture the bullies at their school, showing their dark potential
what is your D in your fourth and final paragraph on Phil about?
- by the final scene, Phil is distancing himself from others/occasionally speaking up heroically. everyone’s lives have moved on, while his has stayed the same. Leah has abandoned him and been replaced by Richard
- at first, Freeman’s acting seems to follow the same pattern as before - gaze away, no interaction, focus on eating
- but as Richard’s monologue reaches its bizarre climax (his vision/epiphany ‘I felt like I was an alien in a cloud’), Freeman chooses to interpret this idea as one that really touches Phil
- furrows his brows as the line ends, then on the line ‘I knew we weren’t alone in the universe’, Freeman’s facial expression tenses/narrows, he tears up and begins to silently choke on tears
- ends the play sinking his head into his hands
what is your A and E in your fourth and final paragraph on Phil about?
A:
- Freeman’s choices here are designed to show a more human side to Phil
- this line may have touched Phil as its similar to Leah’s random ramblings, he misses her? shows human emotion, the audience feel sorry for him
E:
- certainly shocking - stark contrast to Phil in the rest of the play
- risky acting choice. too melodramatic for Phil’s character?
- provokes much greater sympathy from the audience
who played Leah?
Maddie Herbert
what is the second part of the intro for Leah?
- acting skills of Maddie Herbert, interpreting Leah
- Leah is Phil’s best friend and they are a pair. as the play unfolds, she emerges as the play’s moral centre (she protests for them to do the right thing and tell the authorities)
- as she witnesses her friends’ morals disintegrate, and sees their psyches crumble under pressure, she begins to change. she leaves Phil and moves elsewhere
- her actions serve as a cautionary tale against the destabilising and destructive nature of groupthink and peer pressure
what is your D1 for Leah?
- asks Phil what he’s thinking, establishes the state of their friendship from the start. she pours her heart out to him, and he simply sits there in silence - she aims for his approval and tries to get him to talk
- quick, broken up sentences, shifts weight from foot to foot. quick, jerky movements, avoids eye contact, gaze flits about everywhere
- pretends like he’s responding ‘No, really don’t say it isn’t. Really don’t!’
- at first glance seems ditzy, easily distracted, self obsessed
- near the end of first monologue, shifts to a slow, reflective, sad tone, showing that she’s genuinely hurt by his lack of response. ‘Because it doesn’t matter to you, (pause) Does it?’ ‘Does it?’ shows hope, she’s still hoping for his approval
what is your A1 for Leah?
- her actions at first demonstrate an awkward, embarrassed, fidgety personality, unusual when speaking to a friend, suggesting a lack of closeness between them, and the audience questions the integrity of their friendship. they feel sympathy for her as she carries the one-sided conversation
- the fact that she pretends he’s responding and simply talks for minutes on end shows her loneliness. she seems almost childish, saying whatever comes to mind, adding a comedic aspect to an overall dark play - effective
what is your E1 for Leah?
- when she imitates phil’s silence and non-movement, it could simply be seen as a comedic gesture, or as a clever way of showing that she’s hurt but is trying to hide it. again, the audience questions the friendship, if it’s built on hiding emotions and secrets
- her awkward gestures and movements effectively show discomfort in the friendship, and establishes her as a very open character who simply doesn’t receive her level of energy back. the audience immediately feel sorry for her, as she’s obviously trying very hard
what is your D2 for Leah?
- leah is saying that they shouldn’t leave the girl in the woods, despite the fact that she said she doesn’t want to go back. she’s shown as moral, as she cares for the girl’s wellbeing (she’s mad, she’s living in a bush, eating insects), and this contrasts to phil’s coldness and callousness as he insists on leaving her there
- desperate tone, raises volume as she tries to convince phil. she stutters, tries to articulate herself, her hopelessness is contrasted with phil’s cruelty
- arms gesticulate wildly, reminding the audience of her childlike behaviour at the start, contrasting with her now morality and fearlessness when standing up to phil
- walks around quickly, tries to put her hands on lots of different people to stop them, showing her conflicting emotions. she wants to be friends with phil, tries to influence him through their ‘closeness’, but is horrified by his actions ‘No! No! Phil! Stop!’
what is your A2 and E2 for Leah?
analysis:
- the fact that she starts crying makes the audience realise her morality, they feel sorry for her. when she cries, tries to keep it quiet and hidden, still showing her wish to not burden phil with her problems and to seek approval from him
- she hits his offered snack away from her and runs away, showing her development. she’s truly horrified by his actions, and doesn’t believe they can go on acting the same anymore. she has matured, and realised that she deserves better
evaluation:
- her crying is natural, unlike phil’s crying at the end, which seems melodramatic. she is a very dramatic, emotional, open person, so her crying simply shows the audience the true extent of the emotions and thoughts and mental turmoil she’s experiencing
describe Leah, and her character arc:
- Leah is academic, bright, a philosopher and has attached herself to someone that has very little to offer (makes no sense)
- Leah eventually leaves because she disapproves of Phil’s actions and will refuse to validate him. she’s like an external conscience - at first decides to go along with it all, but she then finally cracks
