Make em Laugh

Question 1

About the dance/dancers within?

Answer 1

> Cosmo only
-does duet with mannequin
-uses puppetry skills to make mannequin move
character - comical
cosmo trying to cheer up don

Question 2

What are the actions used?

Answer 2

1. walking around lying on floor
2. tap movements
3. athletic/acrobatic movement - flips, dives, rolls, jumps
4. starts with Cosmo playing piano - seamlessly moving into number
5. pedestrian interludes between movements at the start - returning back to Don
6. hitting with hat (slapstick comedy)
7. jumps, turns, falls, lifts (carried on plank of wood)
8. slapstick - injuries, falls, fighting, failed dance tricks
9. heavy use of props/set in chores

Question 3

What is the space used?

Answer 3

1. vast use of space - travels through movie film set
2. changes of direction frequently (e.g. ta-da movement facing back, quickly corrects to front) always returns to facing front
3. large size of movements to make Don laugh, married with smaller movements as contract again for comedic effect
4. large change in levels: high - onto of plank, jumps / mid - standing, sitting on sofa / low - kneeling, circular on floor
5. linear pathway - walking from each stage set

Question 4

What is the dynamic used?

Answer 4

• inch in tempo as number progresses
• sharp
• explosive
• indirect (unpredictable)
• heavy/light
• varied dynamics used to again add comedic effect

Question 5

What relationships are used?

Answer 5

• sings to Don at first but then moves onto camera
• uses a mannequin as a real person - touch/manipulating movement
• interactions with other studio workers - e.g. men carrying planks of wood

Question 6

What is the aural setting used?

Answer 6

• piano
• percussion - drums/symbols
• brass instruments - trumpets, trombons, saxaphones
• drums
• flute
• vocals
• music is fast paces
• music starts off being played by cosmo himself on the piano, and cosmo speaks/sings and does some comical movements whilst playing

Question 7

What is the physical setting?

Answer 7

• props used: mannequin, sofa, fake wall, piano, plank of wood
• lighting is reflecting ‘natural daytime’ rather than performance lighting. White
• on a film set - lots of movement from extras with set being transported/built. The action takes place around this
• piano, hat, wooden
• cosmo falls through one of the walls - comedy/lies/satire
• uses sofa and mannequin in one section

Question 8

What’s the costume?

Answer 8

• cosmo uses his hat for comedic effect to being with - tips the sides up when refereeing to actors and pulls it down when refereeing to comedy
• wearing everyday working clothes - contrasts to comedy routine: Brown shoes, grey collared jacket done up, white t-shirt, brown trousers, grey/beige bowler hat
• extras wearing work clothes

Question 9

Which of Kellys stylistic features used?

Answer 9

• energetic movements (athleticism) - strong dynamics/big movements
• dance reflects character and progress of narrative - cosmo cheering up Don
• manipulation of camera - camera follows Cosmo
• inspired by MT
• combines styles

Question 10

Movement example: Plank of wood

Answer 10

Cosmos is being carried on a plank of wood, which is being carried by 2 men (set crew) on either side of the wood towards stage right. He starts by standing over the plank, facing SR, as the men lift up the plank, Cosmo ends up in a sitting position with legs either side of the plank, kicking his legs back and forth whilst swinging his arms. He proceeds to lie down with his head towards the direction his is moving in, performing a swimming action, in breast stroke way. Finally, he turns his upper body sideways (still lying down) so he is facing towards ds, he places his head into his left hand which is resting on the plank. He gets thrown off the plank US by the 2 dancers.

Question 11

Movement Example: wall flip

Answer 11

Cosmo performs an explosive wall flip, where he rapidly runs towards stage right, as he performs another 2 runs up a piece of set with his left leg making contact first, proceeding to flip backwards, taking off on his left leg, landing in a squat position, where both of his legs are apart, and legs are bent.

Question 12

Movement Example: door

Answer 12

Cosmo reaches towards stage left, as he pulls opens a door with his left hand. As the door swings open, Cosmo transfers his weight back onto his right leg, before proceeding to take 2 steps towards stage left to walk through the door, however it appears to have a brick wall behind it, causing him to walk into the wall. As he steps back away from the door, towards stage right, he gives the door a double take.