GSoS: Progress Report~

"Please take ten minutes to write your response to your progress in the play thus far as an actor and designer. What is going well? Where are your struggles? How can I assist you? What questions do you have? Lay it all out there!!!"

If I were being optimistic (as my character likely would be), I would say that we are making significant progress in the time allotted for our production. If I were to be honest, I would say that I am slightly worried ><

It isn't so much the production elements - that, I trust that everyone will be able to complete their parts to the quality expected and we'll be able to create a cohesive and wonderful performance. However, (and I am in no way exempt from this myself) I feel that there is an extreme lacking in the actual... performing? I guess I could say?

I feel as if there is so much about our characters that we don't understand, and I'm not sure how many of us are actually taking the time to try and understand them. I, of all of us, have the least qualification to say such a thing, seeing as I've not participated in any school productions since the eighth grade, but  in the time I have not acted on stage, I have been acting in writing - post-by-post roleplaying, and characters (understanding them, portraying them, bringing them to life) are what I love the most about acting or roleplaying. There are characters in this play that I long to see come to life - and of course, they won't be identical to my own interpretation, but that's what makes it more exciting!

However, there are very few characters I have, thus far, seen come to life. I'm no different - although I wish to, I don't think I have been able to understand my character as thoroughly as I have some of my self-devised creations. 

I suppose this could be my own little obsession, but I am a strong believer that the plot is born from the characters, and understanding the characters will help us not only understand the play, but also to memorize our lines xD

Shen Te; the good soul, slightly eccentric but caring, even though poverty has left its mark on her
Shui Ta; the 'bad' soul, sharp, hard, cold, the antithesis of Shen Te yet at the same time, the same person
Wang; the water seller - what has he seen? What is his role?

The Gods; why are they in Szechuan? How powerful can they be when they have people to answer to 'up there'? What are their views of humanity, how are they different, who are they?

Shoot, time's up.
I have more to say later!!