Mid-terms = free time...

So, it's been a few since my last blog post, and I want to apologize for being lazy in the mere fact of being lazy and tired. In my defense, I have put a lot into my time in classes though. I have five classes that are each almost 3 hours each and my most draining can come from the 8-10 hour days we endure.

This week begins Mid-Terms, and that means that we actually have the entire week to ourselves to recuperate, which luckily, unlike Indiana University who doesn't understand this aspect, means no classes until next week. That means, I get to sleep in for a little while longer until the upcoming trip to London (this Thursday through Monday!).

I have a week to catch up on homework I'm behind on, including readings of a couple plays I've had to read for Contemporary Irish Drama. A few of the plays we've had to read are interesting, but some usually have times where I just feel they're not my cup of tea. For Devising, I'm not really sure what I have to do during break besides preparing a paper. For Voice, a paper as well. For Movement, I have two papers to do, but they aren't due until the end of the semester.

For Acting, I have picked out a monologue, but I have to utilize my brain to keep it in order and using an accent during it. I chose a monologue for Alfred Mangan from "Heartbreak House" by George Bernard Shaw, and I am doing an English accent. One of the issues I'm having besides remembering the words and their order is just being able to do the accent and keep it. I feel I have the character down, because it is complete opposite of me. We had tried some method acting once in class where I slowly became this person, and while it was interesting it was also very draining for me because after we were done I felt very different. I didn't want to interact with anyone, I was easily bothered by others, and I didn't want to talk unless I was asked to. I also have to write a paper for that class as well on "Why I Act?". After the paper is due, we start some Stage Combat.

Basically, the rest of the real things of classes begin. We will start to develop the things we will show off in our showcase on Dec. 9th. Each class will have a 15 minute part in the show (that's a total hour and 15 minutes!), which with 19 students will be rather interesting. I'm excited to start learning the new stuff, even though I feel some of the things we've done now will be used in the show somehow.

For the Theatre viewings, we have seen thus far here in Dublin has been rather interesting, some amazing and some for me a little on the dull side. One thing I am really impressed with is the use of media and imagery in the shows. Some can be very extravagant and others simplistic and breathtaking.

• La Clique was the first show we saw, which to me was a mix of Cabaret and circus acts put together, which to me was a rather entertaining show.

• To Be Straight with You was an intricate dance oriented show about homosexuality and how homophobia (mostly from religion in this case) can be the cause of violence, physical and mental. It was very intriguing to watch these from different views of religion from Islam to Caribbean to Hindu, the stories these people went through, and the dances that they put together to utilize the stories further.

• The Blue Dragon was a media oriented show about two French-Canadians, a painter and his ex lover longing for a child, and a Chinese woman, who the painter is currently dating/supporting and soon to be father, living their lives in Shanghai. It deals with a lot of issues including abortion and ideals of the family life. It also used a lot of media, intricate set changes, and dance pieces. I feel that it was a rather interesting show, but if you muted the actors, you could probably understand what was going on due to the absolute direction the was given.

• Most recently, we saw The New Electric Ballroom. This play was a very interesting story of three sisters, who stay in their house all day reminiscing of the old days and how they got their hearts broke, and a fisherman, who may or may not actually have a purpose to these sisters other than bringing them fish. It was a rather interesting show that used more of the acting side of things to tell the story. It felt very Beckett like to me, which even after the play I had resounds of irritation from my mind being screwed up from thinking so much about the show afterwards.
  

London is this week and I'm even more excited to get away from Dublin for a short little span. Not that Dublin isn't amazing, but I feel I have the Eurotrip feeling in my mind. I want to see everything! I know I can't but it's alright because just one other place in the UK will be enough for my adventure need. Mainly, I'm excited for it because we get to see four plays over three days while we are there, and London is very well known for it's culture of Theatre! We'll be seeing War Horse at The New London Theatre, Endgame at The Duchess Theatre, If There is I Haven't Found It Yet at the Bush Theatre, and lastly, Many Roads to Paradise at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Mostly, I'm very excited for Endgame and War Horse since I have a somewhat general knowledge of those shows. Besides seeing the shows, I hope to visit some sights there including Buckingham Palace and possibly some other places I can reach that won't be too costly. I want to go to Canterbury, which is an hour from London, so I can visit my friend Cat Van Dort while I'm there. She was studying abroad through Kent University's Theatre at IU last year and I dearly miss her, so I hope that this can work out.


As for my next blog, I'll be probably updating on my weekend festivities in Dublin, and what other trips I've gone to thus far as well as my spending habits during the week and what other things I've been up to. Since I have this week off I figure I can get to updating a little more!

love and respect,
Christopher K.