英語話劇幕後一瞥A Glimpse behind the Scene of

English Drama

亞洲大學 外文系 吳新發國立員林家商 2012/10/24

前言 前言 PrefacePreface

• 何謂「英語戲劇」﹙ English Drama ?﹚

English + drama

(to do, to act)

drama – theatre – performance

基本要素 基本要素 Basic Basic ComponentsComponents

• 劇本（ Text ）• 導演（ Directing ）• 場景（ Setting ）• 演員（ Actor/Actress ）

劇本（劇本（ TextText ））• 多幕劇 (Full-length play)• 獨幕劇 (One-act play)• 長 度 (Length)• 深 度 (Depth)• 人 物 (Characters)• 改 寫 (Rewriting)• 創 作 (Creative writing)

導演（導演（ DirectingDirecting ）） //舞台調度（舞台調度（ Mise en scMise en scèènene ））

• 走位（ Blocking ）• 場景（ Setting ）• 燈光（ Lighting ）• 音效（ Sound Effect ）• 服裝（ Costume ）

Directing / BlockingDirecting / Blocking

Blocking refers to the process of situating your characters on the stage and moving themabout.“All my directing pages are about blocking!”

-- V. E. Meyerhold (1874-1940?)

Principles of Stage Principles of Stage BlockingBlocking

1. Let the script do most of the work for you. 2. Avoid clutter -- keep the audience in

mind. A traditional proscenium stage should be viewed as a living painting. No artist would dare place all of his painting's elements on one side of the painting. Balance the stage movements so that the audience has a feeling of aesthetics.

3. Allow the actors to improvise and contribute to the blocking process.

4. Never let the props or set do the acting.

Actual line focus -1Actual line focus -1

Actual line focus -02Actual line focus -02

Visual line focus -01Visual line focus -01

Visual line focus -02Visual line focus -02

Counter focusCounter focus

Physical balancePhysical balance

Aesthetic balanceAesthetic balance

StabilityStability

The Shadow of a Star by Nicholas Biel, dir. David C. Bryant (U Theatre of Williams College)

William Inge’s Picnic, dir. Robert Brauns (Peninsula Little Theatre, San Mateo, California)

Prompt BookPrompt Book

The main job of a stage manager is to create a "prompt book". A prompt book is a copy of the script with notes on blocking, as well as light, sound, follow spot (spotlight), and deck cue's. A prompt book should be legible so that if the stage manager is unable to call the show, due to illness or other causes, his/her notes can be followed by anyone. Also as the prompt book is subject to frequent change during the process of creating blocking, only pencil should be used in writing notes.

演員（演員（ Actor/ActressActor/Actress ））• 姿勢（姿勢（ GestureGesture ））• 語調（語調（ ToneTone ））• 停頓（停頓（ PausePause ））• 互動（互動（ InteractionInteraction ））

"A"ACTORSCTORS Speak" Poll Speak" Poll

• Two years ago I placed "ACTORS speak" poll on my webpages. "What is MORE important in Acting?" was the question. 1360 votes received by Oct 1, 2004. Judge for yourself:

• Talent 494 (36%) Skills 57 (4%) Luck 32 (2%) Knowledge 43 (3%) Connections 32 (2%) Training 55 (4%) Love for Acting 488 (35%) Persistence 106 (7%) Good Looks 18 (1%) Hustling 35 (2%)

• Even if we put "knowledge" (3%), "training" (4%) and "skills" (4%) we will have only 11%! I do not know any other professional field where the learning could be counted for so little! Even in arts!

• (-- Anatoly’s Blog) (http://biomechanics.vtheatre.net/title.html)(2008/11/17)

案例 案例 Case StudiesCase Studies

• I. Hamlet and the Ghost (Hamlet: I.5)

• II. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (Act I.)

• III. Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (Act II)

(Enter the Ghost, and Prince Hamlet following)HAMLET: Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak. I'll go no

further.GHOST: Mark me.HAMLET : I will.GHOST : My hour is almost come When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames Must render up myself.HAMLET : Alas, poor ghost!GHOST : Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold.HAMLET : Speak, I am bound to

hear.GHOST : So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear.HAMLET : What?GHOST : I am thy father's spirit, Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away…. (Hamlet: I.5)

Ibsen’s Ibsen’s A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House• A bell rings in the hall; shortly afterwards the door A bell rings in the hall; shortly afterwards the door

is heard to open. Enteris heard to open. Enter NORA, NORA, humming a tune and humming a tune and in high spirits. She is in out-door dress and carries a in high spirits. She is in out-door dress and carries a number of parcels; these she lays on the table to the number of parcels; these she lays on the table to the right. She leaves the outer door open after her, and right. She leaves the outer door open after her, and through it is seen athrough it is seen a PORTER PORTER who is carrying a who is carrying a Christmas Tree and a basket, which he gives to theChristmas Tree and a basket, which he gives to the MAID MAID who has opened the doorwho has opened the door.) .)

NoraNora. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be . Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it [pg 6] till this sure the children do not see it [pg 6] till this evening, when it is dressed. (evening, when it is dressed. (To theTo the PORTER, PORTER, taking taking out her purseout her purse.) How much? .) How much?

• PorterPorter. Sixpence. . Sixpence. • NoraNora. There is a shilling. No, keep the change. . There is a shilling. No, keep the change.

• ((TheThe PORTER PORTER thanks her, and goes outthanks her, and goes out. NORA . NORA shuts shuts the door. She is laughing to herself, as she takes off the door. She is laughing to herself, as she takes off her hat and coat. She takes a packet of macaroons her hat and coat. She takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two; then goes from her pocket and eats one or two; then goes cautiously to her husband's door and listenscautiously to her husband's door and listens.) Yes, he .) Yes, he is in. (is in. (Still humming, she goes to the table on the Still humming, she goes to the table on the rightright.) .)

HelmerHelmer ( (calls out from his roomcalls out from his room). Is that my little lark ). Is that my little lark twittering out there?twittering out there?

• NoraNora ( (busy opening some of the parcelsbusy opening some of the parcels). Yes, it is! ). Yes, it is! • HelmerHelmer. Is it my little squirrel bustling about? . Is it my little squirrel bustling about? • NoraNora. Yes! . Yes! • HelmerHelmer. When did my squirrel come home? . When did my squirrel come home?

NoraNora. Just now. (. Just now. (Puts the bag of macaroons into her Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouthpocket and wipes her mouth.) Come in here, Torvald, .) Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have bought. and see what I have bought.

HelmerHelmer. Don't disturb me. (. Don't disturb me. (A little later, he opens the A little later, he opens the door and looks into the room, pen in handdoor and looks into the room, pen in hand.) .) Bought, did you say? All these things? Has my Bought, did you say? All these things? Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again? little spendthrift been wasting money again?

NoraNora. Yes, but, Torvald, this year we really can let . Yes, but, Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go a little. This is the first Christmas ourselves go a little. This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to economize. that we have not needed to economize.

HelmerHelmer. Still, you know, we can't spend money . Still, you know, we can't spend money recklessly. recklessly.

NoraNora. Yes, Torvald, we may be a wee bit more . Yes, Torvald, we may be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn't we? Just a tiny wee bit! reckless now, mayn't we? Just a tiny wee bit! You are going to have a big salary and earn lots You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money. and lots of money.

HelmerHelmer. Yes, after the New Year; but then it will be a . Yes, after the New Year; but then it will be a whole quarter before the salary is due. whole quarter before the salary is due.

• NoraNora. Pooh! we can borrow till then. . Pooh! we can borrow till then.

Beckett’s Beckett’s Waiting for Waiting for GodotGodot

• ((Estragon draws Vladimir towards the tree. Estragon draws Vladimir towards the tree. They stand motionless before it. SilenceThey stand motionless before it. Silence.).)

• ESTRAGON: Why don't we hang ourselves? ESTRAGON: Why don't we hang ourselves? • VLADIMIR: With what? VLADIMIR: With what? • ESTRAGON: You haven't got a bit of rope? ESTRAGON: You haven't got a bit of rope? • VLADIMIR: No. VLADIMIR: No. • ESTRAGON: Then we can't. ESTRAGON: Then we can't. • ((SilenceSilence.).)• VLADIMIR: Let's go. VLADIMIR: Let's go. • ESTRAGON: Wait, there's my belt.ESTRAGON: Wait, there's my belt.• VLADIMIR: It's too short. VLADIMIR: It's too short.

• ESTRAGON: You could hang onto my legs. ESTRAGON: You could hang onto my legs. • VLADIMIR: And who'd hang onto mine? VLADIMIR: And who'd hang onto mine? • ESTRAGON: True.ESTRAGON: True.

VLADIMIR: Show me all the same. (VLADIMIR: Show me all the same. (Estragon loosens Estragon loosens the cord that holds up his trousers which, much too the cord that holds up his trousers which, much too big for him, fall about his ankles. They look at the big for him, fall about his ankles. They look at the cordcord.) It might do in a pinch. But is it strong .) It might do in a pinch. But is it strong enough? enough?

ESTRAGON: We'll soon see. Here. ESTRAGON: We'll soon see. Here.

((They each take an end of the cord and pullThey each take an end of the cord and pull.).)• It breaks. They almost fall. It breaks. They almost fall. • VLADIMIR: Not worth a curse. VLADIMIR: Not worth a curse. • ((SilenceSilence.).)• ESTRAGON: You say we have to come back ESTRAGON: You say we have to come back

tomorrow? tomorrow? • VLADIMIR: Yes. VLADIMIR: Yes.

• ESTRAGON: Then we can bring a good bit of ESTRAGON: Then we can bring a good bit of rope. rope.

• VLADIMIR: Yes. VLADIMIR: Yes. • ((SilenceSilence.).)• ESTRAGON: Didi? ESTRAGON: Didi? • VLADIMIR: Yes. VLADIMIR: Yes. • ESTRAGON: I can‘t go on like this. ESTRAGON: I can‘t go on like this. • VLADIMIR: That's what you think. VLADIMIR: That's what you think. • ESTRAGON: If we parted? That might be ESTRAGON: If we parted? That might be

better for us. better for us.

VLADIMIR: We'll hang ourselves tomorrow. VLADIMIR: We'll hang ourselves tomorrow. ((PausePause.) Unless Godot comes. .) Unless Godot comes.

• ESTRAGON: And if he comes? ESTRAGON: And if he comes? • VLADIMIR: We'll be saved. VLADIMIR: We'll be saved.

• ((Vladimir takes off his hat (Lucky's), peers inside it, Vladimir takes off his hat (Lucky's), peers inside it, feels about inside it, shakes it, knocks on the feels about inside it, shakes it, knocks on the crown, puts it on againcrown, puts it on again.).)

• ESTRAGON: Well? Shall we go? ESTRAGON: Well? Shall we go? • VLADIMIR: Pull on your trousers. VLADIMIR: Pull on your trousers. • ESTRAGON: What? ESTRAGON: What? • VLADIMIR: Pull on your trousers. VLADIMIR: Pull on your trousers. • ESTRAGON: You want me to pull off my trousers? ESTRAGON: You want me to pull off my trousers? • VLADIMIR: Pull ON your trousers. VLADIMIR: Pull ON your trousers. • ESTRAGON: (ESTRAGON: (realizing his trousers are downrealizing his trousers are down). ).

True. True. • ((He pulls up his trousersHe pulls up his trousers.).)• VLADIMIR: Well? Shall we go? VLADIMIR: Well? Shall we go? • ESTRAGON: Yes, let's go. ESTRAGON: Yes, let's go. • ((They do not moveThey do not move.).)

結語 結語 ConclusionConclusion

All the world’s a stage,And all the men and women merely

players:They have their exits and their

entrances;And one man in his time plays many

parts,…-- As You Like It (II. vii)