By Willy Russell · By Willy Russell Revision Booklet for Section A of the written exam Name: _____...

Blood Brothers By Willy Russell

Revision Booklet for Section A of the written

exam

Name: _______________

Characters and Songs

Leading characters

• Mrs Johnstone

• Mrs Lyons

• Mickey

• Edward

• Linda

Supporting characters

• Narrator

• Sammy

• Mr Lyons

Other characters

• Policeman

• Milkman

• Judge

• Teachers

Act I

Overture – Orchestra, Company and Narrator

"Marilyn Monroe" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company

"Marilyn Monroe" (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone

"My Child" – Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs Lyons

"Easy Terms" – Mrs. Johnstone

"Shoes Upon the Table" – Narrator

"Easy Terms" (Reprise) – Mrs. Johnstone

"Kids' Game" – Linda, Mickey and Ensemble

"Gypsies in the Wood (Reprise of Shoes Upon the Table) - Narrator

"Long Sunday Afternoon" / "My Friend" – Mickey and Eddie

"Bright New Day" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company

Act II

Entr'acte – Orchestral piece

"Marilyn Monroe 2" – Mrs. Johnstone and Full Company

"The Devil's Got Your Number" – Narrator

"That Guy" – Mickey and Eddie

"Shoes Upon the Table" (Reprise) – Narrator

"I'm Not Saying a Word" – Eddie

"Miss Jones" – Mr Lyons, Miss Jones and Full Company

"Marilyn Monroe 3" – Mrs. Johnstone

"Light Romance" – Mrs. Johnstone

"Madman" – Narrator

"Tell Me It's Not True" – Mrs Johnstone and Full Company

Main Plot Events

Act 1

Act 2

Social, Cultural and Historical Research

Social:

Historical (time set and period written):

Cultural:

How have these factors influenced the play?

Characteristics

Genre:

Structure:

Form:

Style:

Setting:

Plot:

Character Study

Use the next pages to note down your ideas about the

characters in the play.

In the exam it will be expected that you are able to

discuss:

Vocal Techniques an actor might use to

communicate a role.

Communication through physicality and the use of

body language, facial expression and gesture.

The development of character through the use of

costume, hair, make up and masks.

You should also be able to:

State advantages and disadvantages for the

decisions made directing, acting and designing for

performance.

Remember: You should use your own ideas from class discussion to

answer these questions. Make sure you mention the specific moment

of the play you are focusing on.

Mrs Johnstone Description of character using information from the script:

How would you use voice to play this character?

Why have you made that decision?

How would you use body language and facial expressions to play

this character?


How would you show the relationships with other characters?


How would you stand and move as this character?

Why have you made this decision?

Mrs Lyons Description of character using information from the script:




this character?






Mickey Description of character using information from the script:




this character?






Eddie Description of character using information from the script:




this character?






Linda Description of character using information from the script:




this character?






The Narrator Description of character using information from the script:




this character?






Costume Design costumes for the following characters.

Make sure that you JUSTIFY your decisions, referencing your

knowledge of the play.

Remember to mention the specific moment of the play you

are using.

You can reference hair, make up and masks.

Mickey

Eddie

Mrs Johnstone

Mrs Lyons

Narrator

Staging Explore the advantages and disadvantages for staging Blood Brothers in the

following ways. Reference the relationship between audience and performers.

In the Round

Proscenium Arch

Thrust

Advantages Disadvantages

Traverse

Black Box

Promenade audience members generally stand and walk

about rather than sit, watching the action

happening among them and even

following the performers around the performance space.

Site-Specific

any type of theatrical production designed

to be performed at a unique,

specially adapted location

other than a standard theatre.

Advantages Disadvantages

Lighting Explain how you would use LIGHTING to create meaning for the audience in

the following three scenes. Think about the colours of the gels, the intensity of

light as well as what area of the stage the lighting is covering.

Use terminology from the glossary below.

Backlight Light coming from upstage, behind scenery or actors, to sculpt and separate them from

the background.

Blackout The act of turning off (or fading out) stage lighting.

Cross Fade Bringing another lighting state up to completely replace the current lighting

state.

Fade A fade is an increase, decrease or change in lighting level.

Follow Spot A light beam that follows the actor around the stage.

Scene 1: Opening/Overture

Scene 2: Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone making the pact

Scene 3: Sammy and Mickey’s crime

Stage Directions Below are some important stage directions from Blood Brothers. Annotate

each stage direction with why it is important and the meaning that it creates

for the audience.

He nicks Edward’s hand, then they clamp hands together.

Mrs Lyons shows the Bible to Mrs Johnstone, who is at first

reluctant and then lays her hand on it.

On a punctuated note Mrs Lyons lunges again but Mrs

Johnstone manages to get hold of her wrist, rendering the

knife hand helpless.

Mickey is left alone, sitting dejected. We hear Christmas

bells.

Character Relationships The relationships between the main characters change throughout Blood

Brothers. Make a note about how the relationships change. Thinking about

specific scenes will help you.

You must also explain how you would STAGE scenes to show the relationship.

Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons (throughout the whole play)

How would you show these relationships on stage?

Mickey and Eddie (As children)


Mickey and Eddie (as adults)


Mickey and Linda (as children)


Mickey and Linda (as adults)


Music/Sound The songs/music used throughout Blood Brothers play a huge part in the

musical.

Below are four songs from Blood Brothers – make notes regarding the purpose

they play.

Marilyn Monroe 1/2/3 Why is this song used throughout the whole play?

Shoes Upon The Table/Devil’s Got Your Number

Take a Letter Miss Jones

Tell Me It’s Not True

Directing and Staging a Scene In the exam you may be asked to describe or explain how a director could

stage scenes from Blood Brothers.

In the four boxes make notes on how the scene could be directed – remember

you must back up your ideas and use subject specific terminology.

You can refer to the direction of the actors as well as the design of the scene.

Opening

Ending

Mickey and Edward’s first meeting

A scene of your choice

Things to Remember

Performance Characteristics

Blood Brothers is a piece of musical theatre. It has a dramatic and tragic

storyline but has elements of comedy, mainly Mickey and Eddie’s childhood

and teenage life.

The play starts by revealing what happens at the end of the story. It then

follows a chronological order (showing everything that happens in order). It

covers the 1950s - 1970s, showing the key and significant moments in the two

brothers’ lives.

Staging Requirements

Originally this piece of musical theatre was written to be performed on a

Proscenium Arch stage. However, you could justify and experiment with

performing it using different methods of staging.

If you are performing the play as originally intended, in 1950s-70s Liverpool,

then design elements such as set, costume and music should be used to show

this.

Exam Command Words

List

Name

State

Identify

Give

Select

Describe

Define

Annotate

Explain

Compare

Contrast

How could

Explore

Discuss

To what extent

Justify

Assess

If you are unsure what any of these words mean make a note next to them.

Understanding these command words are the key to unlocking the question.

By Willy Russell · By Willy Russell Revision Booklet for Section A of the written exam Name: _____...

Documents

Transcript of By Willy Russell · By Willy Russell Revision Booklet for Section A of the written exam Name: _____...