Category: Assignments

Ashley Rodriguez

4/21/2018

Professor Polish

HUT 101

Can I just be? Reflection

 

• What did you learn while writing this monologue? This assignment allowed me to experience another side of theater. I am a Media Studies major, so I am so used to making decision that would look better cinematically rather than focusing on the actor and it was a nice experience learning how to make choices that would still make the same impact.
• What you didn’t learn? I wish to learn how an actor finds time to connect with the story. To then perform as if it where their own authentically
• How you can use what you learned in the future? In the future I can use the experience I had when creating this monologue in a project. I feel that I would be able to create a film that would equally be powerful for the actor and the film.
• Did writing a monologue (as opposed to an essay) help you understand the place of monologues in theatre? If yes, how? If no, why not? instead of writing an essay I believe that I understood the place of a monologue in theatre better. I now understand a monologue isn’t just a performance for the audience. A monologue instead is a chance for the audience to relate, to almost feel like they are not in a play but instead in a real place captured in time.
• How you think you could have pushed your writing and performance even further? I believe that if I had more time I would like to explore my character in my monologue. I would show what exactly is going on in her life. I would emphasize her age and crisis a bit more in detail.
• What rhetorical choices did you make in your monologue — both with your words and with your body — and how did these choices advance the depth of your work? In my monologue I wanted to get across that my character just went through something big in her life. I wanted to show her emotions play out in her head as she as talking out loud. Almost like if she was trying to make sense of her crisis like losing her father. So, I kept repeating the words “I am fine” like if it was her own way of convincing herself that she was. I like to think that these choices that I made allowed my monologue to be relatable to others.
• How did the process of peer review push your analysis forward? If it didn’t, why not? the process of peer review allowed me to see how others would understand my monologue. It allowed me to alter my character so that it would relate to the audience (class)
• What fresh rhetorical insights might you bring from this assignment into future assignments? I would like to explore emotion even more on future assignments, I would like to use words that continue to repeat.

Anon(ymous) starts off  with Anon saying “Where I come from is far away from”. Then the chorus starts to sing about how beautiful the place is where they live.  Afterwards  Anon states that it isn’t as beautiful as the chorus states because where he comes from ” boys wandered the streets with M16s. I believe Anon’s beginning statement was him telling the audience that he does come from a beautiful place but the place isn’t beautiful at the moment. He’s friend Naja suggest that he remembers the good that they once had. Anon at one point starts talking about dreaming which can indicate he dreams in order  escape his reality and to remember his mother. He states ” you dream the face of one person you love… that person becomes like home”.  His way of remembering the good could be dreaming about his mother.

So I really enjoyed reading through this play, reminds me of reading The Odyssey back in 9th grade which was completely awesome. The story was very touching to realize how a young refugee named Anon who was separated from his mother journeys through the United States and encountering an interesting set of human beings. His journey only gets more chaotic as it heads its end.

Naya Ervin
HW
Professor Jay Polish
HUT 101 Art of Theatre

The beginning of Anon(ymous) was quite interesting. I like how it switched back and forth between the point of view of a son and his mother who are constantly thinking of each other, but trying to adapt to their new and different life. I enjoyed reading both of their points of view and emotions throughout the play. I could really tell Anon just wants to find his way back to his mother. Something is missing from him that he is eager to get back, but I know he still has hope. He doesn’t even want to build relationships with the people around him and I don’t think he will until he has found his way. Anon is stuck in a place of not knowing his identity, which I hope he finds as I keep reading. His mother also has some struggles she is facing which I would like to see her work out. I would like to see where the play leads and which new characters come along the way.

Ashley Rodriguez

4/12/18

Professor Polish

HUT 101

 

Can I just be me?

 

No go away… I am tired just let me sleep. [person completely ignores what she says and walks in] Did you not hear me? I just want to sleep. [staring] what!! [pause] why are you staring at me. Just Stop, I ….am… fine. I am okay. [continues to stare] huh!! Ok yeah so, I know he isn’t coming back he’s gone and I can’t do anything about it. He was perfectly fine one minute and then he wasn’t. I just can’t believe that. You know I’m just scared, and I’m lost, and [pause] I don’t… [Pause]I don’t…. I just don’t know.  I mean Who is going to give me that back? Why would he take him away from me? He was supposed to live forever. Who’s going to give me advice when I need it. And what if I need somebody to talk to just listen. [takes deep breath] I just feel like there is a piece of me missing. I just don’t understand… it doesn’t make sense. I keep remembering everything that happened that day. I woke up and he was in the kitchen making his coffee like usual and It didn’t seem like nothing was wrong. I mean did I miss something. [doubting] I guess his appetite was a little off, but he was fine. I mean I think he was, no he would’ve said something. so, then what happened?  Like Why?… it’s not fair!! [yells] I’m just so confused…. How could somebody be so healthy one minute to then end up in a hospital bed. And then hearing the doctors say if I wanted to sign a DNR for him… my own father!… A DNR! I was just [pause] broken… Then I’m here in this house with all these people here when I just want to be left alone. Like no mam… thanks but no… I don’t want your lasagna. I just want sleep. I am fine. Then in my own house, they give me these weird looks. In my own home. Just because I decide not to wear “appropriate clothes”.   It’s just so frustrating like why do you care about what I am wearing? If I want to wear sweats and [points to hair] wear whatever this is on my head as a hairstyle I can. Can I just be me? Then theirs people who think I’m rude if I don’t want to talk about my dead father. I mean hello excuse me for being I don’t know sad. [takes deep breath] I don’t even know why I’m still talking anymore. I mean can you just get out, no like for real. I mean get out I love you, but I just told you I’m fine.

In this monologue, Timothy slips into reverie while narrating to Dan that his stepfather kicked him out after they dropped out of high school.

(Seated on the rooftop blankly at the horizon, Timothy is staring blankly to the horizon oblivious of the coming storm. Daniel ponders what could be going on in his friend’s mind. Timothy looks at Dan, shrugs his shoulders in disgust and indignant hate)

Timothy: You know, I probably don’t deserve to be living with the old drank anymore. I should just walk out of the door. (Shaking his head in satisfaction and then to himself in muffled tones). You are a genius Dr. Tim and you just saved yourself a whole day of thinking. After all, he says I am clever enough to be an emperor in the wakandan republic. Then it shall be so.

(Turning softly to Dan who is utterly startled at Timothy’s sudden change of actions)

Timothy: Dan, you know what? From now on, call me Emperor Dr. Timothy of the Republic of the Wakanda. (To himself)Wait a minute, did I get that right? Yeah I did because I am the genius of the Wakandan republic and I can change the name of everything in my kingdom. (Holding Daniel by the hand and gently pointing to the horizon).Daniel, my friend, you will be in my royal palace this very moment and you are bound to be his majesty’s uhhh no that is my title you are more stupid than I am so cannot just be advisor. Let us see where you fit. (Pondering for a second and as if an idea has shot up in his mind).I got it, you will ensure that the kingdom does not lack enough drugs and food, especially chicken and booze. I know you won’t let me down. (With sudden surprise).Alas! This is serious, how did they fail to notify me that Bjorn of the Wakandan republic is coming.(Laughing to himself)Ha, ha, I should kill some servant to show these people how to respect the King around here. (Then loudly to unseen servants)I mean we could have arranged for entertainment befitting their status. (As if asking an imaginary assistant to his left and shaking his head while talking). Are you sure they are not those fools who think we wakandans cannot survive without their crazy ideas. Of course, I mean they keep telling our kids to find x in a triangle while they know where the x is. Yes, that’s what I’m saying. You can ask Dan my trusted royal advisor, they kept telling that I was a dunderhead when I told the old man that we were taught that we should eat more and sleep more for long health.(Turning swiftly)I heard Mr. Squirrel, it is a shame, a whole idiot like me can live with people of high education like my foolish stepfather. (Imitating his father). Hey son, I want to see you score good grades and finally be the president of America. If Obama came from a shithole country to be the king of America, what about you? You must give me results better than being the second last in every test.  (In a show of gratefulness, Timothy turns slowly to face Dan and whispers to the imaginary crowd).To the people of the wakandan country, give a hearty welcome to the man who did not allow being last in every test.

‘Practice’ he said. ‘Smile’ he said. ‘Be open.’ he said. I’ve done that. Would you agree that I’ve done that? ‘Look beautiful.’ she said. ‘Act properly.’ she said. ‘Take this seriously.’ she said. I’ve done that. Would you agree that I’ve done that? You know what I haven’t done? Sleep. You know what I haven’t done? Taken a break. Between my assignments, and helping you with French, and practicing my dance steps, and everything else I have to do– When is this going to get better? I thought you were just supposed to listen to your elders, do your best, and things were supposed to just get better. But they’re not. I keep messing up! The worst part is, I’m improving but I’m still not good enough. You know the consequence if we don’t– if I don’t succeed. I don’t want to be put out. Out on the street. No job, no money, no home. Even if I do get put out, I want to be able to at least say I did this, it was hard but I overcame the challenge. But I can’t even do that. I’ll have to live with myself for the rest of my life with the disappointment of not being good enough no matter how hard I tried. Honestly, if it wasn’t for you, I probably wouldn’t still be here. You’re a… I’m grateful to you. That’s why I won’t bother you after tonight. Look, I’m not going to argue about this, okay? I know you just want to help but if we keep this up, it’ll stress you out. Then you won’t sleep, then you’ll fail, then you’ll get kicked out next time, then what?! You still have this chance to become so much, to do so much, don’t waste your time on me. I don’t want to be the reason why you fail. I need– I want– I’m asking you to leave me now before it’s too late. What are you doing? Don’t come any closer to me! If you won’t go after I’ve asked you as a friend, then I implore you as a lady to let me alone. For once, will you do the gentlemanly thing and grant my request? Please. I’ll close my eyes and count to three, and after I want you out of here. (Closes her eyes) One… two… three… What are you still doing here, Olivier?