Enjoy and Fun

This final project is a fun project which we use what we learned through the year to create our own performance, and so far l have been enjoying this. In our group we choose a book called Live As We Knew it which is a sad story, but it also contains some precious and touching moments which gives readers a great experience. In our group, we want to do the same thing, so we can delivery touching and sad story to the audience. In order to do that, we have to switch the time lines to show the difference of characters and environment. However, when we were staging this story, we faced some problems, such as showing the timeline, distinguish the characters and stage changing.

One of our main focus is on the different timelines, and we are switching them around, so it was so hard to tell when was when in our first draft. I think it's hard to tell not only because we didn't have the lighting effects, but also because we didn't have a good way to tell the exact time we were at. For example, when we were trying to compare the characters changing from happy to a very intense state, we did not give a clear sign that these two scene happened in two different time period and situation. The result we got was that these two scene made absolute no scene which was so bad for people never know this story before. To solve this problem, we need to have to make it clear that we are presenting a scene from what time and situation. We can add dialogue to tell the audience or we can have sign board to tell the time. Even more, we can use the light and costumes to show the weather outside.

Another thing I realized is that my character Johnny’s development was not done because I should be a 13 years old boy, and I have a brother Matt who is already in college. However, when we staged this, I looked much bigger than Michael which caused that audience cannot tell who is bigger brother. I think that we need to add more movements to show the relationship, such as touching my head to comfort me or having a conversation about how he suggest what I should do.The last problem would be our scene changes which is a hot mass. We were just randomly putting props and moving furnitures, and it looked so bad. I suggest that we should have a list for every scene changes, so only one person need to take care one thing.

I feel like we were dong well with lines and ques, but we still need to project more. So far, we are in a good state, and we just need to change few things then we will be good to go. I have to say that this is the best project we have through the whole year because we don’t have to stick to the IB system, so we have much more freedom to chose what we truly want to do and perform. I cannot wait to see our final production, and I wish everyone can have a great summer.

You Are Safe!!!

This year went by so fast, and I didn’t even had a chance to stop and see all the wonderful moments, but I have them all in my mind which I will never forget! Comedy Tonight is the show that I was a director, a singer and a actor, and I was also Mr. Trump, Mr. Dykeman and the latte boy! This was the longest play that I ever did which was a three hours one, but this is also the one I love the most because we put this show together and we succeed! From the first cast audition till the opening night, every one of us had giving huge amount of ideas and effort to this play, and I have to say that not only audiences but also us had so much fun! Of cause this was also the hardest one I did because many different reasons, but I think only one thing was the most important one that is put everything together!

When we were planing this play, we saw individual pieces first and we thought we are in a great shape. However, later during the rehearsals we found out that we offer missing people and forgetting lines. Anyhow, as usual we made the final production amazing! I truly learned a lot about how to put things together this time because this time I had to act, direct, improve and sing which basically covered everything except tec crew, so it was a hard time! My last directing experience taught me that I have to keep my eyes on everyone all the time, but I was also been watching by other directors. Three weeks before the opening night I remember that I complained about the progress but Ms. Guarino told to not worry about it because that is what theater looks like. I trusted her, and the result turned out great. I guess when the time is coming everyone just start to get everything together, so directing is never a one person or group job; it's always a job for everyone, and that is how we put on a show!

I cannot think anything but wanting to have one more chance to have another show! I cannot say latte without saying it out! I cannot say “you are safe!” without sounding like Mr. Dykeman! And I cannot forget the name Penalope! Thank everyone who gave me such a awesome experience, and I wish all the senior the best in their college life, and I hope we will present more and more amazing show next year!

Script

Title: Life As We Knew It

Author:Susan Pfeffer

Setting: Sunroom(both before and after)

Character List:

Miranda: Maddeline Lanni

Mom(Laura): Grace Greene

Matt: Michael Davis

Johnny: John Jiang 13 Years old

Peter/ Dad:Jack Shi

Prop List-

Food chest

Two benches

Chocolate chips

Can food/ bowl

Coffee table

Two blankets

Throw blankets to cover everyone up

Game

Black box (furnace)

Laundry and basket

Book

Backpack

Lighting (Sound N/A): 

BEFORE lighting will be standard stage lighting.

AFTER the lighting will be lower with maybe a bluish tint. 

Costuming-

Miranda- Pants and t-shirt/ jacket AFTER: Winter jacket and warmer clothes

Johnny- CA sports jacket and shorts, no tie. In AFTER he will be wearing longer pants and winters accessories. 

Matt- Casual dress (rolled up sleeves, no tie, maybe shorts.) AFTER he will wear a jacket and longer pants (maybe sweatpants)

Laura- Regular academic dress(pants and ‘“mom” blouse). She’ll wear a hat and gloves and be perpetually covered in a blanket in AFTER. 

Peter- Button up, dress pants, and tie (business casual). He’ll wears a big black jacket over his outfit during AFTER.(hobo chic) 

Scene 1: 

(Opens in sunroom. Mattresses on floor. Shelving or chest to one side. Furnace or something resembling one opposite. Laundrey tub in corner.)

Miranda is curled up in ball with her face not visible to the audience. Sits up pulls book to her lap to read it. Gets visibly frustrated and pushes it onto the floor. Sighs gets up and goes to chest. Rifles through and pulls out bag of chocolate chips. Looks around, tears it open, and begins eating. 

Mom: Miranda! (pause. Miranda wipes her mouthly slowly, unrepentedly)

Mom: What do you think you’re doing?! What in the hell is wrong with you?! You know we need to save food- what about your brothers? What about me?

Miranda: What about them? We have food and you’re starving us! We’re dying because you’re a goddamn hoarder!

Mom: This is the only way we survive! You are so selfish! What the hell happened to you? We need to save-

Miranda: What’s the point?!(makes hand gesture.Chocolate chips go flying. Both just stand still. All emotion drains from Mom’s face. Miranda pics ups a few and then justs stares waiting.)

Mom: Eat them. 

Miranda: What?

Mom: Eat them. You wanted them. Eat them. Pick them up and eat them. They’re yours. I don’t want to see a single chocloate on the floor.

(Miranda bends down and begin eating them as she goes. Some time passes. Miranda stops. She looks sick.)

Mom: Eat them.

Miranda: Mom, I don’t think I can.

Mom: Eat them. 

(Miranda finishes them. She looks sick. Mom reaches for bag.)

Mom: Give me the bag. (Miranda hands it over.) This was your food for today and tommorow. You can join us for supper on Thursday.

Miranda: Mom! It was just some chocolate chips!

Mom: I was saving them for Matt’s birthday. (silence) You’ve eaten enough for four people, so your going to skip your next four meals. Maybe then you’ll understand how important food it.

Miranda: I’m sorry. Can you make him something else for his birthday?

Mom: There is nothing else. This food has to last us a long time and we can’t just eat when we’re hungry. We only have a chance if we’re very careful.

Miranda: I’m sorry, I’ll never do it again.

Mom:(nods) You’re a good girl Miranda. Now go, I don’t want to deal with you  anymore.

Scene 2:

(Opens in sunroom with two chairs and a coffeee table with some books stacked on it.) 

(Mom sits on couch in sunroom, reading. Miranda walks in sheepishly. Tries to exit into room.)

Mom: How was the math test?

Miranda: It was alright.

Mom: It doesn’t sound like it was all right.

Miranda: I could have done better.

Mom: Uhum. 

Miranda: I got an 82. 

Mom: Did you study?

Miranda: Enough.

Mom: Well maybe it wasn’t enough. Miranda you’re smart you shouldn’t be so carelss. 

Miranda: I know; I’m sorry. 

Mom: If you just apply yourself-

Miranda: I do, Mom.

Mom: (sighs) You're a good girl Miranda. Why don't you sit and do homework with me?

Miranda: I've got to go work on that moon paper. (She exits)

Mom: Ok. (Lights down)

Scene 3:

(AFTER  setup)

(Mom is lying on mattress. Kids surround her. Peter knocks. He enters)

Peter: How are you guys? 

Matt: Good. How's the hospital?

Peter: It's alright. 

Mom: Do you guys mind if I speak to Peter for a second? 

Matt: Sure, mom. (Kids exit)

Mom: How are you doing Peter? 

Peter: How are you doing? How's the ankle?

Mom: I still can't put pressure on it.

Peter: You shouldn't even be trying. You need to stay off your feet. Are the kids making you work? Do you-

Mom: No they've been great. Don't worry about us. (Silence) How are things down there?

Peter: they're not great, Laura.

Mom: What's happened?

Peter: (silence) Did you find the bug spray? There are cases of malaria down at the hospital. You can't ever be too careful. There's been a couple cases of salmonella, so make sure you cook everything, but be wary of leaving the furnace on too long; the fire department's no longer in commission. 

Mom: We'll be careful. (pause) Peter, what's wrong?

Peter: The flu is making a comeback and no ones strong enough to stop it. It seems to be killing everyone. (He chokes)

Mom: Peter-

Peter: Ashley and Ellen- they're dead. 

Mom: I'm so sorry. 

Peter: They got the flu. (Mom moves to talk but doesn't say anything) I have togo back to the hospital. It's been very busy.

Mom: Can't you go home?

Peter: No, I don't think I can.

(Peter exits)

Scene 4: 

(BEFORE setup)

Game board is on coffee table and Family and Peter sit around it.

Johnny: I'm winning- as usual.

Mom: Johnny- no bragging.

Miranda: Don't worry about it; he'll be crying soon when I beat him.

(They bicker over game. Mom recognized that Peter is standing off to the side awkwardly. She nudges Matt.)

Matt: So you’re a doctor?

Peter: Yep, I work at the hospital down the street.

Johnny: So, you save people’s lives? Do you ever see any of those crazy illnesses where people grow extra limbs?

Mom: Johnny!

Peter: No. (chuckles) It’s pretty standard, but I love it.

Johnny: Cool.

Peter: Yeah, cool. (checks watch) Looks like I have to get home to the twins.( Kisses Mom on cheek) 

Mom: Say hi to the twins for me. 

Peter: I will. 

Johnny: Twins?

Peter: I have two daughters - Ashley and Ellen. 

Scene 5: 

(AFTER setup)

Family are all present in sunroom. Johnny is grabbing a can of food from the chest. He pours in into a pot and brings in to the stove. The rest of the family are dispersed around the room. Matt’s on his bed. Miranda and Mom are doing laundry. Johnny stills and looks around the room.

Johnny: How come none of you eat lunch?(silence)

Matt: Not hungry. When I’m hungry, I eat.

Miranda: Same here. (both smile)

Mom: We all eat when we need to. Don’t let what we do stop you, Johnny.

Johnny: No, if you’re all eating one meal a day, then that’s what I should do, too.

All but Johnny: No! (Johnny looks scared and angry and upset)

Johnny: Why?

Mom: Johnny we need to know that one of us is going to stay strong, in case we need them. 

Johnny: But that’s not fair. You should eat! I don’t need it.

Mom: You’ve got to eat Johnny. You’re going to be our strong one.

Johnny: I don’t know if I can be the strong one! What if you die? What if you all die? (silence)

Miranda: Then you live. You move and you you’ll be strong enough to live. No one knows whats going to happen. No one knows! Just eay your damn lunch and don’t feel guility.

Scene 6:

Johnny: Matt, this is so cool, did you hear it? Red sox are undefeated!

Matt: Interesting haha, Porcello’s been playing bad the last few outings, glad he finally had a good one today though. What was the score?

Johnny: 5-1 so far. They’re going to take it!

Matt: What inning are we in right now?

Johnny: Bottom 6. We’re up. 

Matt: Who’s up?

Johnny: David Ortiz. We got a good chance to go up another run.

Matt: I don’t know about that, his batting average is barely over 3, he’s been in a slump lately.

Johnny: Come on Matt, have faith in your boy

Matt: (giggles and messes Johnny’s hair) I always have faith.

Johnny: Dad promised to take us both to Boston next summer and he said that we could go to Fenway and see the Sox play. 

Matt: He took me to Fenway when I was 5 or 6 but I don’t really remember it that well. I just remember going and being under the lights. So beautiful. 

Johnny: One day, you will get to watch as I play on the field. I'll be the best shortstop ever! Derek Jeter will eat my dust. I’ll still be the best- a Red Sox legend. 

(Mom and Miranda come in. )

Miranda: A red Sox legend? I don’t know.

Mom: Well, I believe in my boy. He’s strong. He’ll make it. 

Scene 7: 

(AFTER setup)

Matt checks on Johnny and Mom and then goes to grab food. Johnny and Mom asleep on beds. Miranda walks in. 

Miranda: How are they doing?

Matt: No change. 

Miranda: What about you?

Matt: I’m fine.

Miranda: You forget you almost died. The flu almost-

Matt: I’m fine. 

Miranda: I’m going into town. I want to go to the post office. 

Matt: Do you really think you have the strength? To make it there and back?

Miranda: I know its crazy, but how much longer can I last anyway? A week? Two? It’s better this way. 

Matt: (silence) But if you can, you’ll come back. 

Miranda: If I can. But its all right if I don’t.

Matt: What about Mom?

Miranda: I think this ways better. I mean, what’s the likelhood that I’ll actually be able to outlive her? This way she’ll hope.

Matt: (silence) How are you going to get there? Johnny needs the skis, you can’t take those. 

Miranda: I’ll walk. 

Matt: Are you planning on saying goodbye?I don’t think you should wake them. 

Miranda: Ok. I'll just go. (Miranda exits. Matt goes back to food chest. Suddenly drops everything. Matt slides down to the floor. Blackout.)

Scene 8:

(BEFORE setup)

Family gathered in sunroom. Matt is carrying a bag. He walks to the door and then turn to face his family.)

Matt: I have to go.

Johnny: Good luck! You need to tell me all about those college girls-

Mom: Johnny!

Matt: Sorry Johnny; I won’t have any of those stories. (Nods his head obnoxiously and then messes up Johnny’s hair) 

Mom: Good thing. I don't want to have to send Miranda to supervise you.

Miranda: I’ll be there in a few years though.

Matt: At Cornell?I’m not so sure…( Miranda punches his arm) I’m just kidding. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you in a few years. 

Miranda: You’ll call, right?

Matt: Of course. You’ll see me again before you can even miss me.

Miranda: I better.

Mom: I love you.

Johnny: Bye Matt.

Miranda: Love you. See you soon.

Matt: You will;  I promise. (head slowly drops and walks out)

Period.

So far this project is going too well to believe we actually did it, and I am so ready for starting staging this skit. I really like this story because of two main reasons which are characters and plot. This two parts plus together create this skit which you can never predict what will happen, so it will be great story on stage. I also want to say that this project also reflect how much we grow through this school year.

At the beginning of the year, we could cut lines form the original play and put them together which was just basically gather the main plot and put it together. Then we started to write our own script and develop characters. That was a hard time for everyone, and we had to rewrite and edit our script so many times which I can’t even count. However, all of our effort is showing it’s value now. In this project, we only spent one long class period to write our whole script which was so fast. Thus, IB does worth it’s experience and education.

Our skit will be great to be presented on stage because our plot has so many changes and character development. The story starts with a peaceful setting and happy family scene, then at a sudden everything starts going bad. People die; electricity is lost; people have no enough food, and weather goes crazy. All characters was so happy and enjoy their lives, then they will all have a huge change to a completely different direction. This skit will give audience a impression that this will be a happy story, then bring everyone into dark side of humanity. I personally like this kind of story so much because it can make audience to think more than other kind of story.

With all we learned in this class and a perfect story we will put on a amazing skit on stage for this final project. I believe we will spend less time to make a more quality production. We will work hard and draw a perfect period with this production, and we will tell Ms. Guarino that this class is the best English and Art class!

Let's create our own show!

The Giver is the first English novel I read, and it is also one of my favorite novel. The Giver by Lois Lowry, is a world without emotion and memory. A young boy called Jonas who lived in this world, at the start Jonas did not has all his memories, and he is chosen to be the receiver who receives all the memories and knowledge from the giver. Then he realized that this society is wrong, so he finally escaped from this place. People in this society they just live by orders and they try to fellow rules to make sure they will not be released which is death. If we make this book into a play, we can discover so much on human’s emotion and how important it to us. Also, we can improve our acting skills better because we have to show different levels’ emotions and reaction through the whole story.

I want to choose this book because of two reasons. The first one is that we do not need a huge cast to do this skit because the main part is the scenes between Jonas and the giver. I want to have 4 characters in this skit, and they are Jonas, the giver, Jonas’ mother and the president. At the beginning, I want to show how the relationship works between Jonas and his mother which can show how this emotionless society works. Then I want to focus on how he becomes the receiver and starts working with the giver. At this point I want to switch around the conversation between Jonas with his mother and Jonas with the giver, so audience can actually see how his reaction changes along his learning with the giver. Meanwhile, I also want to put some scenes between his mother and the president to show how dark this society is. At the end I want Jonas runs into a conversation between the president and his mother, then he goes to the giver and starts planing to escape. I don't want to use the original ending which is so unclear. I would change the ending to a happy ending like the movie version, but since we don't have the ability to do it. I will add a monologue which tells how Jonas have been doing after he escaped a year later.

I believe that this skit will be so fun to work in this class, and it will also be a good literary work for us to do because the script will be the most important part for this story. How can we make the each character to have its own style? How can we make audience feel the lines are spoke by the character? Those are the question we have been working on, and I believe that we can creat a great version of The Giver! Finally, I hope that I can have 3 or 4 amazing classmate which can be anyone in this class work with me to build this society together!

Keep Calm and Take the Exam!

“IB” the first time I heard this word was in my sophomore year, and all my junior and senior friends who took IB classes was complaining about it. Except this one “Andrew” one of the most famous student at Cheshire Academy told me that he felt so happy because he can finally show all his two years’ hardworking on 10 pages. I have to say that 10 pages sounded so scary to a me as a sophomore. After a year, at the same time me my self had to take my own IB exam, and I want to say that it was actually not so bad.

I bet you want to ask me why. Well, I am telling you right now! I was so nervous about this exam because I felt it will be so hard. I remember every time I ask teachers about the quiz, test or exam. They always tell me that John don’t worry, you will be okay and it won’t be so hard. However, when I see the actual test it looks somehow so hard to me. This time my dear English teacher Ms. Guarino told me that I will be fine, and the truth is that I actually did okay. Before the exam, we did so much work to help us to be ready, especially the practice exam. I had no idea how to do those question until I have to start write the essay in class.

Not only in class writing, but also the discussion and projects we had in this class. Since the beginning of the year, we have been working on every details we need for this exam. Starting with Romeo and Juliet, we learned how to analysis the literary work. Then we studied the staging through My Love My Love project. Finally, when we put everything we learned together we present our final production on the IB exam paper!