Lesson 7th May

Response to Cats script/idea of Fashion concept

The fashion concept worked with cats because each song introduces you to a new character. This meant you could add any concept of character around these songs. However, the lyrics we kept literal as we felt this couldn't be altered, so even though the words in the songs say cats. For example, 'Practical cats, dramatical cats', the lyrics relate to cats but they describe a character. Therefore we chose the fashion industry to link with the musical and each song individually would be adapted to be a character within Deuteronomy Designs Fashion House (the setting of our show, also linked with the script of the show). We linked our how setting to the script as Deuteronomy is a cat within cats, however, in our show she was the head manager of Deuteronomy Designs a fashion magazine company. 

Going forth, another example of a song we adapted to the concept (which we did with all); in the song Rum Tum Tugger, he was a hot model who was competing to be the model for the 'Heaviside Layer' (name of magazine). Another example, Macavity was a character who was another magazine competitor who was trying to steal there fashion ideas for the next season.

 

If I were to continue this musical further artistically I would change the staging and costumes because I didn't think they were visually attracting to the audience, I felt they were too simply done. I would take it further by painting on all the white bits of the staging which covered the stage blocks, I would paint a mac computer on a design, maybe wallpapered certain areas of it so it actually felt like a room and not a stage. I would also have the colour scheme more summer colours than the autumn colours that we used. The change of colour scheme would have enhanced the outfits. 

Professionally, I would improve the sound system used throughout the show, as the music cut out numerous times. However, this did not affect us as actors when that happened we all just continued like nothing had happened and was intentional. Hopefully, this didn't quiver the audiences attention, but this was a strong strength of us as a class of actors. 

Vocationally, this musically made be further develop as an actress, which will help me if I continued musical theatre in further education then for a career. It helped me understand in more depths what goes into creating a musical, the budget and how to get it all set up so that it actually becomes a success. I felt we reached this as a class as we all set targets and goals to reach individually as management parts. For example, a few people would be set on marketing this would involve contacting schools and getting them to buy bulk tickets; this is our main source of profit. I felt this was a strength as we all came together the musical was a success. An example of this is how we almost sold out in each show which is what we predicted for it to be a success. 

Within Cats the Musical, I was trying to improve my dancing skills. For example, learning all of those songs I felt was an achievement as I struggle to remember dances sometimes. In my personal performance I maybe could have been stronger in some of my movements and be sharper with timings. However, I felt that my dancing went really well, and was proud of it. It came across to the audience that I was a confidence dancer as I stayed in character the whole time so if something within my choreography went wrong I would act and it came across to the audience that it was all intentionally. This especially shone through in Magical Mistoffeeles.

I was also trying to achieve to improve my vocals. We were fortunate to have a singing coach come and help us as a class to strengthen our diafram and with her advice and daily tips i felt this helps my voice have a stronger sound and it also helped when i had to dance frantically and sing and the same time. She helped me also with breathe control, this training all paid off when performance day came. In moments of happiness it came across to the audience I was a strong singer who had the ability to reach high notes, and retain them. 

Furthermore, in moments of happiness I felt the choreography should have been more developed upon, which was a weakness on my behalf. However, the simple choreography that was done was portrayed effectively and our concept of the night after effect came across to the audience. Quaxo and Bombalarina were capturing the moment through lyrics and body language with help from the background dancers, helping set an atmosphere.

Going back, to Magical Mistoffelees the concept was that i found Deuteronomy who was lost, and the fashion house desperately needed him to return to his management post as the disaster of Macavity had struck. This came across from to the audience as I felt it was effective that we came emerging from the audience. I found it hard to get across to the audience that I was actually magical, so I decided to not make the dance very literal to the lyrics.