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Page 1: TEACHER’S RESOURCE PACK · Libretto: Henri Meilhac and Lucovic Halevy after Prosper Merimee’s novel. The original Carmen is an opera in four acts, set in the Spanish city of Seville

New Adventures in association with Sadler’s Wells presents

TEACHER’S RESOURCE PACK

Page 2: TEACHER’S RESOURCE PACK · Libretto: Henri Meilhac and Lucovic Halevy after Prosper Merimee’s novel. The original Carmen is an opera in four acts, set in the Spanish city of Seville

CONTENTS:

1. UsingthisResourcePack 2

2. IntroductiontoThe Car Man 3

a) Plotsynopsisb) CarmenandThe Car Manc) KeyThemes

3. ProductionElements 7

a) Setb) Costumec) Musicd) Lightinge) Sound

4. Worksheets 9

a) WorksheetA: Everyday movements and gestures 9

b) WorksheetB: Characters 12

c) WorksheetC: Duets 14

5. ReflectingandReviewing 16

6. EssayQuestionsandAdditionalResources 17

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1. USING THIS RESOURCE PACK

ThispackaimstogiveteachersandstudentsfurtherunderstandingofMATTHEW BOURNE’S THE CAR MAN.

• Itcontainsinformationandmaterialsabouttheproductionthatcanbeusedasastimulusfordiscussionandpracticalactivities.

• ThereareworksheetscontaininginformationandresourcesthatcanbeusedtohelpbuildyourownlessonplansandschemesofworkbasedonThe Car Man.

ThispackcontainssubjectmaterialforDance,Drama,English,DesignandMusic.

C Discussion

a Practical exercise

Written work

Thesymbolsabovearetoguideyouthroughthispackeasilyandwillenableyoutousethisguideasaquickreferencewhenrequired.Theywillappearthroughthepackassymbolshighlightingfurtherworkthatcanbedone.

Therearealsoanumberofrelatedactivities,practicalexercisesanddiscussionideasthatcanbeusedtodevelopideas,workshopsandasastartingpointonwhichtouseforyourowncourserequirements.

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2. INTROdUCTION TO The Car Man

a) Plot synopsis

MusicbyTerryDaviesandRodionShchedrin’sCarmen Suite(afterBizet’sCarmen)SoundbyPaulGroothuisLightingbyChrisDaveyDesignedbyLezBrotherstonDirectedandChoreographedbyMatthewBourne

TheCarManisadanceintwoacts,setinafictionalmid-westItalian-AmericantowncalledHarmony.Thestorycentresaround:Luca – AdrifterDino – OwnerofDino’sDinerandGarageLana – Dino’swifeRita – Lana’ssisterAngelo – Rita’sboyfriend

ACT ONEWelcometoHarmony…

Whenastranger,Luca,arrivesinHarmonyhetakesajobatDino’sgarageasacarmechanic.Hispresencehasanimmediateeffectonallthoseinthetown.Lanatriestoresisthisallurebutendsupsuccumbingandtheyembarkonapassionateaffair.LucaalsobefriendsAngelo,whoisbulliedbytheothermechanicsandhehelpshimtofindconfidence.AngeloalsofallsinlovewithLuca,unbeknownsttohisgirlfriendRita.DuringaweddingpartyDinostartstosuspectthatsomethingisgoingonbetweenLanaandLucabuthedismissesthisidea.Afterthecelebrationsareoverhegoesout.WhenhereturnshefindsLanaandLucatogether.AfightbreaksoutbetweenDinoandLucaduringwhichLanahitsherhusbandovertheheadwithatoolfromthegarage.Dinoisonthefloorcoveredinbloodbutnotyetdead.LanahandsthetooltoLucatogiveDinothefinalblowthatwillkillhim.AngelofindsDino,andasthepolicearriveLanathrowsmoneyalloverthefloor,ripsherdressandpullsAngeloontopofhertomakeitlookasthoughAngelohaskilledhim.Angeloisarrestedandputinjail.

ACT TWOThescenebeginsinabarandLanaandLucaarenowtogetherasacouple.LucaishavinghallucinationsaboutthedeathofDinoandthearrestofAngelo.ThisangersLana,shethinksthatthisisasignofweakness.Lucatriestoprovehimselftoherbyinvolvinghimselfingambling,carchasesandfightnightstoprovehisstrength.

AngeloisstillinjailwhereRitavisitshimandtellshimofwhatreallyhappenedonthenightofhisarrest.Shetellshimthathewasframedforsomethinghedidnotdo.HeisangeredbythisnewsandafterRitahasleftheescapesfromjail.AngeloreturnstoHarmonytofindLanaandLuca.HecapturesRitaandholdsherhostageuntilLanareturns.DuringthefightnightheappearsandfightswithLuca.AngelokissesLucapassionatelybeforepushinghimaway.LucapullsoutagunandholdsittoAngelo,heisabouttopullthetriggerwhenLanafiresashotfrombehindthatkillsherlover.

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b) Carmen and The Car Man

Composer:GeorgesBizet.Libretto:HenriMeilhacandLucovicHalevyafterProsperMerimee’snovel.

TheoriginalCarmenisanoperainfouracts,setintheSpanishcityofSeville.Thestorycentresaround:Carmen – AgypsyDon José – AcorporalwhoisinlovewithCarmenMicaëla – ApeasantgirlwhoisbetrothedtoDonJoséZuniga – DonJosé’scaptainEscamillo – AmatadorwhoisinlovewithCarmen

Carmen,atempestuous,waywardandbeautifulgypsygirlisdesiredbyallmen.SheworksinaSevillecigarettefactory.Arrestedaftersheisinvolvedinafightwithoneofhercolleagues,sheisassignedtothecustodyofDonJosé,acorporalinthelocalbarrackswhosebetrothed,Micaëla,hasjustarrivedfromtheircountryvillagetolookforhim.ThoroughlybewitchedbyCarmen,Joséallowshertoescapeandishimselfplacedunderarrest.

Meanwhile,atthetavernofLillasPastia,CarmenandherfriendssinganddancewhilstZunigaattemptstowooherbutshethinksonlyofJoséwhohasbeeninjailforamonthandisduetobereleasedthatday.Theglamoroustoreador,Escamillo,arriveswithhisentourageandsetshissightsonCarmen.Althoughtemptedbyhim,shedecidestowaitforJosé.HearrivesatthetavernonhisreleaseandCarmentriestopersuadehimtoleavewithherinsteadofreturningtothearmy,herefusesbutbecomesinvolvedinafightwithhissuperiorofficer,Zuniga.AfterthisincidentJoséisforcedtofleewithCarmen.

HiddenawayinthehillsCarmengrowsboredwithJosé,sowhenEscamilloseeksheroutsheagreestoattendhisforthcomingbullfightinSeville.MicaëlaappearshavingfoundherwaytothemandpleadswithJosétoreturnhomewithher,Carmenurgeshimtogo.HerefusesbutMicaëlatellshimthathismotherisdying.JoseleaveswithMicaëlabutvowstoreturntoCarmen.

InSevillethetownpreparesforthebullfight,CarmenandEscamilloarrivetogetherbutJoseaccostsheroutsidethebullring,begginghertostartanewlifewithhim.SherefusesandtellshimthatshelovesEscamillo.AttheverymomentthecrowderuptsinexcitementoverEscamillo’striumphinthering,José,crazedwithgriefandjealousy,stabsCarmentodeath.

The Wedding Party - Act One, Scene Three

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Similarities and Differences:

The Car Manusesthethemesoflust,passion,revengeandmurder,whichareallassociatedwiththeoriginalopera.ThemaincharacterofCarmenissimilartothecharacterofbothLanaandLucainThe Car Man.LucahasamesmerisingeffectontheresidentsofHarmony,bothmaleandfemale.

CLookatthemomentthatLucaarrivesinHarmony.Whathappenstothemusic,lightingandthemovement?AstherearenowordshowdoesthischangeintempohelptoconveywhateffecthehasonHarmony?Whatimpactdoesthishaveonanaudience?

CLucaisthefirstpersoninThe Car Mantodancealone.Whatisthesignificanceofthis?Howdoeshissolocommunicateandintroducehimtotherestofthetown,inparticularthewayheinteractswithdifferentlywiththemenandwomen?Thereisrepeateduseofelevation,andhisdancehasastrongToreadorinfluence.

Whatdoesthissayabouthischaracter?Howisthisportrayedthroughdance?HowdoyouasaudiencemembersrespondtoLucaonarrivalinHarmony?

C ac) Key ThemesInsmallgroupslookatthemainthemesinThe Car Man: LUST PASSION MURDER REVENGE

Thinkaboutwhatimagesthesewordsconjureup.Usethesewordsandideastocommunicatethesethemestoanaudienceusingyourexistingskillsanddancetraining.

LUST:LanaisimmediatelyattractedtoLucaandhetoher.LanatriestoignorehisadvancesbutDinogiveshimajobanditisonlyamatteroftimebeforelustturnstopassion.

AngeloisrescuedfromafightbyLucaandadmireshim,LucabeginsteachingAngelohowtofightandstandupforhimself.Admirationdevelopsintoinfatuation.

Dino’s solo – Act One, Scene One

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PASSION:

CLanadancesasolo.Herdanceisflirtatious.Lookattheuseofelevation,compareLana’ssolotothedynamicsofLuca’ssoloinSceneOne.

DinogoesoutandeventuallyLanaandLucaarealone.LucagoestoLanaandpullsherintohisarms.Lanatriestoresistbutshesuccumbstohisadvances.Astheyenterintoapassionatedance,theresidentsofHarmonyfollowsuitaroundthem.

LanaandLucaarenearlyfoundtogetherbyDinobutLucaescapesjustintime.Inthenextsceneacouplearemakingloveinacar,LucaemergesfollowedbyAngelo,theykisspassionately.

MURDER:LanaandLucaarediscoveredbyDino.LucaandDinofight,LanapanicsandhitsDinoovertheheadwithawrench.HefallstothefloorandLanahandsthewrenchtoLucatofinishhimoff.

CTheactualdeathofDinoistheclimaxofhissuspicionsbeingaroused.DiscusswhattechniquesareusedtomaketheaudienceawarethatheisbecomingsuspiciousthatsomethingishappeningbetweenLucaandLana.Payspecialattentiontotheuseoflightingandofmusic.Theseareintegralelementsthatenhancetension.

REVENGE:AngeloisframedbyLanaforthemurderofDino.Heescapesfromjailwantingrevenge.HeholdsRitahostageuntilLanaandLucaarrivebackatthecaryardandthenhefightswithLuca.

aForfurtherexercisesonthisscenegotoWorksheetC

Lana’s solo – Act One, Scene Two

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3. PROdUCTION ElEMENTS – From Page to Stage

a) SetThedesigner,LezBrotherstonandthedirectorandchoreographer,MatthewBournedecidedtosetTheCarManinthe1960’s.TheybothwantedtorelocatetheactionfromSpaintohelpdistinguishthisproductionfromtheoriginalCarmenbutitwasimportanttobothBrotherstonandBournethattheproductionkeptaEuropeanfeel.

CInsmallgroupsorasaclassthinkofothersettingsthatCarmencouldbe‘re-imagined’into.

BourneciteshisinfluencesforthisproductionasbeingtheearlyViscontifilms,andinparticularOssessione(1943)basedonJamesM.Cain’s1934novelThe Postman Always Rings Twice.Thisfilmversionofthenovelisveryurbanandallthecharactersareveryreal.ThiswasamajorinfluenceonthedesignandfeelofThe Car ManandsoitwasdecidedtosetitinanItalian-AmericancommunityinafictionaltowncalledHarmony.Itwasdecidedthatthesamesetwouldserveforallthedifferentlocationsintheproduction.InActOnethesetisthecaryardandthediner.InActTwothesamesetisusedwithdifferentcoveringstoactastheinsideofthebarandwithadramaticchangeinlightingthesetbecomesaprisoncell.

CMatthewBournehassetThe Car ManinafictionaltowncalledHarmony.WhydoyouthinkBournechosethisname?Weseethenameveryclearlyatthebeginningandtheendoftheproduction.Howdoesitinformtheproduction?

Harmony – Prologue

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b) Costume Brotherstonpurposelydesignedthecostumestonotlooklikedancecostumes.Thewomenallwearpointybrasratherthandanceunderwearasthisisverymuchoftheperiod.Thedressesareloose-fittingwithbuttonsundoneandtheydanceformostofthetimeinbarefeet.ThemenarealltypicalJamesDeancharacterswithjeans,t-shirtsandloosecheckedshirts.Themenallwearworkbootsratherthandanceshoestomaintaintheperiodfeel.

CLezBrotherstonhasdesignedverynaturalisticcostumes.Howdoesthisinfluenceyourinterpretationoftheproduction?

c) MusicThescoreisallCarmenmusicwiththeexceptionofoneortwopieceswhichcomefromRodionShchedrin’sCarmen Suitescore.TerryDavies,thecomposer,didn’tusetheShchedrinmusicasonewholepiecebutinsteadhemixeditallupsoitisverydifficulttohearwhereoneendsandthenextonebegins.Themusicsoundsveryfilmicanditwascreatedspecificallyinthatway.Infilmsthemusiccanenhanceorcreatetheatmosphere,inthisproduction,asyouonlyhavethemusic,soitneedstonotonlyinformbutalsocreatetheatmosphere.Becauseofthisitisanextremelyimportantelementoftheproduction.

CMusicisnottheonlywaythatatmospherecanbecreatedonstage.Whatothertechniquesareusedinthisproductiontohelptellthestoryandcreateatmosphere?

d) lightingLightingisanextremelyimportantfactoroftheproduction.Asthereisonlyonesetusedlightingisaneffectivewaytoshowachangeinfocusandatmosphere.Forexample,inActTwothesetchangesfromonesceneinsideabartothenextsceneinaprisoncellwiththeuseofjustlighting.

CDescribehowthisisachievedintheproduction.

e) SoundSoundisusedinthisproductiontoheightenatmosphere,forexample,atthebeginningofSceneTwothereisthesoundofbuzzingintheairandinsectschirruping.ItisalsousedwiththecharacterofDinotogreatcomediceffect.

CThinkofsomeexampleswheresoundeffectsareusedaroundDino.Whateffectdoesthishaveontheaudience,howdoesithelpportrayhischaracter?Thinkofothermomentsthroughouttheproductionwheresoundisusedtoenhanceorcreateatmosphere.

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4. WORKSHEET AEveryday movements and gestures

Therearemanyeverydaymovementsthatarestylisedtomakethemintodancemovements.Thiscanbedonebyexaggeratingmovements,settingthemuptodifferentrhythmsandbeats.Inthefirstscenetyres,carsandchamoisleathersareusedaspropsandthemovementactionsareassociatedwithcars.Theshowerscenethatfollowsthisischoreographedusingverysimplegesturesbuttheyaretimedsothatitbecomesinterestingandexcitingtowatch.

EXERCISE 1

aACT ONE, SCENE ONE–Showerscene

• Createyourownbathinggesturesinpairs.Makesureyouusedifferentlevels• Joinwithanotherpair,usealineformation(ABAB)• Workoncontrastingphrasesandfindhowtheyconnectvisually.Whatlooksinteresting?• Adaptthetimingsothathighandlowlevelsareusedatdifferenttimes.• Addinamomentofcanonandunison.

Shower scene – Act One, Scene One

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EXERCISE 2ACT ONE, SCENE TWO.Thescenestartswiththebuzzingandchirrupofinsectsanditisclearfromtheoutsetthatitisextremelyhot.

CLookanddiscusswhatishappeningonstagetocreatethisfeelingofunbearableheat.Music: Whattempoisthemusic?Whateffectdoesthishave?Lighting: Describethelightinginthissection.Howdoesitaddtothemeaning?Sound: Whatothersoundsareusedotherthanthoseabove?Howdothesesoundscontribute

towardstheatmosphere?Movement: Themenusetheirshirtstostretchandmoveintheheat,thewomensit,exhaustedon

chairs,otherslieontheground,butallmovementsareslowandlanguid.Themovementisasimilarpacetothemusicbutwhatmovementsarebeingused?Howdothesemovementsindicateheat?Contrastthedynamicqualitiesofthisscenetothemechanicsdanceorshowerscene.

aIndividuallytryandimaginethisheat,thinkaboutwhateffectthishasonyourbodyandonthewayyoumove.

• Useashirtorachairifyouwouldliketouseapropandexperimentwithmovementsrelatingtothisscene.

• Choose2movementsandexaggeratethemovementtodevelopitintoamotif.Paycloseattentiontotherhythmofthemovement.

• Ingroupsofabout4–6,teacheachotherthemotifsandpracticevaryingdynamicsandspeed.• Createaphraseusingthemotifs,includingtransitionstolinkthem.Considerpathwaysand

directionoffacing.• Rehearsethissequence,workinginunison.Thissequencecanthenbedevelopedbyadding

repetitionandcanon.

Angelo’s solo – Act Two, Scene Two

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EXERCISE 3ExtendedpropworkFurthertotheexerciseabovesmallerpropsareusedthroughoutsuchascigarettes,towels,Angelo’schains.Eachofthepropseffectthemovementofthedancers,lookathoweachpropisusedthroughoutThe Car Man.

Forexample:ActTwo,SceneTwo.Angelo’ssolo.

CAngelo’shandsaretied–howdoesthisenhancehismovement?

• Thereisextensiveuseofdifferentlevelsincludingfloorwork.• HowdoesthissolodisplayAngelo’semotionalstateofmind?

a Individuallychooseapropfromthoseyouhaveseenbeingusedintheproduction.Findawaytointegratethispropintoapieceofmovement.Thinkaboutthefollowing:

• Howitinfluencesthewayyoumove• Howitchangesoreffectsyourfocus• Whathappenstoyourbodylanguage• Changethedynamicsofyourmovement,whatimpactdoesthishave?

Moveintopairsanddecidewhatpropyouaregoingtousebetweenyou.Usethispropinthesamewayasabovebutyoucanalsouseyourproptoplaywithstatusandmovementfromonepersontothenext.Findshapesthatyoucanholdwithyourpartner,thesemayinvolvecounterbalances,beingondifferentlevelsandbalances.Thepropyoudecidetousewillinformthestyleanddynamicofthemovement.Forexample.AcigaretteisusedduringthequartetinActOne,SceneOne.Itisveryplayful,andthepropispassedfromonetotheotherinarelaxedformation.ThiscontrastswiththeuseofthegunbetweenRitaandAngeloinActTwo,SceneFour.Thepropcreatestensionandfear.

CPresentyoursequencetothegroupanddiscuss.

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WORKSHEET BCharacters

The Car Manisaveryclearstorytoldthroughdance.Itfocuseson5maincharacterswhoarealllinkedwitheachother.

• Dino – Ownerofthegarage• Lana – Dino’swife• Rita – Lana’ssister• Angelo – Rita’sboyfriend• Luca – Adrifter

MatthewBournesaysthatindevelopingThe Car Manallofthedancershadtowriteabackhistoryfortheircharacter.

EXERCISE 1

CCanyouthinkwhatbenefitthismighthaveonthetellingofthisstoryandhowitmightimpactonthedancers’journeythroughouttheproduction?

EXERCISE 2

HowdoesMatthewBourneillustratethedifferentcharactersthroughhischoreography?Lookateachofthe5charactersandstartbywritingdown5wordsthatdescribeeachoneandhowthisisconveyedtotheaudience.Lookattheiraction,dynamicandspatialcontentandhowthiscontributestotheaudience’sunderstandingoftheircharacter.

Youmayfinditusefultowriteashortbackhistoryforeachcharactertoassistinabetterunderstanding.

RELATIONSHIPS DinoismarriedtoLanawhoishavinganaffairwithLucawhoisalsohavinganaffairwithAngelowhoistheboyfriendofRita.

Dino–Lana–Luca–Angelo–Rita

Luca and Lana – Act Two, Scene Three

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EXERCISE 3

aCreatingmovementfromtableaux

• Itmaybebeneficialforonegrouptoworkatatimesothatitcanbesharedwiththerestofthegroupanddiscussed.

• Inagroupof5youshouldeachadoptoneofthe5characterslistedabove.• Createatableauxorfrozenimagetoportrayeachcharacter.Youcanusesomeofthewords

fromtheexerciseabove.Thinkabouthowthecharactersmightstandinrelationtoeachother,butthecharactersshouldnotbetouchingatanytime.

• Youmaywishtointroducesomemusicatthispoint.Ideallyitwouldbeapieceofmusicfromtheproduction.

• Nowthinkabouthoweachcharacterwouldmove.Veryslowlystartmovingaroundthespace,don’tinteractwiththeothercharactersyet.Thinkaboutthefollowing:- Whatspeedareyouwalkingat?- Areyoulookingstraightaheadorareyouglancingaroundyouordown?- Whatstatusisyourcharacter?

• Whenthemomentfeelsrightbegintointeractwiththeothercharactersthataresharingthespacewithyou,howdoyoureacttoeachother,whateffectdoesthishaveontheothercharactersaroundyou.

• Inthisgroupthinkof3memorableorsignificantmomentsfromtheproduction.Ideallyitwouldbebeginning,middleandend.- Starteachmomentasatableauxandthenmoveslowlyintomovement.Payparticular

attentiontouseofspace,facialexpressionsandbodylanguage.- Eachmomentshouldlastnomorethan2minutes.- Sharethesewiththerestofthegroupanddiscusswhythosethreemoments

aresignificant.

BournebreaksconventionwiththecharacterofLuca.Heissetupasaconventionalmachocharacter.HearrivesinHarmonyandcourtsLanasoheissetuptobeaseduceroftheheroine.ItisthereforesurprisingwhenheentersintoanaffairwithAngelo.Bournedoesnotexpectedmodernaudiencestobetoosurprisedbythisrelationshipbutwithintheconventionsoftraditionaldanceitissurprising.

CThinkofanyotherplays,danceorfilmswherethemaincharacterdoessomethingtobreakconvention.Whateffectdoesithaveontheaudience?Whateffectdoesithaveonthestoryandthecharactersinthestory?Howdotheyreact?

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WORKSHEET Cduets

TherearemanyduetsthroughoutThe Car Man.Compareandcontrast.

EXERCISE 1

CRITA AND ANGELOTheirfirstduetinActOne,SceneOneisbothunsureanddelicate.Chairsareusedandtheliftsaremeasuredandgentle.

ContrastthiswithActTwo,SceneFour.ThisbeginsasasoloforRitawhenAngeloreturns.Apropisusedonceagainbutinsteadofchairsitisagun.

• HowhasAngelochanged?Andhowisthisshownthroughhisactionsanddynamics?• LookatRitainbothoftheseduets.Herbodylanguageinthefirstisopenandlovingbutinthe

secondduetsheisscaredandherbodyisstiffandunwilling.• Howdothedifferentpropseffectthemovement?

Angelo and Rita – Act One, Scene One Luca and Lana – Act Two, Scene Three

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EXERCISE 2

CLANA AND LUCATheirfirstduetinActOne,SceneTwoispassionate,intenseandstrong.ContrastthiswiththeirduetinActTwo,SceneThree.ItisclosingtimeattheclubandLucaisdrunk.HeishauntedbywhathedidtoDinoandAngelo,Lanamakeshimdancewithhertotryandforgetaboutwhathashappened.

• Lookattheuseofelevations,howdotheydiffer?Giveoneexampleofaliftineachduetanddescribehowtheyaredifferentandtheeffectthishasontheduet.

• HowdoLuca’sactionsanddynamicsshowthatheisdrunk?• Commentonthemusicinbothduetsandhowitinformstheaction.

EXERCISE 3Supports,counterbalancesandassistedliftsThereareexamplesoftheabovethroughoutTheCarMan,intheboththeduetsandthesolodances.InLuca’sfirstsolodanceheusessomeofthemechanicsforsupportashedancesalone.TheduetbetweenAngeloandtheprisonguardisanexampleofusingassistedlifts.

WORkING IN PAIRS

aUsing Partner As SupportAactsasthesupportbentoverwithhandsonthighs,elbowsin,headdown.Bcanusethisbasetopushoffduringjumps,cartwheelover.AsseeninActOne,SceneOne,thissupportcanbeusedtomoveacrossthefloorwhilstBisbalancedonA’sback.BcanalsorolloveracrossA’sbacktomoveacrossthefloor.

• Ingroupsof4find6differentwaysofmovingusingeachotherassupport.Themovescanincludejumps,rolls,cartwheelsandfloormovement.

• When6moveshavebeenpractisedasseparatemovementstryandfindawaytolinkthesetogether.

• Createatravellingphrasetolinkeachmovesothatitdoesn’tbecomestatic.• Varydynamicsandspeedandyoucanalsoplaywithcanonandunison.

Luca and Lana – Act Two, Scene Three Luca and Lana – Act One, Scene Three

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5. REFlECTING ANd REVIEWING

Reviewing live performance

GENERAL OVERVIEW:• Summarisetheplotin3–5sentences• Describethestyleoftheproduction• Diditremindyouofanyotherproductionsyouhaveseenorknow?• Whatwasyourpersonalresponsetotheproduction?• Whattheatricaldevicesandconventionswereused?

DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHy: • Whatdoyouthinkthedirector/choreographerwastryingtoconveythroughtheproduction?• Doyouthinkthatthechoreography,setdesignandstagingsupportedandconveyedthis?• Wasthereaninterestingandvarieduseofstagespace?

DANCING:• Howwouldyoudescribethedancingstyle?• Whatdifferentstylesofdancedidyourecognise?• Weretheyallsuccessfullyusedwithintheproduction?• Whatcanyousayaboutthedancingincomparisonwiththedancinginotherproductions

youhaveseen?• Whogavethemostnotableperformance?Trytobespecificaboutwhyinyouranswer.

DESIGN:• Describetheset,costume,lightingandsound.• Whatkindofstatementdideachofthesemake?• Howdidthedesigncontributetotheproduction’smeaning?• Giveexamplesofhowthelightingenhancedthenarrative.

Quartet dance – Act One, Scene One

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6. ESSAY QUESTIONS

• WhyisMatthewBourne’sworkoftencalleddancetheatreasopposedtodance?• ItisdifficulttocategoriseMatthewBourne’swork.Bournebelievesthat“anymovementthatissetto

countstothemusicisdance,butIknowalotofpeoplewouldarguewiththisstatement”.Discuss.

• HowdoesMatthewBourneusehumourinThe Car Man?Identifywhereitcanbeseen.Whatisitaboutthemovementmaterialand/orchoreographythatmakesithumorous?

• MatthewBourneusesanumberofdifferentfilmtechniquesinThe Car Man.Forexamplesplitscreeneffect,slowmotionandflashbacks.Giveatleastthreeexamplesofwhenthesetechniquesareusedandtheireffectivenessonstage.

AddITIONAl RESOURCES

• TheCarManDVD(originalproduction2000)

• Ossessione(1943)basedonJamesM.Cain’s1934novelThe Postman Always Rings Twice.

• CarmenbyGeorgesBizet,Libretto:HenriMeilhacandLucovicHalevyafterProsperMerimee’snovel.

• RodionShchedrin’sCarmenSuite

Angelo and Lana – Act One, Scene One

Page 19: TEACHER’S RESOURCE PACK · Libretto: Henri Meilhac and Lucovic Halevy after Prosper Merimee’s novel. The original Carmen is an opera in four acts, set in the Spanish city of Seville

Resource Pack written by Imogen kinchin

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