For this lesson we split the casts into different groups, the bohemians, the yuppies and galileo and Scaramouche. I was with the Yuppies with Izzy, Jordy and Sam because our characters Killer Queen and Kashoggi control the yuppies. We had to learn and perform a song by the yuppies ensemble, and I suggested to the group that we sing Killer Queen, because this is the song where we meet the controller of the Yuppies and they first sing as an ensemble. I feel that 'Killer Queen' is the yuppies biggest ensemble piece purely because what they are presenting.
To begin working as an ensemble for this song, we started to sing it through a few times, to understand the melody, and then we worked on developing it to make it sound different, by adding harmonies and listening for the ensemble's parts when killer Queen is singing. Near the end of the song during the line 'to absolutely drive you wild', there is a high note that I wasn't confident with so Izzy helped me achieve the confidence to reach it and I worked on using my diaphragm to achieve this. I feel that this was effective because this note is the last note of the song, and in my opinion, it leaves an impression of Killer Queen the character, to the rest of the audience for the rest of the show.
Once we had successfully learnt the song, we worked on choreography and blocking the number. I think that a successful ensemble should not only sing the song well, but perform it as well, and make it fit with the tone of the song. I suggested the idea of robotic movements because the audience learn that they have been brainwashed by Killer Queen. The group agreed and therefore we started choreographing robotic movements and walks. I feel like this is effective because it immediately gives the audience the idea of control and manipulation, which links to the theme of the musical.
We then decided to sing it through a few times again, now that we were comfortable with the movement and choreography so that we could make the performance look as effective as possible. We spoke about adding humour to the piece around Killer Queens manipulation, for example when she sings 'playful as a pussy cat', I suggested to Izzy that we play on this and manipulate the yuppies (Jordy and Sam' by walking around them and going up to them and talking into their faces to scare them and to show control towards the audience.
To add more humour to the performance myself and Izzy interpreted a prop, and thought that instead of Killer Queen walking onto the stage, she could roll and a skateboard type prop. I used the prop in this rehearsal and Izzy supported me by my side walking, because the prop was difficult to use on my own, but we thought this would be a comical way to interpret the yuppies, and see them helping Killer Queen because whilst she has power and control, I feel as though she isn't very independent.
To finish the rehearsing we felt that to make it better we could interact with the audience as Killer Queen, not the Yuppies. I think that Killer Queen could effectively interact with the audience to try and scare them and show the manipulation in her character, but have the Yuppies looking straight ahead to show the fact that they are brainwashed and robotic. To do this I suggested to Izzy that on 'I'm going to get you' we lean towards the audience and single out one person and sing it to them, to again, show the power and also add comedy.
When we performed to the class, I feel that it was successful because we listened to each other so that the timing of our singing was good, and we were able to find the timing for the harmonies as well, which is what a successful ensemble should be able to do. When it got to Killer Queens verse in the song and myself and Izzy came on from the back of the stage, I could tell that the comedy idea with the prop had worked because the audience were laughing, making the idea in my opinion, successful. When we did the line 'playful as a pussy cat' I improvised and started to jump around Sam to create humour, but also to link with my initial ideas for characterisation of the fact that my interpretation of Killer Queen is that she is playful in a manipulative way, and I think this was effective because, again it made the audience laugh.
To improve I think that we could have choreographed more robotic movements for the Yuppies, and worked on characterisation more because I felt that although I have initial thoughts on my character, I felt that my performance was a bit confusing in terms on the way my character introduces herself to the audience.
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