Today in double we produced a checklist on things that we wanted to get done. This checklist included:
- Sorting out the race scene
- Sorting out the shooting scene
- Devising the Great Feast
The outline for The Race:
- the Farmers prepare for the race, the Foxes get into sprint start position, narrator describes what's happening
- the narrator announces the start, the Farmers run on the spot in slow motion, the Foxes run away from the Farmers in slow motion, towards the audience
- the Farmers drown in sorrow and anger as the foxes escape into the audience
- the next scene (We'll never let him go) starts
We decided to have the Foxes and Farmers together in this scene to fully immerse the audience in a world where the outcome of "The Race" is very important, this was a perfect opportunity to add levels into the performance to accentuate the difference in status between the Farmers and the Foxes. The stretching and preparing for the race also highlights the seriousness of the race but also adds comic effect with Boggis not being able to touch his toes and Bunce struggling to get on the table (Digger). The slow motion not only shows a range of movement styles but also adds comic effect.
The outline for The Shooting:
- Farmers hide in audience, drums kick in, Mr Fox comes out.
- Drums stop, Boggis steps in Fox poo, drums recommence.
- Drums stop, Mr Fox smells something, he runs to Downstage Right, Farmers move to Stage left
- Farmers get into position, open fire, Mr Fox escapes after multiple acrobatics minus his tail.
- Boggis and Bunce run for the tail. Bean confiscates it, they conclude to dig the Foxes out.
We made this scene comical yet serious as although there are silly, childish gags, there are still intimidating rolls, leaps and lunges performed by the Farmers.
For the Great Feast, my initial thoughts were having all of the animals not involved in the cider cellar raid in the underground refuge with a massive feast prepared; this feast was only missing the drinks which would be brought later. There would be the fox cub pining for their father, a very hungry Rabbit and an impatient Mole both wanting to start the feast and Mrs Fox restricting them access until her husband returns. Mr Fox would then enter with cider for all and everyone would be happy!
Upon discussion with Ollie, we decided on a new idea:
- In the scene before (Cider Cellar Raid), there would be Mr Fox, a Fox Cub, Badger, Mole and Rabbit.
- When "The Woman" enters (which we would do abstractly), Mole and Rabbit (Rob/Me) would flee away cowardly.
- The Great Feast would then start with Mole and Rabbit running into the refuge, out of breath, where Mrs Fox had prepared a feast and she queries us on why we abandoned the others.
- Halfway through Mole and Rabbit getting an earful, everyone returns with the cider and they merrily enjoy the feast.
When we told the rest of the group our idea, there was a lot of discussion and ideas but our final outline is now very different to both our previous ideas:
- The scene starts with everyone flying around the stage with dishes and trays, weaving in and out of each other (Round-by-through technique which we learnt in our Frantic Assembly workshop).
- Once all the trays and plates are placed on our grand table (or the floor depending on what each site has to offer), Mr Fox would propose a toast mocking the Farmers!
- We would then break out into a song (not decided yet) and finish the production on a high!
I feel we got a lot done this lesson and the utilisation of a checklist improved our outlook on what to do a great deal more! For next lesson I will have updated the scripts and provided everyone with new ones. I believe that next lesson we should try devising Boggis' Chicken House Raid and, perhaps Bunce's Duck House Raid as they are both similiar.
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