I directed this show many years ago with a class of very ambitious 6th graders. We were working off of a scenario rather than a script, so we devised the piece scene by scene, first figuring out the skeletal structure of what needed to happen, then adding character moments and lazzi. The kids memorized as they went. It was a wonderful experience in how to make theatre, and most of that group stuck with me and theatre all the way through 12th grade.
Because I was working with middle school kids who did not have a lot of experience in theatre, but who were very smart and willing to try anything, we did a lot of physical work and movement games to start each day, and incorporated a lot of it into our staging. The show was a huge hit--the audience loved the familiar fairy tale elements mixed with a few improvised jokes and details. I did talk to the audience beforehand to explain our devising process and to give a brief overview of what commedia is. Then the kids walked on stage and set everything up in front of the audience, as a commedia troupe might have done, while a few other kids from the class circulated through the audience, asking some planned questions. We had a few moments in the play where we knew we would use the audience input--but the parents were very impressed by that simple trick.
That was also a very small school, and although I think I had a few more boys than girls in that class, it is definitely the kind of play with roles that could be played by anyone. Best of luck to you!
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Meg O'Connor
theatre artist
oconnormainstage.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-16-2017 10:38
From: Anne Elisa Brown
Subject: The Love for Three oranges
Hello Everyone! First, I would like to say that I am so glad I discovered this forum! I have been glued to my computer reading through as many discussion posts as I can! Your collective insight is truly amazing. I feel like I suddenly have a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips!
Now, I am thinking of doing For the Love of Three Oranges as my spring play. I enjoy commedia dell'arte although I have never directed a production. Has anyone had any experience with this show? I will only have a handful of males, so I am hoping that some of the male roles could be played by females. I wasn't able to see any staging information. We are a relatively small school. Was this show fairly easy to stage?
Thank you!
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Anne Elisa Brown
Director of the MHS Drama Department
Madison Central School District
Madison SD
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