Character Analysis Work Sheet
Character Analysis for The Wind in the Willows
Keep in mind that these characters are fictional and you are CREATING this character. Remember to justify all your answers. If you are an alternate or crew person, choose the character whom you are understudying or the character you believe is most interesting.
YOUR NAME___________________________________
CHARACTER NAME________________________________
1. How old is your character and why? (Remember he/she is the age he/she was when he/she is in the play.)
2. Is your character married, single, have children? If so, their names and ages? If he or she is not married, why?
3. Describe your character's home. Be specific. I need to be able to see this home in my mind’s eye.
4. How does your character look physically and how is he mentally and emotionally? Include costume, hair, beard, age, vision, hearing, walk with a limp, etc. You may draw a picture or cut one out of a magazine. Is your character heavy, thin, etc.?
5. What personal characteristics make this person different from all the others in this play?
6. What is your character’s most treasured possession? Why?
7. How does your character feel about the other people in Wind in the Willows?
Rat
Mole
Badger
Toad
Mrs. Otter
Portly Otter
Jack Weasel
Jen Weasel
Tom Weasel
Tilly Weasel
Chauffeur
Policeman
Cook
Jailer
Penelope
8. How does he/she feel about life? (Remember, a great deal of this has to do with their environment.)
9. Answer the following about your character—these are abstract. List and give specific reasons. Feel free to add cut outs, swatches, or anything else that may help your answers
COLOR - what color does your character like best?
FOOD – What food does your character like best?
INANIMATE OBJECT – What object reminds you of your character?
What is your character’s favorite Mode of transportation?
10. What is your character's secret? (Having a secret always adds a sense of mystery to a character.)
11. What is the greatest fear, tangible or intangible which your character has whether you can touch it or cannot touch it)? Why.
12. What was your character’s happiest moment ? Why?
13. What was your character’s saddest moment? Why?
14. Tell me five things about your character’s family.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
15. What has happened to your character before the play starts?
16. What happens to your character the next year after the play ends?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Critique for Sunday, October 25
Critique for Sunday, October 25, 2009Molly’s notes and I agree with all of them.
· Rat, always use upstage hand to gesture. This goes for everyone.
· Dipprey, get into the action. You were not with us today.
· Music – What is that, Mole? Too loud
· Stay in character, Mrs. Otter, Badger, toad.
· Conner Elston – wonderful job being schizophrenic – handling two roles at once.
· Quiet backstage.
· Weasels, do not hit curtains
· Hats – everyone, we need to be able to see your face if you are wearing any type of head covering.
· Music – fade in and fade out.
· Music was too loud – Lawyer – toad.
· “What… gone?” Rat, don’t block Mrs. Otter.
· Music was too loud when Toad says “Young Portly, of course.”
· Chauffeur, you need to be onstage and in character.
· Mole, Where are your glasses?
· Great job, Policeman and good job Toad giving Mole the tickets. Mole, be alarmed more with each ticket.
· Who was going in and out of the dressing room doors behind the scrim?
· Weasel girls, need to be bigger – HEY! This is how you make your living.
· Old lady in the river music – that scene was messed up.
· But the main thing is – Mole – watch your Texas accent.
· Weasels, be quiet on stage when they are planning their attack.
· When weasels are moving the pylon, good job!
Lizzie’s notes
· STEP ON LINES, EVERYONE!!!!!
· Don’t look at the audience. There is a fourth wall, and everyone has mentioned this at one time or another. We cannot lose the competition because someone was not observing one of the basic rules.
· More levels with the weasels in the first time you are together. Remember there are levels with your body. Everyone stand differently, sit differently. Some stand some sit, etc.
· Great stealing items on stage.
· Tucker, great crazy person
· Penelope, don’t talk behind Toad.
· Mrs. Otter, great entrance.
My notes
· At the beginning, everyone must listen to dialogue. Crowd noises coming in and especially with the wreck.
· Dipprey, listen to dialogue. Do not bounce balls against pylon.
· CRASH ! Great job, everyone.
· Jake, good job stealing the paper.
· When Badger or Rat says – don’t encourage them (meaning weasels) Weasels need to react negatively. One weasel can act like he is going out there to punch someone and one hold him/her back. Tilly Weasel, lie across the four foot pylon above the other girl weasels.
· Savannah – great weasel movements!
· When the weasels exited, they were too loud. Dipprey weasel, you stopped dancing out about a foot from the exit.
· Where was the check book – 2nd time?
· Build up LOUDER to Badger’s BE QUIET!
· Weasels in the dark need to be quiet – silent , but still move like you are having fun .
· When gypsies exit left stage with Toad, they need to exit USL so that they are not exiting where Badger enters.
· Tucker, work on being arrogant as the chauffeur. Sit on the car and get MAD at Toad for touching it. Be full of yourself.
· Music was too loud when Toad sees the car.
· Limousine is not for sale,…. Chauffeur – have your head up.
· Dipprey, good job with tickets. We need colored tickets. I will make yellow ones.
· Hannah, where was your crazy suit?
· Slower and louder, Penelope.
· Marmalade and tea – we need a light on Penelope and Toad.
· Toad, this is an epiphany – It is a masquerade and I am clever - not angry.
· PILLOWS – we need to ask Kylee
· Perfect splash
· Mrs. Otter, good job.
· Action – Emphasize the word.
· Cook, go to the bench, so that when Portly goes, he does not see the Badger party.
· Badger, good job telling…..
I will pass out character sketches for everyone to complete by Wednesday. If Ms. McLendon can tape us again on Tuesday, we will watch it on Wednesday.
Mrs. Elston, can you take pictures on Tuesday, so that we can use them for posters?
· Rat, always use upstage hand to gesture. This goes for everyone.
· Dipprey, get into the action. You were not with us today.
· Music – What is that, Mole? Too loud
· Stay in character, Mrs. Otter, Badger, toad.
· Conner Elston – wonderful job being schizophrenic – handling two roles at once.
· Quiet backstage.
· Weasels, do not hit curtains
· Hats – everyone, we need to be able to see your face if you are wearing any type of head covering.
· Music – fade in and fade out.
· Music was too loud – Lawyer – toad.
· “What… gone?” Rat, don’t block Mrs. Otter.
· Music was too loud when Toad says “Young Portly, of course.”
· Chauffeur, you need to be onstage and in character.
· Mole, Where are your glasses?
· Great job, Policeman and good job Toad giving Mole the tickets. Mole, be alarmed more with each ticket.
· Who was going in and out of the dressing room doors behind the scrim?
· Weasel girls, need to be bigger – HEY! This is how you make your living.
· Old lady in the river music – that scene was messed up.
· But the main thing is – Mole – watch your Texas accent.
· Weasels, be quiet on stage when they are planning their attack.
· When weasels are moving the pylon, good job!
Lizzie’s notes
· STEP ON LINES, EVERYONE!!!!!
· Don’t look at the audience. There is a fourth wall, and everyone has mentioned this at one time or another. We cannot lose the competition because someone was not observing one of the basic rules.
· More levels with the weasels in the first time you are together. Remember there are levels with your body. Everyone stand differently, sit differently. Some stand some sit, etc.
· Great stealing items on stage.
· Tucker, great crazy person
· Penelope, don’t talk behind Toad.
· Mrs. Otter, great entrance.
My notes
· At the beginning, everyone must listen to dialogue. Crowd noises coming in and especially with the wreck.
· Dipprey, listen to dialogue. Do not bounce balls against pylon.
· CRASH ! Great job, everyone.
· Jake, good job stealing the paper.
· When Badger or Rat says – don’t encourage them (meaning weasels) Weasels need to react negatively. One weasel can act like he is going out there to punch someone and one hold him/her back. Tilly Weasel, lie across the four foot pylon above the other girl weasels.
· Savannah – great weasel movements!
· When the weasels exited, they were too loud. Dipprey weasel, you stopped dancing out about a foot from the exit.
· Where was the check book – 2nd time?
· Build up LOUDER to Badger’s BE QUIET!
· Weasels in the dark need to be quiet – silent , but still move like you are having fun .
· When gypsies exit left stage with Toad, they need to exit USL so that they are not exiting where Badger enters.
· Tucker, work on being arrogant as the chauffeur. Sit on the car and get MAD at Toad for touching it. Be full of yourself.
· Music was too loud when Toad sees the car.
· Limousine is not for sale,…. Chauffeur – have your head up.
· Dipprey, good job with tickets. We need colored tickets. I will make yellow ones.
· Hannah, where was your crazy suit?
· Slower and louder, Penelope.
· Marmalade and tea – we need a light on Penelope and Toad.
· Toad, this is an epiphany – It is a masquerade and I am clever - not angry.
· PILLOWS – we need to ask Kylee
· Perfect splash
· Mrs. Otter, good job.
· Action – Emphasize the word.
· Cook, go to the bench, so that when Portly goes, he does not see the Badger party.
· Badger, good job telling…..
I will pass out character sketches for everyone to complete by Wednesday. If Ms. McLendon can tape us again on Tuesday, we will watch it on Wednesday.
Mrs. Elston, can you take pictures on Tuesday, so that we can use them for posters?
Parents,Reminders about rehearsals and public performances
Contest is approaching rapidly. We need for all students to be at each rehearsal.
November 1st—SMS OAP Public Performance in the High School Auditorium @ 2:00 $5.00 Adults, $3.00 senior citizens, students and children
November 2nd—SMS OAP Public Performance in the High School Auditorium @ 7:00 $5.00 Adults, $3.00 senior citizens, students and children
Possibly a performance on November 8.
November 10th—SMS OAP School Performance for Middle School and Intermediate in the High School Auditorium @ 2:40
Mall Night is Friday, November 13th. We usually go to eat together (proceeds from public performances), then go to the mall. We can use parent chaperones.
Contest is November 14th.
D’Ann McGuire is doing t-shirts. They will cost about $12.00 per shirt. This is a tentative cost. We should have a definite cost this week. Sometimes parents order them to wear to contest.
Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 5-8; Wednesdays from 4-5; and Sundays from 2-5. We may need a Saturday rehearsal.
Contest is approaching rapidly. We need for all students to be at each rehearsal.
November 1st—SMS OAP Public Performance in the High School Auditorium @ 2:00 $5.00 Adults, $3.00 senior citizens, students and children
November 2nd—SMS OAP Public Performance in the High School Auditorium @ 7:00 $5.00 Adults, $3.00 senior citizens, students and children
Possibly a performance on November 8.
November 10th—SMS OAP School Performance for Middle School and Intermediate in the High School Auditorium @ 2:40
Mall Night is Friday, November 13th. We usually go to eat together (proceeds from public performances), then go to the mall. We can use parent chaperones.
Contest is November 14th.
D’Ann McGuire is doing t-shirts. They will cost about $12.00 per shirt. This is a tentative cost. We should have a definite cost this week. Sometimes parents order them to wear to contest.
Rehearsals are Tuesdays from 5-8; Wednesdays from 4-5; and Sundays from 2-5. We may need a Saturday rehearsal.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday and Wednesday's rehearsal notes
Tuesday’s Rehearsal – Kylee’s notes
1. Hit all consonants. Watch “Jews” and”Chews” . You
2. Rat, twitch like a rat and bring hands up to nose often.
3. When opening up to the audience, stay in the story.
4. Mrs. Otter and Badger, remember you are older people.
5. Idea- Rat, for the most part, you are onto Toad’s fake illnesses and promises. Show the audience that.
6. BACKSTAGE – HUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. Mole, don’t lose energy when you do not have a line.
8. Badger, show emotion when Toad talks about cars.
9. Everyone, do not look at the audience expecting a reaction. Remember, they are not there.
10. Remember that you are animals!
11. Weasels and all actors, do not sway.
12. Be mindful of blocking at all times. Watch straight lines and semi circles.
13. All actors, move gestures above the hips.
14. Take off hat when Toad speaks of death.
15. Fade music.
16. Mole, don’t lose energy after saying a line.
17. Chauffeur, speak up and out.
18. Everyone needs motivation to move. Think WHY you are moving.
19. Everyone needs to be bigger!
Wednesday rehearsal – My Notes
1. At the beginning, we need more people in the village scene. Don’t move when there is dialogue. Keep your attention on who is speaking and react to what they say.
2. Don’t wander aimlessly.
3. Fade out music at the end of the crash.
4. Mrs. Otter and Portly, make your first exit USL – then move USR and stay there. Having your left stage detracts from the weasels.
5. Weasels, when Jack makes the noise, HIDE so that Badger doesn’t see you.
6. When the girls dance – make a bigger show and Jake, take your hat off and ask for money.
7. Tom, almost squat when you are asking for money. – be low to the ground.
8. BACKSTAGE – HUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. Badger, work on enunciation. 6 children
10. Toad, be in a bigger daze. I think you will just take off gloves, hat and coat. When you distract Rat, go and pick them up and put them back on. Tye had a good suggestion about your delusion in this part. Talk to him.
11. Mrs. Otter, you had three entrances that were late. Be observant backstage and watch for your entrance.
12. Weasels, I liked the squeaking. Work on showing more teeth and fix your hands like Jen Weasel. Also pop up your heads like weasels do. Don’t squeak when you are not the focus.
13. Rat, keep a newspaper left stage so you can read it when you are sitting there in the dark.
14. Chauffeur, great job of being bigger – when Toad gives you his card. I still want you that big during the entire scene. We need a cloth, so you can shine the car. You can shine it from the back and speak to Toad from the back of the car, so you are speaking to the audience.
15. Penelope, walk around Toad and look at him as you talk. That way you can be on his left side and it will give you room to act.
16. Penelope, take your basket and pillows, etc when you leave. Toad, put the shawl around your head.
17. Tye,I have added a splash after the music.
18. Policeman, great change of character.
19. Jake needs a jailer’s costume – This is for me to worry about, Jake.
20. We will need one tray for Portly. We need one tray for Penelope, and we need one tray for Mole. This is for me.
21. Toad, we will find you two jackets – one when you take off your washerwoman outfit and one at the beginning.
22. Toad, Rat, Mole, and Otter – Great job in the water scene.
23. Where were the guns?
24. Basket to put gypsies’ stage business in. We can have some of the gypsy women doing fortunes in a crystal ball.
25. Jack --- SHSHS REACT, everyone!
26. Wes, enunciate as the cook. The line is too mushy.
27. Policeman – change early
28. Mrs. Otter – as soon as the weasels leave, you need to speak.
29. We need to reblock the end.
30. Lines dropped –
Mole – Toad demolishes bakery van
Toad – I’m Toad, king of the road.
Mole – Poor animal…..
Badger, we must think what to do.
Mole –I’ll keep looking out
Rat , let Mole say – You escaped….. strange garments.
ALL – Hurrah
Badger – Toad Hall is ours!
31. Really, a great show today. For the most part, you were focused. Everyone needs to concentrate on being better each rehearsal.
32. Be in my room by 7AM on Friday. Portly, Tilly, and Jen have your hair French braided before coming in. Mole, have your hair in braids. I will try to have all the costumes completed by Friday – at least two different costumes for those of you who are two people.
33. Think about makeup. I do not want to do ears and tails on animals this year. I do not want to put on so much make up that we cannot see your expressions. PLEASE work on animal movements and traits.
34. Students, please eat a good breakfast Friday. We will go on at 8AM. Parents are welcome to watch. Freida will critique us and parents may stay or leave. Roosevelt will watch us and we will watch them. They follow us and are doing I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a Holocaust play.
1. Hit all consonants. Watch “Jews” and”Chews” . You
2. Rat, twitch like a rat and bring hands up to nose often.
3. When opening up to the audience, stay in the story.
4. Mrs. Otter and Badger, remember you are older people.
5. Idea- Rat, for the most part, you are onto Toad’s fake illnesses and promises. Show the audience that.
6. BACKSTAGE – HUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. Mole, don’t lose energy when you do not have a line.
8. Badger, show emotion when Toad talks about cars.
9. Everyone, do not look at the audience expecting a reaction. Remember, they are not there.
10. Remember that you are animals!
11. Weasels and all actors, do not sway.
12. Be mindful of blocking at all times. Watch straight lines and semi circles.
13. All actors, move gestures above the hips.
14. Take off hat when Toad speaks of death.
15. Fade music.
16. Mole, don’t lose energy after saying a line.
17. Chauffeur, speak up and out.
18. Everyone needs motivation to move. Think WHY you are moving.
19. Everyone needs to be bigger!
Wednesday rehearsal – My Notes
1. At the beginning, we need more people in the village scene. Don’t move when there is dialogue. Keep your attention on who is speaking and react to what they say.
2. Don’t wander aimlessly.
3. Fade out music at the end of the crash.
4. Mrs. Otter and Portly, make your first exit USL – then move USR and stay there. Having your left stage detracts from the weasels.
5. Weasels, when Jack makes the noise, HIDE so that Badger doesn’t see you.
6. When the girls dance – make a bigger show and Jake, take your hat off and ask for money.
7. Tom, almost squat when you are asking for money. – be low to the ground.
8. BACKSTAGE – HUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. Badger, work on enunciation. 6 children
10. Toad, be in a bigger daze. I think you will just take off gloves, hat and coat. When you distract Rat, go and pick them up and put them back on. Tye had a good suggestion about your delusion in this part. Talk to him.
11. Mrs. Otter, you had three entrances that were late. Be observant backstage and watch for your entrance.
12. Weasels, I liked the squeaking. Work on showing more teeth and fix your hands like Jen Weasel. Also pop up your heads like weasels do. Don’t squeak when you are not the focus.
13. Rat, keep a newspaper left stage so you can read it when you are sitting there in the dark.
14. Chauffeur, great job of being bigger – when Toad gives you his card. I still want you that big during the entire scene. We need a cloth, so you can shine the car. You can shine it from the back and speak to Toad from the back of the car, so you are speaking to the audience.
15. Penelope, walk around Toad and look at him as you talk. That way you can be on his left side and it will give you room to act.
16. Penelope, take your basket and pillows, etc when you leave. Toad, put the shawl around your head.
17. Tye,I have added a splash after the music.
18. Policeman, great change of character.
19. Jake needs a jailer’s costume – This is for me to worry about, Jake.
20. We will need one tray for Portly. We need one tray for Penelope, and we need one tray for Mole. This is for me.
21. Toad, we will find you two jackets – one when you take off your washerwoman outfit and one at the beginning.
22. Toad, Rat, Mole, and Otter – Great job in the water scene.
23. Where were the guns?
24. Basket to put gypsies’ stage business in. We can have some of the gypsy women doing fortunes in a crystal ball.
25. Jack --- SHSHS REACT, everyone!
26. Wes, enunciate as the cook. The line is too mushy.
27. Policeman – change early
28. Mrs. Otter – as soon as the weasels leave, you need to speak.
29. We need to reblock the end.
30. Lines dropped –
Mole – Toad demolishes bakery van
Toad – I’m Toad, king of the road.
Mole – Poor animal…..
Badger, we must think what to do.
Mole –I’ll keep looking out
Rat , let Mole say – You escaped….. strange garments.
ALL – Hurrah
Badger – Toad Hall is ours!
31. Really, a great show today. For the most part, you were focused. Everyone needs to concentrate on being better each rehearsal.
32. Be in my room by 7AM on Friday. Portly, Tilly, and Jen have your hair French braided before coming in. Mole, have your hair in braids. I will try to have all the costumes completed by Friday – at least two different costumes for those of you who are two people.
33. Think about makeup. I do not want to do ears and tails on animals this year. I do not want to put on so much make up that we cannot see your expressions. PLEASE work on animal movements and traits.
34. Students, please eat a good breakfast Friday. We will go on at 8AM. Parents are welcome to watch. Freida will critique us and parents may stay or leave. Roosevelt will watch us and we will watch them. They follow us and are doing I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a Holocaust play.
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