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Shakespeare and Stage Combat
Materials
    Videos
         Henry V clip - a good fight scene
     Mats
         At least 20, preferably as many as possible to cover entire working  space
Activity #1
     Show video clips
     Stage combat safety discussion
Activity #2
   Stage Combat Basics
 The leaders will demonstrate one technique and then will separate and demonstrate the techniques on two students.  Next, in pairs, students will practice technique.  Leaders will circulate during this time, commenting on effective work and giving pointers when necessary.  This is the framework for each technique.
Discussion about Reactions
 The individual receiving the blow sells the slap, punch, shove, etc.
Techniques - (Accommodations must be made for left handed students)
   Hand Slap
        Point left hand toward partner’s chin creating a perpendicular plane.   Use right hand to slap
        left hand.  Partner should react as if truly  slapped.
   Hand Punch
        Same as hand slap, only punch with right hand instead of slap.
   Shoulder Punch
         Aim punch toward partner’s chin.  As you come in front of chin, open  your hand and hit
         partner’s shoulder with flat palm.  Watch out for  collar bones.
   Side Fall
         Crumple to the side starting with the knees and progressing onward.   Remember to protect
         the head with arm.
   Shoulder Roll
         Not a somersault or side roll.  Rolling forward, using forearm and  side of head to propel you
         over.
   Shove
         Shoving from the front and from behind.  Shove moves into a side fall  or shoulder roll.
   Hand Twist
        Partner throws a punch toward your stomach.  Deflect blow, grab wrist  and hand placing
        your thumbs on pressure points on the back of  partner’s hand.  Twist hand back and partner
        will go down.
   Armlock Throw
         Partner is walking and swinging arms naturally.  Grab partner’s right  arm with your right hand.
         Turn partner into your chest, locking them  in position with their right arm.  Force partner
        down, supporting their  weight.
   Step-over Toss
         Partner throws a punch toward you.  Deflect punch, grab partner’s  right wrist with your right
         hand and the right elbow with your left  hand. Place your right foot behind partner’s right foot
         and swing  partner over your right leg supporting partner on the way down.
Activity #3
     Pairs choose at least four moves and choreograph a short fight scene.
    Students can use dialogue - keep it clean - or can do silent scenes.
    Rehearse scenes thoroughly.
    Ask for volunteers to present scenes.
Personal Disclosure
 It is very difficult to envision these moves from my descriptions.  You really must have someone
 show you these moves or at the very least look at a video in order to understand how they work,
 but I tried.
 

Arizona Theatre Standards
     Analyze scenes for artistic and technical requirements.
     Analyze how characters change as a result of events in the drama (scene) and identify key
     messages or themes from a dramatic text or performance.
Materials
    Video - Much Ado About Nothing
     Copies of attached Shakespeare scenes for students
Activity #1
     Show a 2-3 minute clip from Much Ado About Nothing - the scene with Dogberry and his merry
        men discussing the watch.
Activity #2
     Review Stage Combat techniques learned in previous session paying special attention to realistic
     reactions.
Activity #3
     Assign roles and pass out Shakespeare scenes.  Explain that we have inserted contemporary stage combat techniques into the scenes, often in places where they are not required.  It is the students job to analyze the scenes and make choices about reasoning and motivation behind the ‘fight scenes’. Next, have students get together and read through their scenes.  Ask students to figure out what is being said.  Leaders will circulate during this time offering assistance and covering roles for any absent students.  After reading through and analyzing the scenes, students may begin to work on the fight scenes.  Leaders will assist in this process.

 Arizona Theatre Standards
     Demonstrate mental and physical attributes required to communicate characters different from themselves.
     Analyze scenes for artistic and technical requirements.
     Compare and demonstrate various acting techniques and methods, individually or in groups, to create and sustain characters that communicate with audiences.
     Analyze, critique and refine the whole and the parts of dramatic performances, taking into account the context, and constructively suggest alternative artistic choices.

Materials
    Video - Much Ado About Nothing
Warm-ups
     Show video clip - one of the fabulous verbal battles between Benedick  and Beatrice.
 Vocal Warm-up
      Peter piper
 Movement Warm-up
      Slow motion tennis game - utilizing various levels and increasing speed as we go along
Activity #2
     Split up groups so that one leader takes the odd numbered groups and the other leader takes even numbered groups.  Choose one group to show their scene.  After the first viewing, encourage the members of the other groups to offer suggestions and direction.  Leaders will also offer direction and help groups with combat choreography.  Continue this process with as many groups as possible.  Direction consists of discussions regarding motivation, character choices, exploration of blocking, etc.  The leader is not solely responsible for directing the scene, all members of the group are free to give input and actors will discuss what works and what does not in this open forum.

Arizona Theatre Standards
      Demonstrate mental and physical attributes required to communicate characters different from themselves.
      Cooperate to rehearse and present improvisations and scripted scenes involving themselves as invented characters.
     Describe and compare responses to their own works and works by others.
Materials
     Camcorder, videotape, tripod
Activity #1
     Discuss goals for the final session.
     Break into groups.  One leader takes odd numbered groups, the other takes even numbered groups.  Leader will work with one group at a time.  During this time the other groups will rehearse scenes and give feedback to each other.
     Students will run through scenes and leader will provide direction and discuss decisions with students.  This is the time for the groups to finalize choices, clean up the scene, and prepare it for viewing.
     If groups are missing members, leaders will ask another student to fill in (script in hand); leaders will take the role; or if the scene can go on without the missing member, the part will be cut.
Activity #2
     Perform and videotape scenes.  Each scene was assigned a number and students will perform scenes in the predetermined order.
Discussion
     Ask students how  they felt about scenes, their presentation, the combat elements, the language, etc.  What worked for students?  What did they like?
     Discuss barriers students came across.  Did students overcome them, and if so, how did they accomplish that task?  What would students do differently if they did the scene again?
     Tell students how much we appreciate all their hard work and talk specifically about how things went.
                                                                              All four plans designed by S.R. and H.H.

*** Here's something fun for your personal amusement.

                                            FUN WITH "HAMLET"
                                                (Dick and Jane version)
 

See the man.  What a funny man.   His name is Hamlet. are you sad, Hamlet?

"I am sad for my father has died," says Hamlet. was the king."

Where are you going, Hamlet?

"I am going to the castle."  says Hamlet.
                                                    *    *    *

"Boo.'" says the ghost.

"What is your name, you silly ghost?"  asks Hamlet, clapping his hands.

"I am your father," says the ghost.  "I was a good king. Uncle Claudius is a bad king.  He gave me poison.  Will you avenge me, Hamlet?"

"Oh, yes," says Hamlet.  I will avenge you. What fun it will be to avenge you."

On the way he meets a girl.

"Where are you going?" asks the girl.

"I am going to the castle," says Hamlet. "My name is Ophelia," says the girl.

"Why are you laughing?"  asks Hamlet.  "You are a silly girl."

"I laugh because you are so funny," says Ophelia.  "I laugh because you are schizophrenic."

"I pretend I am schizophrenic," says Hamlet, laughing and clapping his hands.

                                    *                        *                                *

See Hamlet run.  Run, Hamlet, run.  He is going to his mother's room.

"I have something to tell you, mother," says Hamlet.  "Uncle Claudius is bad.  He gave my father poison.   Poison is not good."

"Oh!  There is Uncle Claudius.   He is hiding behind the curtain. I shall stab him.  What fun  it will be to stab him through the curtain!"

See Hamlet draw his sword. See him stab. Stab, Hamlet, stab.
See Uncle Claudius' blood. See Uncle Claudius' blood gush.  Gush, blood, gush. Ha. Ha. Ha.

But it is not Uncle Claudius. It is Polonius.  Polonius is Ophelia's father.

"You are naughty, Hamlet."  says Hamlet's mother.  But Hamlet's mother is not cross.  Hamlet is a good boy.  She loves Hamlet. Hamlet loves his mother very much.  Does Hamlet love his mother a little too much?

See Hamlet run.  Run, Hamlet, run.

"I am going to find Uncle Claudius."  cries hamlet.
                                        *                    *                        *

On the way he passes a brook.  Ophelia is drowning..

"Where are you going?"  asks Ophelia.

"I am going to find Uncle Claudius."

"Glub . .  glub...  glub," says Ophelia.

                                *                                *                                     *

Later Hamlet meets a man.  His name is Laertes.

"Oh!  Ho!"  says Laertes.  "Let us draw our swords. Let us duel!"

See Hamlet and Laertes duel.  See Laertes stab Hamlet.  See Hamlet stab Laertes.

See Hamlet's mother drink poison.  See Hamlet stab Uncle Claudius. See everybody wounded and  bleeding and dying and dead.  What fun they are having!

Wouldn't you like to play like that?