Devised Theater Can be Tricky and Easy


   Devised Theater is can be tricky to define. It is between improv, and having a story outline. You can have a script in Devised Theater, but it is not limited to one director. It is often a group effort when making the script. This became apparent to me early from watching the other groups perform before us. It is a collaborative collection of everyone's idea on how they think the script should be. It's cool how flexible the script is. Devised Theater is awesome because the actors can all have input, and feel as if they have contributed equally. Many other groups seemed as if they didn't even have a script. Their project's seemed to be comprised with lots of improvisation, and rambling with their lines.  I really liked this, because it seemed natural. I also found it really interesting to see everyone's interpretation of devised theater.


   Our experience as a group with Devised Theater has been both exciting and challenging. Both Ivan and Jasmine seemed unfazed by the newness of  devised theater. However one thing they could work on is stage presence, and emotion. Jasmine tends to turn her back on stage, and laughs uncontrollably in one of the scenes repeatedly. But this can be easily resolved with practice. Ivan needs to show a little more emotion, but overall he is doing a great job.  For me on the other hand, it is challenging  because I am so used to memorizing a script. Now that I have the freedom to go off script and reply with what seems natural to the mood.  It's also a new feeling for me to not have key words from the other actors on when to tell me to start my lines. It is truly like we are having a conversation on stage with each performance having a slightly different dialogue. My fellow actors interpreted their lines differently than I would've if I was playing their part. This stumps me a little bit becuase then I can respond freely, and sometimes need to think on what I want to say after they talk. This screws up the  rhythm of the play. Our script we are basing our devised production off of has many lines in it that we have trashed becuase we feel it takes the effectiveness out of the play. We felt it makes the play dry. The shortness of the play, is what makes it effective in our opinion.


   Our group came up with a very solid script idea of a depressed boy named Theo, who's conscious is blocking him from the his mother who deeply is concerned about him. Theo ultimately overcomes this "fence" in his life and turns his downward spiral around. We took this idea head on and came up with a really good way to show emotion, symbolism, and the ability to overcome a "fence" in your life. I am really excited to see our final production in Friday. It should be great!

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