Initial Impressions...

What is your initial impression of the play and scene?

My initial impression is that this is a very sexually driven scene with a lot of innuendo. I saw the play performed in 2009 for the year 13 production and found it highly amusing, very witty and very slick. My character Suki appears to be dropping a lot of hints throughout our chosen scene, to her past lover Lambert about the happy times they shared when they were together. It is clear that Suki and Lambert still have chemistry and both appear slightly curious as to whether or not they should douse the sparks that are reappearing at the dinner table.

What questions do you have about the context, situation and characters?

Our whole group was very curious as to whether Matt was drunk or just very dim witted as he often asks strange and completely irrelevant questions.  We also have questioned the significance of the characters Richard and Sonia as we had to cut them out of the scene, but are very weary of the impact that their absence may have on our piece.  I have wondered why on Lambert and Julie’s wedding anniversary, Lambert is so keen to share their meal with an old lover of his.

What exciting performative choices can you imagine?

I can imagine using black tie and evening gowns for the diners as this would set the scene nicely as if we were really in a posh London restaurant. Because Samuel (French exchange student) is playing the waiter, we are hoping to play upon his French accent and we want to work hard to create a truly French waiter.  We have chosen this scene for our Stanislavski unit because we believe that without overdramatizing it we will be able to create a scene of true awkwardness for the audience. We want our scene to be slightly less comedic than the previous Celebration performance therefore keeping within the basis of Stanislavski’s method.