Drama


 * Performances - End of year**

__**21st March 2012: A poem sweet !**__

The performance of the year for MYP5 at the Codrington school was to choose and perform a poem out of nine poems that all express different views about marriage, divorce and love. I chose a poem named "Wallpapering" by Sue Ellen Thompson. The poem expresses the experience of the divorce of two parents of a young girl but reflects her adult maturity as the poem is written with her adult look upon the past. Wallpaper is, in my opinion, a metaphor for change and arguments (particularly divorce in this case). Sue Ellen Thompson's experience of divorce is, in her own words : ...."My definition of marriage: bad choices, arguments whose victors time refused to tell, but everything done together and done well." A positive look, somewhat on cloud nine.

Below is the poem:

Wallpapering, by Sue Ellen Thompson

My parents argued over wallpaper. Would stripes make the room look larger? He would measure, cut, and paste; she'd swipe the flaws out with her brush. Once it was properly

hung, doubt would set in. Would the floral have been a better choice? Then it would grow until she was certain: it had to go. Divorce terrified me as a child. I didn't know

what led to it, but I had my suspicions. The stripes came down. Up went the flowers. Eventually it became my definition of marriage: bad choices, arguments

whose victors time refused to tell, but everything done together and done well.

The poetry foundation - From her book, The Golden Hour, published by Autumn House Press.

__**29th March 2012**__

//1st class performance, preparation//

__Miss Dionne's feedback:__ -Learn poem by heart, -Interpret poem with gestures, use space.

__My thoughts:__ I thought my 1st performance was far from excellent and memorable. I also thought I knew my poem by heart, but I did not completely and needed more practice. My intonation was monotonous and I made no use of delivery techniques I have learnt. To improve I need to: 1. Learn poem as if it was my own. 2. Use space, gestures. 3. Use facial expressions and props. 4. Pace, do not race ! Articulate, do not mumble !


 * My character - Date not recorded**

I am a mature woman, aged 27. I am an artist: a painter and a poet. I am a reserved, simple woman. When I was 7 years old, my parents mutually decided to divorce, so, the process was not as chaotic as if one of them disagreed. I was alone at that time, no siblings to help me through this difficult time, no one to talk to (I had to keep it a secret) and so to resist and adapt to everyday shocks and querrels, I created my little bubble and I was closed until
 * Background info- Age, occupation, family life, love life, ......****Who am I ?**

I wrote this poem because I wanted to communicate and be linked with other people that have been in the same situation as me know that they are not alone.
 * Why did I write this poem ?** I wrote this poem because not expressing my emotions was overwhelming my thoughts and created confusion.


 * What emotions am I portraying/communicating ?** Melancholy, maturity and nostalgia.


 * Group experience - Dates not recorded**

I wasted my time while other people were practicing their skits, I should completed work instead. Also, in my class, I thought my classmates could have given more efforts, but they just did not care at all. Negativity and carelessness was frustrating for me and my performance because being around a positive and enthusiastic group benefits our mental clarity and therefore: better performance.


 * Individual performance- Dates not recorded**

On the night of the performance, I could not find my dress and I disturbed everyone around me about it. I was afraid it would affect my grade because it was part of preparation. I never found it and went on stage with my uniform. My performance was not affected by this incident and I thought my performance was effective and better than the rehearsals. The performance passed by in a few minutes, I did not even realize I had performed my poem !