AGe+Odyssey+Performance+Styles

= **Written Analysis of a Professional Performance** =


 * [[image:changeplaces2012/Odyssey001.jpg align="center" caption="Andreas Litras Performs in his play Odyssey"]] ||
 * Andreas Litras Performs in his play Odyssey ||

= **//Odyssey//** by Andreas Litras =

Performed at: The Open Stage, University of Melbourne, Swanston St, Carlton. Date: Friday March 16th, 1.00pm - 3.00pm

= Link to Identity Theatre Web Page: [|Identity Theatre] =

= What is the Ancient Greek legend of Odysseus about? = **Find a summary of the story and add to your wikipage under the heading Outcome 4: Odyssey**

**SAC preparation Notes sheet: Download and complete either by hand or on your computer. A copy of your completed notes needs to be handed to me by the last day of term 1. You will be able to use these notes to help you complete your SAC for Outcome 4 in the first week back in term 2.**



Check out the Identity Theatre website and find them on Facebook for further comments! **Identity Thea****tre Website: [|Identity Theatre] **

Helpful Education Notes Provided about the play 'Odyssey': [|2012 VCE teachers notes Odyssey.pdf]



= **Sample SAC Reponse** //(for a performance called 'Miss Tanaka")//  =

=== **Question: Analyse and evaluate how non-naturalistic performance styles and theatrical conventions were incorporated into the performance.** ===

Student Response:

// ** Teacher comments are in orange italics ** //

David Bell’s production of ‘Miss Tanaka” // ( identifies the director and the name of the play)  // highlights the multiculturalism of early Broome and the alienation and lack of communication that follows multiculturalism. // ( introduction opens with an explanation of the main message or theme)  // Bell reinforced this theme through the use of early 20th Century non-naturalistic performance styles and conventions. Also within the performance the diversity in plot and the pathos involved in the story shed light on form and meaning within the performance.

From the beginning of the performance there is a sense of a dream like atmosphere for the Merlyn Theatre // (identifies the performance venue)  // seemed actually humid when the performance took place and the opening scene of the play, with its eerie surreal like mood, highlighted the dreamscape idea. This non-naturalistic convention is based on Antonin Artaud’s ‘Theatre of Cruelty’ //(identifies a non-naturalistic convention and relevant performance style)//, which was a surrealist performance style based on ritual and fantasy.

This idea of dream sequence appears many times throughout the performance. The most prominent scene is where we are given an insight into the corrupt ‘red light’ district of Broome, where the culture are merged into one big opium den - casino // (explains a specific scene from the performance). // This scene uses Artaud’s theories to highlight the need of release and the alientation of multiculturalism. Technology is utilised when the face of Kazuhikos dead mother is projected on the screen. The surreal feeling is highlighted with the use of puppetry, the frog and a monkey. These two puppets are ’totems’ so to speak, of Sakamoto and Hanif. // (explains how non-naturalistic conventions are used to give meaning, describing specific examples from the performance)  //

The Asian influence within the movement of the performance is a convention of Bertold Brecht’s Epic Theatre, which is very movement based. // (Performance style and convention identified). // An example of Brecht’s theories is when Mott breaks into a ‘soft shoe shuffle’ when he falls for Miss Tanaka. The Asian influence also extends to Japanese performance styles, for example, Kabuki Theatre and also Noh Theatre. Kabuki is very movement based where the movements are very wild and erratic, this is highlighted when we meet Sakamoto and Hanif for the first time. // (specific example from the performance used)  //

// ** This response uses two examples of performance styles and conventions, referring to specific examples in the performance. It identifies the key themes and explains how the non-naturalistic conventions are used to establish the form and shape of the play and how the establish meaning. Plot and story have not been discussed. Note how it is assumed the reader knows the play, so you do not have to go into detailed descriptions of scenes. //