Character Design - Melodrama

Today in drama class we were working on creating our own characters. We talked a little about the types of characters and their roles in the play/movie. We got given a few questions to answer then got to create our own character with their traits and what they like to do.

Q1 - Describe 5 types of melodrama characters.

A Hero: They are good, handsome, and manly. They act on there intuition and are in-tune with nature. While they believe in justice, they don't always follow the less important rules of society.

A Heroine: Who is also moral in that they are innocent. They are beautiful and courageous but likely need saving.

A Villian: They are evil. These characters are normally greedy, vengeful, and corrupt.

A Villains Accomplice: They are rather idiotic and serves as comical relief.

A Faithful Servant: They help the hero uncover hidden information on the villain. This character also serves comic relief but does not come off as idiotic.

Q2 - Create a full biography for a melodrama character you have invented.

Scarlet Evergreen -

Date of birth 2/5/1996
Born in Spain

Mother unknown
Father unknown
Brother unknown

Scarlet Evergreen - Drama

Scarlet Evergreen - 

Gender: Female 
Age: 22 yr old
Date of Birth: 2/4/1798

Family:
Mother: Unknown
Siblings: Unkown
Father: Unknown

Personality: 
She is a follower. She loves hanging out with her friend Pracilla.
She hasn't got the brightest mind but she can still fight with her fists. 

Likes:
Cola, Cooking, Fighting, Writing, Most healthy food.

Dislikes: Losing, Sitting still, Peas.

Occupation: Sidekick, Cook.

The Melodramatic Acting Style - Drama

The Melodramatic Acting Style 

• Remember in Victorian Melodrama, all emotion is externalized. There is no such thing as inner psychological depth! 
• Generally, this means “Over the Top” in every way. Here are some techniques which help create this effect. 
• Slower, clearer delivery of lines with huge projection. Remember Victorian Theatres were huge and there were no microphones. 
• Play everything to the audience, even if you are supposed to be talking to another character on stage! Indicate whom you are talking to by looking sideways at them and holding your hand out towards. 
• Address the audience directly whenever the script will allow you to do so. 

 

• The Pose: Invent poses of shock, horror, love, evil, intent, cruelty, desire, dilemma, forgiveness, begging forgiveness, etc. A pose should last at least three seconds and should be clearly visible from fifty meters. 
• The working yourself up to the pose: lasts two to three seconds
• Be very big and dramatic with your pose making sure to be over the top.

 

• The Gasp - very loud expressing a range of emotions. Often accompanied by a pose. 
• The Swoon - often preceded by lines such as "Alas! I can hardly bear it." The swoon should be graceful and provision should be made for someone to catch you.

 

• The long walk downstage/upstage/across the stage when hatching a plan or in a dilemma. 
• The Pacing- to and fro across the stage when hatching a plan or in a dilemma. Move before you speak so that the audience can track who is speaking. 
• The Tableau (freeze frame)- the still picture made up of a number of characters to freeze the moment, eg: The Happy Ending/ The Secret Lovers. Tableaux should be very explicit. 

 

• The Sigh/The Groan/The Tubercular Cough 
• First Entrances are important - may even bow, this is related to the cult of “The Actor” – the Star system. 

Melodrama - Drama

What is the green room?

A green room is a place in a theatre room off stage where the actors can chill and relax. They might eat food or start rehearsing there next lines but it is a place where the audience can't see them and can't go into. It is like their private domain.

    What is a proscenium arch theatre?

A proscenium is a metaphorical vertical plane of space in a theatre. It always has an arch on top of the stage giving it the name the proscenium arch theatre. The audience is normally right in front of the stage which is several feet above the ground.

    History of Melodrama - 

• Was developed in 1800
• First, melodrama was Rene de Pixerecourt
• Influenced by Romanticism
• Live music was incorporated in Melodrama to enhance emotion

Make your own costume -

Bonets - white,