Meleager story line justification/analysis

So Cameron and Rebecca showed me the error in my blogging ways.  My blogger was about 2 years old. I now can put videos directly into my blog, like what I've wanted to do this entire time.... sad that it's at the end of the semester. Forgive me if there are still some technical errors I'm still getting used to it all.

So Rebecca and I sat down on Monday and analyzed two Shakespearean assassinations that would lend to our story. We analyzed Julius Caesar's death and also the death of Hector in Troilus and Cressida. These are the notes on structure/ and or human behavior with murder that we saw in these scenes

Julius Caesar

1) Uncertainty/ fear of being found out by murderers
2) suspiciously high praise to the man they are going to kill
3) Sealing the deal (aka the "stabbity death") [ha ha name that reference]
4) Instant pronouncement of the deceased's death to the public
5) Reaffirming one another and a strong command to stand together

Hector
A) Hector is without armor
B) Achilles strikes Hector down mercilessly
C) Achilles swears vengeance on Troy

So while thinking about our story we decided to take these elements and combine both of them into our story of a scene in act 4 of Meleager, but with one key difference. We wanted to play the dipole with a few of the attributes of these scenes to make it more authentic, cause Shakespeare would never write the same fight scene twice!



So here's our story so far. Rebecca is writing out specific dialogue to match the story line. every time you see a letter or number in parentheses, look to the notes on the other two plays to see how they coincide :)

ACT 4
Meleager gives the Calydonian Boar skin to Atalanta as a prize for striking the beast first.

In the passing of the skin, her disguise is revealed.

(1) Plexippus and Toxues (Meleager's brother and uncle) fear being sentenced to death for not telling the officials of the hunt about Atalanta being a girl. Punishment for both would be being thrown off a cliff. So they plan to kill her for the council to get out of being punished.

Meleager stands up to them because of his adulterous love for Atalanta

(2) Iphicles and Eurypylus start praising Meleager for being such a noble man while inching over towards Atalanta, whom they take hostage.

Atalanta drives an arrow shaft into the leg of Eurypylus and pushes away Iphicles. Iphicles starts running as soon as Euriponditis pursues him. Exeunt both men.

Plexippus and Toxeus go after Atalanta again and they knock her out to prevent her from causing more damage. (A) Meleager is trying to stop them the entire time while completely unarmed. (B)After trying to talk them out of murdering her while she's unconscious  he Kills both Plex and Tox. (reverse B, 3, &4) Meleager gives mercy to Eurypylus and lets him go after swearing him to a pact never to reveal the identity of Atalanta as the stranger who entered the competition.

Meleager then follows after Euriponditis

____________________________________________

Next scene

Iphicles enters and hides from Euriponditis who enters very quickly after.

Iphicles swears that he won't tell a soul about Atalanta, but Euri doesn't believe him.

Battle ensues

(3) Iphicles falls

enter Meleager

Euri worries about the word getting out that he killed Iphicles since a lot of people suspect that Euri is in love with Iphicles's wife, Chloe.

(5) Meleager tells Euriponditis to man up and stand tall because Meleager will just blame the whole thing on Iphicles trying to steal the boar hide, and that Meleager killed him for stealing such a prized possession.






Yup, that's what we've got so far! It makes me wonder if we should have based it after all the confusion in Hamlet, or Macbeth though. I really like what we came up with though. It makes for some cool plot progression!

updates

So I've gotten in contact and hired(in other words they said they'd do it) a lot of people for our group project. some of the people included have the following on their resumes:

"Forever Strong" the movie



















"Father of the Bride" at the Hale Center Theater











"Macbeth" with Guerrilla West Theater Company

























"The Blooming" an indi film sent to the Sundance Film festival


and many, many more!

I still need two more guys, and the prospects are hopeful. I've already filmed some preliminary choreography which I hope to get on the wiki later today.

So that's what I've done. How's your guys' progress coming class?

Meleager prep

Hey sorry I haven't been as active this week with my posts. I just got in contact with one of the fight choreographers of the movie "Troy."


I set a up a meeting with him tomorrow and I've been doing a heck of a lot of research figuring out different fighting styles that would have been used by the ancient Greeks so I don't come unprepared.

I've also been doing some contacting local actors who are going to be a part of the Meleager fight that Rebecca and I are currently writing. I've got a few parts precast, all I need is 3 more guys and we'll be set.

So don't think that my lack of posts means a lack of progress, all it really means is a lack of evidential progress that will soon come to more epic fruition.

Love's Labours Lost

So I went to the show on Saturday and I found myself pleasantly surprised. The cast was amazing, except Biron. I didn't like Biron so much, his acting felt contrived. I really liked this guy though! and my date really liked "the dumb one" in the back ground.



I've actually done shows with both of these guys. They're really cool. First guy is Cameron Bench and the guy in the back is Sam Bostwick.

Cameron's character had more of a northern British accent, like David Tennent in Dr. Who. He was also a little more serious. It made his character grounded. I believed that that was what his character would do in those circumstances. I don't want to give too much away because I know most of you haven't seen it yet, or read the play all the way through.

Speaking of which, I hadn't read it all the way through before I saw it and the ending caught me completely off guard. It got me thinking about my own situation. I personally will be turning in my papers after the semester is over, and it makes me think that if I were dating someone, would both I and she wait 1-3 years to get back together. Would it make us stronger for it, or would we both part separate ways? Lots of questions were inspired by that performance.

gtg to a meeting with the Meleager group. I'll post more later.

Men's Psyche When in Love

I love picking out sections on this topic. It helps me when I people watch to get characterization ideas for plays.

BOYET
Why, all his behaviors did make their retire To the court of his eye, peeping thorough desire: His heart, like an agate, with your print impress'd, Proud with his form, in his eye pride express'd:

Have you ever seen that before. When a guy will get all proud with himself. He'll try to make himself look bigger than he is. He'll flex his muscles unnecessarily. He'll lean in closer than he needs to. It's funny to watch, my only question is, girls, does it work?





















His tongue, all impatient to speak and not see, Did stumble with haste in his eyesight to be;

I see guys stumble over their speech all the time. Especially when there's more than one guy competing for one girl's attention. They'll volunteer to do anything for them even if it's inconvenient to the man's schedule. As long as it prevents another man from getting time with her, that's a necessary evil.



















All senses to that sense did make their repair, To feel only looking on fairest of fair: Methought all his senses were lock'd in his eye, As jewels in crystal for some prince to buy; Who, tendering their own worth from where they were glass'd, Did point you to buy them, along as you pass'd: His face's own margent did quote such amazes That all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes.

Most guys should be able to stop themselves from doing this. They'll start staring from afar and fantasize about being with the girl. I think that's romantic, and stupid. Men are supposed to be creatures of action. If you fantasize about being with the girl, then make it happen. No need to be glassy eyed when you can be admiring and talking right to her in her presence. Get yourself together! Have confidence! Heck, that's what Shakespeare was telling women in his first sonnet: that's they're more attractive when they have confidence. I'm sure it goes the other way around from the ladies perspective!














I'll give you Aquitaine and all that is his, An you give him for my sake but one loving kiss.

I have nothing else to say on this other than this guy is the best wingman ever). :

Costard

oh, dear Costard, I feel so sorry for you. You didn't even last five minutes into the play and already you have to only eat Bran and water. blech, and I though Raisin Bran was bad enough to eat every day. I would imagine that there was no sugar in that bran though. I love the word play that Costard does with Ferdinand in order to get out of his punishment for being with a girl. It's brilliant.

FERDINAND
Ay, the best for the worst. But, sirrah, what say
you to this?

COSTARD
Sir, I confess the wench.

FERDINAND
Did you hear the proclamation?

COSTARD
I do confess much of the hearing it but little of
the marking of it.

FERDINAND
It was proclaimed a year's imprisonment, to be taken
with a wench.

COSTARD
I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel.

FERDINAND
Well, it was proclaimed 'damsel.'

COSTARD
This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin.

FERDINAND
It is so varied, too; for it was proclaimed 'virgin.'

COSTARD
If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid.

FERDINAND
This maid will not serve your turn, sir.

COSTARD
This maid will serve my turn, sir.

FERDINAND
Sir, I will pronounce your sentence: you shall fast
a week with bran and water.

COSTARD
I had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge.

Fasting

"I can but say their protestation over;
So much, dear liege, I have already sworn,
That is, to live and study here three years.
But there are other strict observances;
As, not to see a woman in that term,Which I hope well is not enrolled there;
And one day in a week to touch no food
And but one meal on every day beside,
The which I hope is not enrolled there;
And then, to sleep but three hours in the night,
And not be seen to wink of all the day--When I was wont to think no harm all night
And make a dark night too of half the day--
Which I hope well is not enrolled there:
O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep!"

"I am resolved; 'tis but a three years' fast:"

Say what? ONLY three years!

He makes it sound like that's some small amount of time. I don't think I could give up the rest of the world for 3 years. I mean sure missionaries set themselves apart from the world for 2 years at a time, but they still talk to people and they still are active. Heck they even get P-days to do what they want, and 8 hours sleep. I'm trying to do school now and only getting 6 hours sleep and I'm still doing this.

Pankration: Authentic Ancient Greek Fighting Style

Since I was doing some research on how to make Meleager more real, and seeing as I love fight choreography, I decided to research Pankration. It's a form of martial arts that was practiced by the ancient Greeks that has been rediscovered and retaught to modern Greeks. My favorite part is where they kick the shield in half using a move called Gastrizein at 7:38. I still can't upload it straight to the page, so you'll have to link to it here

This is an ancient depiction of the shield cracking kick. Pretty legit huh? Anyway, another good reason for watching the video is that they give a good look at the kind of diet and exercise that Meleager would have had.

On top of that, you see a good selection for the kind of set we would want to build with the stone buildings and the olive trees that are all around. It also gives a better look at the kind of pottery/utensils that Meleager would have used. It's a great show, and when Cameron and I choreograph the deaths in Act 4 we'll refer a lot back to this style.

Yay for the History Channel!

Meleager Act I part II

After Atalanta leaves the table Euriponditis (yur-RIP-un-DITE-us) settles in her place. The innkeeper makes him check in his weapons at the bar, but Meleager snatches a spear before it is completely handed over. He appraises the weapon as being crafted by a master weapons maker and accuses Euri as a thief. Euri contests that he is the weapons maker himself. Meleager retorts that one so small and so poor would never have the skills or the money to be able to make such masterwork weapons.

These insults continue until Euriponditis is nearly thrown in prison for stealing, but a woman (Chloe) walks in through the door that can attest to the fact that he is a blacksmith of the weapons trade and also notes that he is a fine hunter as well.


Meleager takes note at this attribution and challenges Euriponditis to the Hunt for the White Stag that is to take place at the end of the week. Euri, with his pride wounded, sees this as an opportunity to regain his honor and also to shame Meleager who has flaunted his journeying with Jason in his face more than once in the last few minutes.

Meleager walks out the door to rest for the night.

Euriponditis talks to Chloe and starts to fall in love with her, only to realize at the end that she is a married woman (as told to him by the innkeeper after she leaver) and that Iphicles is her husband.

Meleager Act I

Meleager gets off the ship that just sailed with Jason and the Argonauts to find the Golden Fleece. Before making the day's journey back home he decides to rest on land for a night. He enters an inn in Calydon (the city that he's from) and sits down with an beastial/ woodsmanly, yet attractive woman named Atalanta. Meleager notes her rough exterior and gruff mannerisms but also points out in an aside to the audience that seeing a woman that can stick up for herself is refreshing.

Meleager (aside):

Had we met in other circumstances
I would think that we should hunt the same beasts,
Eat the same slop, and likewise the same muck
Water; But I cannot help to think that her
Form is pleasant to mine eye with such strange
Qualities that I cannot express the
Wonders of my heart. Were I able to
Be struck by Cupid, for a legitimate
Woodsman he will never be and therefore
Could never track me, I would answer 'Hail'
To him that had pierced this bull's eye of flesh.
I will engage her again

(and back to his normal script)

He enjoys teasing Atalanta while she tries to challenge him. Meleager sadly notes that she is a woman and would never be able to officially compete in a hunt, a foot race, or a wrestling match. Atalanta takes this as even more of a challenge to herself and settles to get into a hunt by any means and beat the ruggedly handsome warrior by any means necessary.

Stay tuned for part two!

Meleager Authenticity

So Rebecca, Cameron and I got together on Monday to hash out a basic story line for Meleager by Shakespeare. We came out of our meeting with a pretty good story plot. Not only is it intriguing, but the plot is built in a chiasm.

What's chiasmus?

It's a form of Hebrew poetry that was used in writing the Bible and also the Book of Mormon. It has a symmetrical story line that meets in the middle and then repeats itself in an inverse order with the most important things in the middle. oh and note also that when it starts the inverse repetition that it goes in a negative perspective. So if it said "eat cake" the first time, it would say "don't not eat cake" in the second.

Now what's that got to do with Shakespeare, Kent? This isn't a Book of Mormon class.You're right! It's not.

But good old Billy wrote his plays using chiasmus! One play I know for certain that he did was Cymbeline. If you look at the plot structure, and the characters in the scenes it's hard to miss! the characters only appear in a chiasmal order.

let me illustrate with an example

in a 5 act involving myself and Andrew and a few others from class, the play it would be organized like this

1................................. Kent, Andrew, Katie
2............................Kent, Cameron, Dr. Burton
3.......................Kent, Andrew, Katie, Rebecca
4............................Kent, Cameron, Dr. Burton
5.................................Kent, Andrew, Katie


Does that make sense?

Now go look at the plot points that Cameron posted again and see how we organized the major plot points to be in a chiasm. Remember the negatives on the second time around!