CLS 173 A The Comic Spirit (November 2002)
Dr. A. Raia

Comic Performance Project

The object of this assignment is to permit you to do independent research on ancient comedy and to demonstrate imaginatively what you have learned about comedy and the performance of comic drama. The assignment requires you to work both as a team member and independently toward a common goal, in that you must contribute both to the preparation and the performance of the final product.

Goal: To prepare, present, and perform a scene from or a version of your assigned comedy in costume, demonstrating what you have learned about comedy, both ancient and modern.
You are limited only by your creativity. You may, for instance--

• retain the original script, characters, and time period, adding comic production values (as in “Funny Thing . . . ,” “Lysistrata,” “Comedy of Errors”)
• modernize the language for more comic effect (as in “Funny Thing . . . ,”)
• create an equivalent in the style of a sit-com (or other) by rewriting dialogue, substituting characters and plot, updating the ancient comic conventions

Getting Started:

Sign up for a group (4 students per group) and a play:

1. exchange email addresses, room and phone #s
2. while some class time will be set aside for brief meetings, you are expected to be in contact with each other outside of class
3. Select and submit a name for your performing troupe
4. Identify your officers, matching their strengths to the job description below, then submit their names

All members are expected to participate in the following activities:

• read your play and watch the comic video suggested
• brainstorm production ideas and contribute to the script
• submit an assessment report in which you evaluate yourself, the process, and the performance

Meet for a Troupe organizational meeting before Thanksgiving with Dr. Raia

Read your play, if not before, then over Thanksgiving

Begin your research: materials will be placed on 4-hour reserve in Gill library

Preparation:

1. Plan to use Media: video, slides, music, posters, overheads, scenery
2. Produce a Playbill (a copy for each person) that
   • incorporates your research findings on your author, the play, and ancient play production
   • informs your audience of the plot, characters, actors, and details about your presentation
   • contains a list of materials used in preparation
3. Prepare a Post-Performance Conversation with the class (see below) in which you discuss your performance choices and your ideas about ancient comedy and its theater.
4. REHEARSAL

Performance:

Dates:
Wednesday, December 11: two matinees
Friday, December 13: one matinee

Place: Romita Auditorium (you may invite guests)

Running time: ½ hour

Three Acts: Each performance will consist of the following:

1. A Prologue-Speaker who --
   • distributes your Playbill
   • summarizes the plot of the ancient comedy
   • sets the scene for the audience, with time, place, characters, circumstances
2. Your Scene Performance in costume
3. Your Post-Performance: consider this “A Conversation with the Director and Actors" or a "Teach-in," in which you --
   • tell the audience what you understand about your ancient comedy, your author, the comic techniques and characters he uses
   • invite audience reactions, analysis, and questions
   • talk about the alterations you made for maximum contemporary appreciation of the comedy, some of the problems you faced, and about your interpretation of the original play as a comedy

Audience Role:

• full and attentive participation in the performance
• participation in the post-performance conversation

Evaluation:

Everyone participates in evaluation:

• each troupe member will complete and submit at the next class an assessment report asking you to think critically about and testify to your part in your troups's preparation and presentation
• each audience member will sign and complete before leaving a thoughtful evaluation of the performance

You will receive a double grade for this project:

• a group grade will be given on the basis of your performance, that is, on the quality of your completion of the requirements for the project (research, demonstrated understanding of the whole play, planning and collaboration, imagination and originality, use of course materials, ideas, and discussions, skill in presentation)
• an individual grade will be given on the basis of your self-assessment and audience reports, that is, on the quality of your complete, thoughtful, critical response