Lesson

We did more on Michael Chekhov again this lesson. We did some work on physicality first and Chekhov believed that there are three main character types; thinkers, doers and emoters and they each have their own houses, or ways of moving.

• Thinkers: thinkers are sticks. Sticks, if they could move, would be very rigid and quite slow, so that's how most of us moved. We had to move around the space as a stick or anything else that was relatively stick-like, I was a stick insect/praying mantis. This was a bit strange at first but I understand why a thinker would move like a stick because when someone is really thinking, they don't think about anything else they're doing, so they'd naturally walk slower or not move at all. Also when people are in deep thought, they freeze like a stick.
• Doers: doers are balls. These are the type of people who will immediately do something when placed in a situation and don't sit around. A ball or any spherical object is constantly moving at a particular pace. I went around the space as an air particle which is round and moves freely which is my idea of a doer. 
• Emoters: emoters are veils. These are the type of people who will "float" around as they tend to get emotional in situations and they'll sweep through. They might get emotional or they might pace a bit. They're almost thinkers but they move and are vocal.

After that exercise, I thought about what kind of character type I would be. In a situation, I have different reactions but I tend to be more of a doer. I move around in anger or tension and can become quite vocal which is very different from what George is because I think he is very much a thinker. In the scene he is in he doesn't say very much, he just sits at the side, listens and occasionally chips in. I think all the officers are thinkers because they are men of many responsibilities and to be responsible, you must think things through thoroughly.

Thinkers also have the ability to remain composed in difficult situations and stay in control of all those who have lost theirs. I am more inclined to lose.

We also did an another exercise where half of the class was the audience and the other half were sat or stood opposite them. We (those who were opposite the audience) had to choose something that our character would be doing either in the script or in their own time. This could be a duty or a personal task. For example, Ralph was kissing his wife's picture which is something that means a lot to the character and is seen a lot in the play. I was polishing my boots which is something an officer would do a lot because keeping up appearances is important for them. Convicts may have been assigned to polishing boots, medals and other various things but I thought George preferred to do that for himself.