Review of Margaret Catchpole
Margaret Catchpole is dramatisation based on a book, which in turn is based on a true story. The play used many different techniques to draw the audience's attention towards a women and her struggle for freedom and to be next to her beloved Will Lord.The play was very well staged, using a long and thin area directly in front of the audience that created a difficult acting space, but resulted in a very effective and eye-catching performance. I noticed that each character could have a very long entrance and exit, and in my opinion, created a more effective and bolder performance, as each entrance and exit could last longer, more could be done to get the message across to the audience of how that character was feeling. They made valuable use of the whole acting space, using every available area1 to stage difference emotions, whether they are freeze frames on one side and thoughts-aloud on the other, or simply to create more space for the actors to use when acting their individual roles. This resulted in the audience always being invited to follow each movement up and down the stage, and keeping their attention.As well as the staging, I thought that another effective and important feature was the props used to bring the story to lif
The actor playing the Doctor and the father was another very strong character and had a difficult situation; by I felt he achieved it very well. He had to play two characters that changed a lot throughout the course of the play. His role was demanding, having to show a cold exterior as the Doctor, but yet have a kind heart, and did this through effectively using his voice to sound harsh, but gradually, towards the end of the play, we see this exterior break down to reveal his true personality. In the story, his social status was important, and I felt he portrayed this clearly when Margaret visited him, we could see by his actions and clothes he was above Margaret's class. My conclusion about the play is that it was a very powerful performance, and many devices were used to create a deep and meaningful piece. The actor's ability to change role and make full use of the stage, combined with the storyline itself, produced an excellent performance. e. The main prop used throughout the play was the empty boxes and crates. These were used in a variety of different ways, alluring the audience to use their imagination and turn the boxes into their respective roll in the scene. Examples of their use included: creating a high stall for the judge, making him appear above the rest, and also reinforcing his role, sound effects and the prison wall in which Margaret jumped off, and I thought that mixed with her acting skills, created a realistic prison wall from where her escape would commence. Another important prop was the bottles of drink, again used throughout the play to create an impression. These were used to represent the smuggling trade, and also to create a role for the vicar, who would rarely be see
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1150
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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