Langfords Are Shit At Animals

I let being bad get to me today. I started getting frustrated and a bit lost. When I think about it now, today was really no different from any other day, but suddenly I feel fed up. Just got to keep on going and forget about being good or bad. Remember that when it comes down to it everything in this course is just a game...so have fun...

Neutral Mask: Pretend to be a Reptile.

(A Crocodile, Lizard, Snake...)

Eventually masks taken off - text - then stand up but keep what you had on the floor (text, rhythm etc) and find a character.

I was awful. Twice. I got up in the first group and none of us got it. "You don't have to clean the floor with your body." The second time I thought I'd try and be a snake (as the first time I didn't really know what I was) but couldn't figure out how to do that without "cleaning the floor". I felt like an idiot. Stuck. And didn't have any fun with it. Wanting/trying to be good.

At 'loo-loo break' somebody asked about being constantly boring. Philippe said sometimes people are boring for 6 months before anything changes. "It's good to be in a tunnel. You fight with yourself...something moves." I'm not so keen on going through this process - although undoubtedly I'll have moments of it. A bit like today. (Philippe also said sometimes he deliberately steers people into a tunnel...uh oh...) Anyhow - I got up first again for the next exercise. Got to keep at it.

Neutral Mask: Pretend to be a Lion.

(Lion, Tiger, Panther...)

My lion was aggressive. "A pissed off cat". Not beautiful. A roar can be powerful and violent but it has to be beautiful.

Philippe talked about how imitating these animals (and elements/materials too I suppose) help us find qualities that can be good for characters. "Perhaps with a Lion I could find something good for Creon." i.e. A lion knows he is strong but doesn't need to push it. A king knows he is powerful. He also emphasised that it's me - pretending to be a lion - with text. I don't have to think about character or psychology whilst doing the exercise.

For fun: Pretend to be a Mouse.

Run out from the wings and say "hello. what a lovely day. it's very cold outside isn't it" etc, whilst moving about. I was too heavy on my feet (come on!). But some people were instantly great. High pitched voice. Fidgety restless rhythm. Fun.

I think, just as my Dad is horrible at drawing animals (even though he can draw everything else very well), I'm also horrible at playing animals. It must be a genetic thing.