Once in the Black Box

http://youtu.be/y-gdLnB-Tuw

How would the musical adaptation of My Love, My Love differ from the novel? Would I feel bored since I am so familiar with the plots that I can recite every single detail in the book? What would actors do to show all the complicated experience of Desiree? Would the ending be as sad as that in the novel? With all those questions in mind, I, as a “professional” performer and director, stepped into the Black Box. With the colorful  lights on, I saw a different background I had used to see everyday; the magic and alive forest led me to a world full of music and love. 

A singer is not a singer but a story teller; every piece of music is designed to be a novel. The songs in the play really impressed me and even shocked me especially those harmonious tutti. The lyrics and melodies matched perfectly: one contained all logical and useful information while the other emphasized on abundant emotions. They were not able to be separated from each other just like fries and ketchup. My favorite song, however, was a solo by Daniel: Some Girls. This song compared two girls with similar form of lyrics, showing Daniel’s hesitation between them. At the same time, the two performers showed exactly their characteristics: Desiree was a innocent girl and Andrea was a Nobel lady. I started to understand why Daniel could not make a choice between them at first and nearly cried heartbreakingly when he sang the last sentence: “Some girl you marry and some girl you love.” Only music could give us this kind of strong feelings and empathy. 

The theme “Love” has passed through the entire play. Love between gods and human; love between parents and child; love between Desiree and Daniel. The four gods really cared about Desiree. They saved her life in a tree, helped her to achieve her goal and believe her can prove the existence of love. Even Papa Ge, who should be absolutely cruel, could not refuse her pleading and felt sad when she died. Mama and Tonton must be the kindest people in the world. They adopted the poor orphan, raised her up to be healthy and happy, respected her dream rather than constricting her. Love was expressed from their eyes, their languages and their bodies. As for Daniel, he must really loved Desiree at that presence. Their happiness, promises and wished were all true because of love. He was just too weak to make his own decision. For him, love was beat by authorities. However, Desiree's love has surpassed everything. Love was faith for her that she could use her life as expense, which really moved me a lot. 

I was totally attracted by the play until the last second, and the ending in fact surprised me the most. Unlike the novel, where Desiree passes away and becomes a butterfly, she instead transformed to a tree to protect Daniel's family. This was the sublimation of love, selfless and lenient. A Chinese poem which I believe has expressed the spirit of this play best confessed :“If I cannot stay with you till death, I’d wish you to live longer.”Hope that everyone in the world can be loved by others.

The song of the butterflies( oral presentation)

http://youtu.be/JLyJW-ZIVKk

What is your favorite bed-time story? The Tinderbox? The Thumbelina? Or the Princess and the pea? Thinking about fairy tale, the first person who jumps out from my mind must be Hans Christian Anderson. He is impressive for me not only because of his lively stories but also those heartbroken and meaningful endings(why meaningful). The most sorrowful but intriguing story on my list would be The Little Mermaid. I have read this fairy tale over and over again, from comical version to the actual text in English with tears filling my eyes every time. Pain, anger and regret stroke my heart dozens of times, and I just wanted to stop the innocent girl from sacrificing herself. Nevertheless, fairy tale seemed to be unrealistic, and I was forced to focus on the real world when I got older. As time passed, those painful eagerness gradually faded from my life and was locked at the bottom of my memory. All those impressive memories jumped out to me again when I read a much more realistic adaptation of The Little Mermaid, My Love, My Love, written by Rosa Guy. This novel transforms the main character into a peasant girl who always dreams about modern cities and precious love. She meets a man who is in danger and devotes everything to protect the man who gives her hope meanwhile destroys her life. Reading My Love, My Love, I felt my heart to be stroke by thousands of needles because more realism leads to more empathy. I imagine myself to be the protagonist Desiree and wonder why she would rather give up everything impetuously to pursue the illusory affection. This question haunts me during the entire process of preparing for the script, and I decide to deeply excavate Desiree’s mental changes with my partner to better understand her reasons for making these miserable decisions.

An old saying has stated that “Lookers-on see much more than players.” In order to comprehend the “game” completely, my group mate and I decided to design characters of both “plays” and “lookers”. To be specific, both me and him will have two characters to play: one is in the actual scene of Desiree’s love story while the other one is narrating and commenting on what she has experienced. The first two characters in Desiree's story were really obvious to pick: Desiree and her lover Daniel. However, who should be the narrators that could present my opinion and concerns? Who should be the one who really cares about Desiree and understands her best? Suddenly, a scene of the novel jumps out from my mind: “[The peasant girl]puts her hand around the butterfly and closed her eyes to make wishes.” In the novel, butterflies have appeared several times in different situation, indicating Desiree's changes about wishes and desire. 

—How to set the personalities and functions of each character(desire and persistence)

—How to contrast butterfly and human(exaggerated movements and tones)

—How to arrange the settings and blocking

—Overall costumes, lights, music

  Comedy, romance and tragedy

—My performance(especially dance, voice, sadness)

—How did all these work

(Eventually understand why she would rather give up her life because of love by actually acting her out and be moved by those romantic promises)

(Butterfly represents my own opinion and how I want to help her in my own way, kind like finishing my wishing since my childhood.)

The Song of Pappilon

http://youtu.be/qcvglLAm_gM

Producing scenes, not wars.

“Put your hand on my shoulder! Shoulder! Not arm!”

“Look at me! Smile! Gentle! I am your lover now!”

“Louder! Slower! It is SING! Not SANG!”

“Oh my Erzulie! I just want to beat you!”

The scene above was not a war; it was the process of a patience’s recovery. For the entire day, I was sneezing, coughing and losing the ability of speaking, in order to salute the imminent snow storm. This situation was eventually cured by Joseph, who provided me nostrum of sickness by driving me crazy. Well, well, it did not mean that he was not a good actor. In fact, he had great performing skills and emotions. The ridiculous thing was that two Chinese speakers were arguing about how to pronounce English correctly. Please do not “LAUGH” at us, since we really tried our best to speak words articulately and fluently by moving our tongues as rapidly as possible. However, the result turned out that there were countless knots on our tongues. Therefore, the first mission we need to achieve is to untie those knots and to speak clearly. 

The second goal for us is to combine music and lighting with our performance. As our proposal mentions, sound and light effects are two crucial parts of our project. They will be used to distinguish reality with flashback. In this way, our performance would become dramatic and interesting. Since we have several transitions between reality and flashback, we really have to make sure these techniques works cohesively. Otherwise, the outcome would be really miserable, which I am afraid to think of. We have already decided on what music to play and how to use blackout and Spotlight to indicate the transition. Nevertheless, we urgently need a professional technician to help us during the actual performance as well as rehearsal!!! 

As for costumes, we decide not to wear butterfly wings since they are too inconvenient to put on and take off for multiple times. Therefore, we might consider wearing cloaks to substitute the actual wings. Furthermore, I need to figure out the most efficient way to change my costume between each scene, which requires less time and fewer movements. 

In these scenes, we excerpted most of the significant plots which are needed to express the whole story. These three scenes each represents a certain time period of Desiree's changes. The first scene was kind of comedic, indicating her initial wish, a car, when she was still an innocent girl. The second scene is really romantic, illustrating her accumulating desire of owning Daniel. The third scene, of course, is a tragedy. When Desiree is finally abandoned by Daniel, she decides to give up herself rather than killing Daniel, who contains all of her wishes and persistence. 

For the following days, we are going to memorize all of our lines, practice the pronunciation and figure out the best way to match up all the effects with our performance. To tell the truth, I am really confident that we will finish this project perfectly as long as we achieve the goals above. Fighting!!! I hope that there will be no more fight between Joseph and me!!! Looking forward!!!

http://youtu.be/ONqL1yz2w34

One piece of music in our scene

Stage & blocking

Scene 1

Narration

S: (walking around)She is making the same wishes and waking me again this morning. Oh my Erzulie, why does she always pray so early. Who decides that we butterflies have to take charge of people’s crazy wishes and incredible persistences. 

J: Aha, at least we can wit them achieving those wishes and share their happiness. that stubborn little girl. Her eager glance on us is sooooooo cute. I am willing to fly automatically on her shoulder without bothering her catching me. 

S: (inpatient)Why don’t you just sneak into her room at night and make the dream come true like a tooth fairy. 

J: what is “the dream”? I can only interpret her persistence. You didn't even tell me what is this actually about. You are just a dictator, always grabbing and never offering useful information. 

S: (grab)alright, I will show you how does the girl annoy me every morning. 

Acting&Music

(Spot light)

S: (sit)Working working relentless working… (looking at hand)Look at my hands which are supposed to be slender and bright; looking at cloth)look at this shabby cloth wrapping my young body; (touching lips)look at my once cherrylike lips, they are as dry as the land under my feet now.

J: Oh……she needs some help!

S: (look up)Do I need some rain?

J: That’s easy.

S: (stand up)No! I need a car, a car that can rescue me out of here. What does that car called? B...MW?

J: Emmm...that’s expensive...how does she know BMW?

(Car crash sound)

S:(look far) Where does that chaos come from ? Who brings that bright flash? 

J: Definetely not me.

S: A car, a car! A car drops from the heaven! Dream comes true!

J: Wait!

Narration

J: A car drops from heaven? Does Agwe shows his mercy? 

S: (impatient)Of course not! Agwe never pampers anyone. 

J: Then, what happened to that unexpected car?

Acting & Music(spotlight) 

S: (walk towards the car): Oh no, it has crashed head-on into a tree, and even split the tree.

J: Olala, that poor little tree. 

S: Listen that rasping breathing inside (touch), there is...A MAN!!! Is he died? What should I do?

J: ...breath from a died man?

S(touch touch touch): He is dying but alive, I have to rescue him. Yes I do. (2’30)Gods, my dear Euzulie Agwe………. Please help me save him. I would do anything as expense.

(Black out)

Scene 2

Narration

S: (turning around and around)I kinda like the life in city. The splendid castle, dutiful servants and widely varied flowers. I am so glad that Deriree bring us here. 

J: I don’t really know. I think something is not that right. 

S: Come on old man, you are just homesick. You can recall her hard time taking care of and waiting for him. How she struggled to win people’s acceptance. She deserves everything she wishes.

J: I know, I know. She accompanied him every single day when he was injured; she walked for days, suffering hunger and pain to find him; she even traded her life with the gods for his health. I can see everything, But,isn't it...

S: Stop being garrulous. Let’s enjoy the fancy life here as Desiree does. 

Acting & Music(Spotlight)

(Dance)

S: Oh Daniel, I am so excited and…

J: Is that why you speak nothing when I introduce you to others?

S: This is the first time for me in such a grand ball. I worried that my accent would embarrasse them. 

J: Smile is fine, Desiree. You pearl-like teeth could always impress everyone. They will see you beauty some day.

S: Daniel,  I am afraid…Your governess talked with me today…She required me to marry with other men and leave you forever. I… I can't imagine the life without you.g

J: (Stop dancing)She has no right to make decisions for me! I will not let you go! Let me talk with her now.(go away)

S: I must be his wife. That day would eventually come. And I will own my Daniel forever.

Narration

S: (hands across heart)Oh sweet couples. Don't you think that they  perfectly match? I can even imagine their baby’s face. It must have Desiree's silky hair and the man’s blue eyes. I can't wait to see that!

J: I don't like children. They are noisy, naughty, running around everywhere with their smelly diaper. By the way, have you seen that perfect woman just arrived at Hotel Galimar. I remember that tall, white-skinned, with hair the texture of corn silk, she moved from group to group with different tongues and when she laugh, it is needed the world to contain. On the contrary, Desiree could only smile silently. 

S:(really angry) Man! Man! Always like that! Only appearances attract you guys. Can't you not be that superficial? Our Desiree is also perfect! She is Daniel’s sole mate. That weirded woman could do nothing about it at! Stop talking anything about her!

J: The city is too complicated. I wish to leave here as soon as we can.

S: No. I will never leave. And you cannot either.(3:10)

Scene 3

Acting & Music(spotlight)

S:(watching outside)Daniel Daniel, where have you been. 

J: He is gone, he is gone.

S: I saw your back, leaving with that agile shadow. Do you still have to help her because of your young promise? I can help you, do not leave me here alone.

J: (angry)Wake up! Wake up!

S: You kept me here because that woman wants! How rediculous! I saved your life and traded with gods! You can never leave me. 

J: I cannot bear this! 

   (Thunder sounds and lightning)

Desiree!

S: Who is that?

J: (put a knife on the table)Take this knife. Strike hard, strike deep. Let his blood flow heavy. Let it run down the sides of the mountains. Let it spread over the loan. He has betrayed you, betrayed us all. Only then will those gods be assuaged. 

S: No! No! He hasn't! Who are you! 

J:  I am the last warning.

Narration

S: (angry more)what have you done! You are ruining everything!

J: I am trying to rescue her! And after this, we can going back.

S: Here is the paradise! Not that stupid, dirty, backward village. 

J: Here is the burden. It will kill all us eventually.

S: Daniel wil come back to her! They will get married and live a happy life together.

J: (shake)Wake up you unrealistic women. He will never ever come back.

Acting & Music(spotlight)

(Holding the knife and series of thought)

S: He is right. Daniel Beauxhomme has betrayed me! He had sworn to love me and now he had pledged himself to another woman. 

S: It must be the signal Agwe gives me. I will take this knife. I will punish the man who destroys my happiness.

(Walk to him. Try to strike. Hesitate. Knife drops)

J: Desiree? Why are you here? (Wake up)

    A knife? You… You are trying to kill me because of jealous?

S: No no Daniel, let me explain. 

J: Get out of here! I don't want to see your face forever(push her)

S: it not true Daniel. I love you. Please let me stay...please!

J: Away!

Narration

S: (kneeling on the floor and cry)I still can remember her lonely little body lying on that dirty street. She had refused to eat for weeks. Her thing arms and legs… Oh my Erzulie! we ruined her wishes! I can't get rid of this sense of guilt.

J: No, no we didn't. Daniel ruined her, and the kind girl in fact chose to persist in her dream, at the expense of her life. 

S: Is that why you have never changed? No matter how do I look like, you are always the same.

J: Desiree has achieved her goal with the purest heart. Love is the only song, and she sang it until the last note. She has protected the most cherishable love in the world. 

S: Let's plant a tree to remember her forever.

(Black out, Tree out & spotlight)

Aside

Although Desiree has been to another part of the world, her persuasion of love transfered into a vivid tree. Until today, no matter who stands in front of this tree when wind is blowing and leaves are rustling, can hear Desiree singing her story out loud with the most innocent voice.(4’30)

Costumes & prop list

Brown old dress

Black fancy dress

Totally black costume for man

Butterfly wing or cloak(maybe)

Big tree

Nice knife

Desk

Sofa 

Bed(if possible)

Other small decorates

Script

Scene 1

Narration

S: She is making the same wishes and waking me again this morning. Oh my Erzulie, why does she always pray so early. Who decides that we butterflies have to take charge of people’s crazy wishes and incredible persistences. 

J: Aha, at least we can wit them achieving those wishes and share their happiness. that stubborn little girl. Her eager glance on us is sooooooo cute. I am willing to fly automatically on her shoulder without bothering her catching me. 

S: Why don’t you just sneak into her room at night and make the dream come true like a tooth fairy. 

J: what is “the dream”? I can only interpret her persistence. You didn't even tell me what is this actually about. You are just a dictator, always grabbing and never offering useful information. 

S: alright, I will show you how does the girl annoy me every morning. 

Acting&Music

(Spot light)

S: Working working relentless working… Look at my hands which are supposed to be slender and bright; look at this shabby cloth wrapping my young body; look at my once cherrylike lips, they are as dry as the land under my feet now.

J: Oh……she needs some help!

S: Do I need some rain?

J: That’s easy.

S: No! I need a car, a car that can rescue me out of here. What does that car called? B...MW?

J: Emmm...that’s expensive...how does she know BMW?

(Car crash sound)

S: Where does that chaos come from ? Who brings that bright flash? 

J: Definetely not me.

S: A car, a car! A car drops from the heaven! Dream comes true!

J: Wait!

Narration

J: A car drops from heaven? Does Agwe shows his mercy? 

S: Of course not! Agwe never pampers anyone. 

J: Then, what happened to that unexpected car?

Acting & Music(spotlight) 

S: (walk towards the car): Oh no, it has crashed head-on into a tree, and even split the tree.

J: Olala, that poor little tree. 

S: Listen that rasping breathing inside (touch), there is...A MAN!!! Is he died? What should I do?

J: ...breath from a died man?

S(touch touch touch): He is dying but alive, I have to rescue him. Yes I do. (2’30)

(Black out)

Scene 2

Narration

S: I kinda like the life in city. The splendid castle, dutiful servants and widely varied flowers. I am so glad that Deriree bring us here. 

J: I don’t really know. I think something is not that right. 

S: Come on old man, you are just homesick. You can recall her hard time taking care of and waiting for him. How she struggled to win people’s acceptance. She deserves everything she wishes.

J: I know, I know. She accompanied him every single day when he was injured; she walked for days, suffering hunger and pain to find him; she even traded her life with the gods for his health. I can see everything, But,isn't it...

S: Stop being garrulous. Let’s enjoy the fancy life here as Desiree does. 

Acting & Music(Spotlight)

(Dance)

S: Oh Daniel, I am so excited and…

J: Is that why you speak nothing when I introduce you to others?

S: This is the first time for me in such a grand ball. I worried that my accent would embarrasse them. 

J: Smile is fine, Desiree. You pearl-like teeth could always impress everyone. They will see you beauty some day.

S: Daniel,  I am afraid…Your governess talked with me today…She required me to marry with other men and leave you forever. I… I can't imagine the life without you.g

J: (Stop dancing)She has no right to make decisions for me! I will not let you go! Let me talk with her now.(go away)

S: I must be his wife. That day would eventually come. And I will own my Daniel forever.

Narration

S: Oh sweet couples. Don't you think that they  perfectly match? I can even imagine their baby’s face. It must have Desiree's silky hair and the man’s blue eyes. I can't wait to see that!

J: I don't like children. They are noisy, naughty, running around everywhere with their smelly diaper. By the way, have you seen that perfect woman just arrived at Hotel Galimar. I remember that tall, white-skinned, with hair the texture of corn silk, she moved from group to group with different tongues and when she laugh, it is needed the world to contain. On the contrary, Desiree could only smile silently. 

S: Man! Man! Always like that! Only appearances attract you guys. Can't you not be that superficial? Our Desiree is also perfect! She is Daniel’s sole mate. That weirded woman could do nothing about it at! Stop talking anything about her!

J: The city is too complicated. I wish to leave here as soon as we can.

S: No. I will never leave. And you cannot either.(3:10)

Scene 3

Acting & Music(spotlight)

S: Daniel Daniel, where have you been. 

J: He is gone, he is gone.

S: I saw your back, leaving with that agile shadow. Do you still have to help her because of your young promise? I can help you, do not leave me here alone.

J: Wake up! Wake up!

S: You kept me here because that woman wants! How rediculous! I saved your life and traded with gods! You can never leave me. 

J: I cannot bear this! 

   (Thunder sounds and lightning)

Desiree!

S: Who is that?

J: Take this knife. Strike hard, strike deep. Let his blood flow heavy. Let it run down the sides of the mountains. Let it spread over the loan. He has betrayed you, betrayed us all. Only then will those gods be assuaged. 

S: No! No! He hasn't! Who are you! 

J:  I am the last warning.

Narration

S: what have you done! You are ruining everything!

J: I am trying to rescue her! And after this, we can going back.

S: Here is the paradise! Not that stupid, dirty, backward village. 

J: Here is the burden. It will kill all us eventually.

S: Daniel wil come back to her! They will get married and live a happy life together.

J: Wake up you unrealistic women. He will never ever come back.

Acting & Music(spotlight)

(Holding the knife and series of thought)

S: He is right. Daniel Beauxhomme has betrayed me! He had sworn to love me and now he had pledged himself to another woman. 

S: It must be the signal Agwe gives me. I will take this knife. I will punish the man who destroys my happiness.

(Walk to him. Try to strike. Hesitate. Knife drops)

J: Desiree? Why are you here? (Wake up)

    A knife? You… You are trying to kill me because of jealous?

S: No no Daniel, let me explain. 

J: Get out of here! I don't want to see your face forever(push her)

S: it not true Daniel. I love you. Please let me stay...please!

J: Away!

Narration

S: I still can remember her lonely little body lying on that dirty street. She had refused to eat for weeks. Her thing arms and legs… Oh my Erzulie! we ruined her wishes! I can't get rid of this sense of guilt.

J: No, no we didn't. Daniel ruined her, and the kind girl in fact chose to persist in her dream, at the expense of her life. 

S: Is that why you have never changed? No matter how do I look like, you are always the same.

J: Desiree has achieved her goal with the purest heart. Love is the only song, and she sang it until the last note. She has protected the most cherishable love in the world. 

S: Let's plant a tree to remember her forever.

(Black out, Tree out & spotlight)

Aside

Although Desiree has been to another part of the world, her persuasion of love transfered into a vivid tree. Until today, no matter who stands in front of this tree when wind is blowing and leaves are rustling, can hear Desiree singing her story out loud with the most innocent voice.(4’30)

Costumes & prop list

Brown old dress

Black fancy dress

Totally black costume for man

Butterfly wing or cloak(maybe)

Big tree

Nice knife

Desk

Sofa 

Bed(if possible)

Leaves and flower

Other small decorates

Setting Sketch

The story in our eyes—Papillon（Sofia and Joseph)

In this project, we are going to narrate the story from the perspective of butterflies, which represent Désirée’s wishes and persistence. Basically, I will act as Désirée’s desire and Joseph will act as her stubbornness. We will use our conversation and gesture to indicate what is happening on Desirée. For some of the time, we will discuss with each other about what is going on and what has Desirée done. Between those conversations, we will play music and act out Desirée’s experience by exaggerating movements. 

We plan to pick three different scenes, each could present Desiree’s various personality in certain time period. For the first part, we will adapt scenes where Desirée is in the village and has innocent wishes. In this scene, I will wear white or light brown dress to show her pureness. My movements and tone of speaking would be strong and agile since I am a representation of healthy and kind wishes. For the second part, we will excerpt plots from the part where Desiree’s desire has increased tremendously when she arrives at Daniel’s house. In this scene, I might speak more evilly to show the growth of desire while act most exaggeratedly to show Desiree’s ambition. If possible, I would change my costume to black dress and be more dramatically. For the third part, Desiree would be abandoned and become trembly weak. Me, as well will become really weak until she is died. I will be relieved from her mind and become agile again. Joseph, act as Desiree's persistence, will hardly change for the entire time. He would be in all black, passionately and strongly. However, in the second scene, he would show her resistance and disagreement on Desiree's behavior. And as the book describes, he would try to “escape” from the burden of desire. Just like different kinds of people have different  et points of views, the two members of our group have different perspective. And our set of our parts are just like the narrators of a movie, we tell the stories from the book and we will act them out to show, and then back on our discussion, or narration. This requires much more skills about performance and staging than the plays that we have ever done before. But I think the idea is perfect to do as out IB exam topic, so we will try our best. Nothing is incredible unless we stop trying. 
Never say never! 
Best wishes.