Preface H ow many ways are there to tell a story How many ways can you dramatize Robert Munsch’s well-loved tales Like the first volume of Munsch at Play this second volume offers a starting point for you and your cast’s creativity The ideas in Act 2 are suggestions for you to build on and not intended to be cast in stone As one reader wrote My children just love the idea of dramatizing the enjoyment is not diminished by lack of spectators But I assume that for most groups the plays will be shared with an audience in class or elsewhere There are no restrictions on where the plays can be presented in the classroom the library or gymnasium or any suitable space both indoors or outdoors Groups have performed in community and senior centers for other schools at day camps in public libraries and at festivals The audience may surround the actors completely or sit in a horseshoe U shape observing the action from three sides or in a long hallway watching from both sides of an alley Spectators will I hope become participants too Actors may be in full sight of their audience at all times chang ing character and costume without leaving the stage Their exits and entrances can consist of a simple turn upstage or getting up 7
from their places on stage in full view of the audience to participate in the action At other times the conventional entrance and exit to and from the stage are used For those new to drama the following approach may provide a useful beginning The story is read aloud by the teacher leader and discussed as a class In groups the story is read again talked through cast and Each group then presents its improvisation and a discussion improvised by students who at first use their own words takes place about any new ideas that emerged in presenta tion Was double or even triple casting used Was the story shared in the telling so that everyone in the group took part What sound effects were used What kind of space was chosen Did students find and use props use mime or a combination of both Each group hopefully should open up a new way of looking listening and telling Did groups interpret the story in an unusual way In From Far Away one group used tableaux to illustrate the idea of war The artist’s interpretation gives wonderful hints regarding character costume and set design Why not encourage students to volunteer to be in charge of technical aspects such as artwork props to make or find and costumes Optional A useful rehearsal strategy is to take the group on a 8
field trip to a fire station police station farm or subway If this is not a realistic option invite a speaker to class to discuss his or her experiences such as a recent resident to Canada From Far Away or someone in the moving business David’s Father For each of the plays a relevant talk or a field trip brings new insight to story research Rehearsal Reminders Actors are responsible for and must check their own props Actors must listen to the story no matter how familiar they are with it one actor fidgeting or not listening will distract the audience Let students demonstrate this to the class for maximum impact In a row of attentive actors when one turns his head the audience is distracted Most important is freshness The actor tells his part of the story as if he was saying unrehearsed words Each time the story is presented it needs to be discovered anew A technical rehearsal for exits entrances costumes and props is vital and may highlight a problem spot where the actors need more or less time For casts that have decided to use mime and as a fun warm-up activity What Am I Doing challenges students in several ways It may be done solo in twos threes or in groups A few minutes are allowed to decide on the action going upstairs driving a car or truck 9
