These are photographs for University of Minnesota's 2004 production of
Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer. Use these photos as inspiration for a 300
word reflection on your character in the play. How would you develop
your character to fit into this scene. What
does she/he most want throughout the play. How would you identify with
this motivation and express it through your characterization?
My character for the pay of ‘Black Comedy’ was Ms. Furnival. She was the neighbor living downstairs, who ended up drinking too much, getting drunk, and passing out. I would continue to develop Ms. Furnival by giving her slightly more to say in the play, and showing the audience a little bit more on her views and emotions. I would give her expressions that show what she is thinking and feeling, and I would somehow connect her to all the big issues in the play. I think that Ms. Furnival was already quite a big part which was greatly characterized in this play, and I think that her character added and contributed to the play overall. Her voice was high and dramatic, and I would continue to develop it by more variation of tone, and volume. What Ms. Furnival wants most throughout the play is for the light to work again and for her to get the drinks that she wants. She spends a big part of the play drinking liquor and this is something that I think satisfies her until she ends up passing out. I think that during the play I could show Ms. Furnival continuously glancing at the liquor cabinet, or give her a very happy and pleased expression after drinking some of the alcohol. In this play, you slowly get to understand who Ms. Furnival really is, but the way she talks, and how she reacts to different things. Overall, I think that Ms. Furnival is a polite and decent old woman, which a few drinking problems and many stories to tell.
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ReplyDeleteThe character I was chosen to play in "Black Comedy" was Franz Immanuel Schuppanzigh, born in Weimar, 1905, and studied in London Electricity Board. Even though it was a pity since I couldn't speak fluent German, it was really interesting to imagine the position of Schuppanzigh in Black Comedy, and the character's misinterpretation of him as the millionaire. From my perspective, Schuppanzigh has a typical sense of humor where he follows along with this misunderstanding of his identity as a wealthy man rather than an engineer for making the light bulb illuminate once again. He constantly repeats the word “Enchanted” after a character speaks to him, and then gives German exclamations such as “phantastich” or “ “Gott in Himmel”. The method for developing the character does not involve much method, as he himself is already a perfect component for a comedy in great humor and performance. His constant intonation of exclamation and the indulging German accent puts up a great show for the audience as well as for the actor. Though a German accent in a comedy would be laughable due to inaccurate pronunciation of words, Shuppanzigh is a fairly well educated man in account of his vocabulary as well of his sense of humor. To make this character more interesting would be certainly having him on the stage longer but not increase his number of lines to speak, which ruins the taste of humor for German accents. With Schuppanzigh on the stage, the audience would be encouraged to be involved more in the play, as multi-national characters are involved in the play. If I were put into his position, I would have played along with the other characters and disguised my self as the German millionaire and make fun of it. In addition, adding German vocab words would give a finishing touch to the character, as it reflects on his personality and the charisma he carries along the comedy genre.
ReplyDeleteMy character in the play of ‘Black Comedy’ was Ms. Furnival. She is the neighbor who is coming upstairs because she doesn’t have any candles and then just stays to talk and drink. She eventually backs off to drink by herself and passes out until she wakes up at the end again just to make the situation more confusing. In the original ‘Black Comedy’ Ms. Furnival only has a very small part, I would give her more dialogue with her neighbors and let everyone involve Ms. Furnival into the conversation, even when she is passed out, because one nearly forgets about her. To develop her character she should bring up more topics that involve herself and her interests, so that the audience has a better chance of getting to know her. I think that Ms. Furnival is a very self-centered old woman who needs a lot of attention and I would emphasize that by making her act more dramatically. She should move in a really weird and nervous way and she should have a high voice. Throughout the play Ms. Furnival most wants to get the light fixed in order for her being able to see but she also wants to drink and get drunk. When she has drinks she is very satisfied and quiet and not attention seeking at all anymore. I don’t think I can really identify myself in Ms. Furneval but I like playing her character in the ‘Black Comedy’ because it is quite fun to act like her.
ReplyDeleteAdam K.
ReplyDeleteHow would you develop your character to fit into this scene. What does she/he most want throughout the play. How would you identify with this motivation and express it through your characterization?
I was Schuppenzig, I think that if I made Schuppenzig a act more like he was noble, even though he isn't. For example thinking that he is better than other people, that would make him seem more like the character Bamberger.I think Schuppenzig overall in the play just wants to get over the job, because he wants to go home, because he's had a bad day and he's all tired and stuff. I would show this by being very slaggy, and just being "cool" like: so where's problem... Also I wouldn't really be discussing with the other people a lot, just trying to get to my job. I think that, that would make Mr. Schuppenzig a much better character.
I played mr. schnupfen, or something like that. He is the electricien and he is rather poor. He does, though, have a great taste in art. Mr. Schnupfen is not really a character who is very important to the play, he only makes it funnier. The character does not say much but he is needed because he is fixing the lights. I dont really like this character becaues he is rather boring and is only added to add some humor into the story because he is mistaken for some millionaire even though he, himself is very poor. This character is seen as some one else and feels very offended.
ReplyDeleteI played mr. schnupfen, or something like that. He is the electricien and he is rather poor. He does, though, have a great taste in art. Mr. Schnupfen is not really a character who is very important to the play, he only makes it funnier. The character does not say much but he is needed because he is fixing the lights. I dont really like this character becaues he is rather boring and is only added to add some humor into the story because he is mistaken for some millionaire even though he, himself is very poor. This character is seen as some one else and feels very offended. It is hard to talk about my character because his part is so small and unimportant. He is only used to add some comedy to the story but he is also used to show some humor because without this character coming into the play there would not be many 'big' parts of comedy. My character seemed to find his own personality very important and does not want to be confused with any one else. My character is very poor but is not afraid to show it like some people are. Most people will brag about their riches but my character is not like that. My character is from germany and studied there and was now part of an electricity company which is quite strange. Why would a college graduate become an electricien?
ReplyDeleteI think due to the war (because this is quite an old play, right?) he was forced to move to england and work for a job that was a lot less good.
What does she/he most want throughout the play. How would you identify with this motivation and express it through your characterization?
ReplyDeleteI was originally Mr. Bamberger in the play, but it is too short (his part) so i chose to do Harold instead. Harold is the next door neighbour of Brindsley and he is the one that all the Furniture belongs to.During the play, Harold leaves his house, and Brindsley wants to look rich infront of his girlfriends father so he borrows a lot of Harolds expensive furniture and tells her dad that it belongs to him and he made all the money for it. When he then comes back and finds out all his expensive and precious furniture is gone, he flips out and freaks out that its all gone and goes to Brindsley and finds it there.Harold is a very nice and polite person, for example with the "room upstairs" scene, he also wants to get as close as possible to Brindsley. He also loves fine arts and doenst want anything to happen to his art collections and furniture.
How would you develop your character to fit into this scene. What does she/he most want throughout the play. How would you identify with this motivation and express it through your characterization?
ReplyDeleteI would add more of a cranky type neighbor that only is nice around brindsley. For example he shouts at carol and is all sweet and nice to Brindsley. To be honest, i believe he only wants to have a good friendship with Brindsley (Brin). Although he cares a lot about style and his precious furniture, he values friendship. Harold wants a good friend, one that he can trust. But his "flamboyancy" gets in the way of that.
You identify this characterization by tone and pitch. By changing the tone and pitch towards other characters and especially Brindsley. Another way to capture the identify the motivation of this trait is through constant gestures and motion with the hands. Whilst speaking, throw the hand about and add emphasis on words without much power behind them. Harold's character revolves around experienced vocals and change in tone and pitch. Hand gestures add to his character greatly. You have to really personalize this role and let harold's character become you rather than you playing harold.
-Ikram
My character in the play of ‘Black Comedy’ is Carol. She is Brindsley’s childish, clingy and annoying fiancé. I would develop Carol’s character by making her more anxious, worried and even more annoying. I would put “poo” after more of my words in the script such as “sweetipoo” and “daddypoo”. I would dramatize my movements in the dark and be extremely worried; talking very fast and making rash movements constantly, especially when the colonel is in the scene. For example, I would exaggerate and reach out really far while making a weird face when I am giving people drink and trying to distract Harold and the colonel. I would cling on to Brindsley even more when Clea is in the scene just to make the scene more dramatic and make the audience more tense and uncertain of what could happen. Carol’s high-pitched and irritating voice is probably what makes her stand out from the rest of the characters and I would like to continue developing that aspect of her character in the play. Carol is quite a self-centered character. She desires that her father, the colonel, accepts Brindsley and that his sculpture is bought by the German billionaire, Bamberger. She does not want her father to think she made a wrong decision of choosing Brindsley as her fiancé, as he does not look good enough for her. During the play, I would constantly tell the colonel about all the wonderful things about Brindsley and his work, so that the colonel would see that he is a good man. Also, it will distract him from the reality and the darkness, preventing him from getting furious at Brindsley at the end. I would try to strike a conversation with Harold and Mrs. Furnival about a totally different subject in hope that the colonel forget the situation.
ReplyDeleteMy character in the play ‘Black Comedy’ is Carol, the annoying girlfriend of Brindsley, who needs to be right all the time, and pushes her opinion through with a very high and childish voice. Her character is supposed to be annoying and very exaggerated. As Brindsley’s fiancé she is worried about his relationship with Clea and is also angry and anxious about his behavior, and his inability to be trustworthy. In order to make her role more visible and effective, I would give her more dialogue in the play. With that, she could express her not relative opinions and have an even more annoying role in the play. Also, I would add the ‘-poo’ endings on more words, maybe even add it into each sentence, in order to add to her already childish character more sweetness. In order to present her character as well as possible, I would over exaggerate her movements, since they are in the dark and cannot see anything. Also, I would speak in an extremely high voice, in order to show her self-centeredness and how important she think she is. Just as Nicole mentioned above, I would be sticked to Brindsley and show her dad, the colonel how wonderful and amazing Brindsley is, and that the marriage is only a good step into a successful future. Even though Carol and Ms Furnival were friends I would ignore her passing out, so that her confidence and self-centeredness show up more. Also, one might add a fight between her and Clea for example, in order to make the situation more dramatic and unexpected.
ReplyDeleteMy character in the play "Black Comedy" is Schuppanzigh who is the multimillionaire who is wanting to see Brindsleys work. He is interested and is willing to pay a lot of money. He is willing to pay a person who he would most likely believe is of the lower class. He is hard to explain and it is also hard to see his characteristics because he only appears for about two pages therefore it may be a little bit harder to summarize him as a character. Although it is obvious he is very innocent in the play this is shown when he comes into the room it’s in the dark and nobody knows that he is there, he gets hit even thought he did nothing. He is also mistaken of being the electric man as they call it in the play ‘little man’ . Throughout the play the thing that Schuppanzich wants most is to come look at the artwork and buy it. I would develop him by adding more lines for him to say because quite frankly he says so little he barely gets noticed as a character but he still plays an important role in the play. The character also needs more voice not just in verbal communication but maybe he needs to be introduced earlier in the play to create more excitement. The longer you see this character the better you understand him there fore I think he needs more say and this would not just help bring out the character but as I said previously it would create more excitement. He should be exressed as an impressive rich man who comes in and complains. Who complains about abselutly everything from lights to chairs. He then should notice the vase and be astonished. I think something just as simple as adding that would improve the play a lot and give it more meaning.
ReplyDeleteMy character in the play, Comedy in Black, is Brindsley, To fit the scene I will often stumble across objects, and not make eye contact. By not making eye contact I would give the impression that I didn’t know where any one was. Also while we are walking around, I could do things I normally would not do in public, such things would include; me talking, and scratching my crotch, or really dramatize my facial expressions even when talking to someone. When I am moving objects such as furniture, I’ll bump into things. My main role is to be occupied by moving the furniture, to make sure Harold camping doesn’t find my furniture. I will exaggerate this by speeding up my talking pace, as well as looking worried over all. I would identify this with talking faster as well as exaggerating bumping into things, and over all rushing my movements. I could also show my hatred towards characters I don’t like. One of these characters could be Colonel. One scene I could pee on him or something. Something crazy like that would add comedy to the act, as well as showing the extremes. Other things I could do to show my situation is to avoid all contact with Harold, as he is the one I stole the furniture from.
ReplyDeleteBy Griffin Chu ☺
My character in the play Black Comedy is Miss Furnival, who, throughout the play, is not a character with a prominent speaking role. This does not mean that she isn't an important character, as she is present throughout the whole play. When she isn't talking, she is acting with her body. Since the whole play is 'in the dark' I can use this to my advantage very much because it means that I can overreact Miss Furnival's movements. Also, already at the beginning of the play she gets quite drunk, and doesn't talk for a period of time because she is too busy pouring herself drinks.
ReplyDeleteI would try to develop Miss Funrival’s character by adding in little snippets of dialogue that develop her character, for example little conversations about her grandchildren or stories from her past. This is why, I will try to incorporate jokes into the way I walk around on stage and pretend to be drunk. Miss Furnival because she seems like an old lady who gives the impression that she is innocent but is actually quite clumsy, silly, and humorous. If her part had more lines I think a lot more jokes could have been worked into the play and she would have been a much stronger character.
Miss Furnival talks about her father and how he was a very religious, and she always seems worried that she is doing something wrong by his standards. This could be used as an advantage to emphasise her change in character from when she is drunk vs. when she is sober.
Miss Furnival also seems kind of of like an old woman that feels like she has no meaning in life and strives to find something to live for, or to bond more with her friends, which is probably why she is so enthusiastic about her friends.
HAYY IM HAROLD! Harold is the amusing role in Comedy in Black that brings the warmth and happiness when watching/performing the play. I believe that Harold is the character that brings majority of the laughter from the audience as he acts out the uncomfortable and unpredicted scenes. Harold seems to be the only character with an obvious and fantastic sense of humor. The other characters just seem boring to me and if it wasn't for a good plot they wouldn't be any different from normal people thus making the play boring. My favorite part about Harold is that he has a unique personality that shines and also his part in the play where he establishes a weird relationship between him and Brindsley that adds an amusing humor to the play. If i was to change him it would be in terms of his actual role in the play. Also the ending of the play was just scribbled in my opinion. The play lacked a comedy ending which would suite the play overall and it should've also include something unique about the ending since that's what people remember the most after watching the show.My favorite part of the play where Harold was involved in was when he showed the electrician where to fix the fuse and then went off somewhere together and dissapeard from the scene. It was also interesting when Brindslay told him that he was engaged Harold acted in a way as if they had this relationship betwen them which was really funny and yet made you question things.
ReplyDeleteMy character in the play is CLEA, "BRINDSLEY's ex-mistress. Mid-twenties; dazzling, emotional, bright and mischievous. The challenge to her to create a dramatic situation out of the darkness is ultimately irresistible." (official text of distributor)
ReplyDeleteThis official description of the character is similar to my own feeling from the play. Clea's got only two short parts in the play. However, her presence in the play seems to be indispensable to create sense of romance, which is deliberately not represented by Carol, his annoying, too sweet current girlfriend. In order to achieve this effect I would surely behave more mature and sexy than Carol but my voice would be annoying as well because my aim is to complicate Brindsley's situation and make it dramatic. First, I would come to the scene very pretty dressed but nervously because I'm not sure how Brinsley is going to react. Then I would soon turn very angry but I would still listen patiently because I'd be intelligent enough not to surprise other people. But when they start to talk about Clea I would explode with anger and become agressive even to Brinsley while we're up in the bedroom. I would calm down after a passionate kiss. Clea is unstable person since she's broken hearted so I'd be a little crazy and unpredictable.
In the second act I'd be calmer. I'd behave thoughtfully. My aim would be to destroy Brinsley. I'd probably change my voice to old chairwoman.
My character in the ' Black Comedy' play was Carol Melkett. She is Brindsley, the protagonist's fiancee, but she doesn't know that he is interested in another woman.She has a really annoying voice and is is spoiled; it gets more clear when her father arrives, because she starts to talk to her father as a baby. She is one of the main characters. If I was told to be Carol in the play, I would walk carefully but a with short steps, I would wear pink to emphasize her immaturity. I would also make confused facial expressions; I would make a really annoying voice and I would wear a pinkie makeup, because that would make her look more spoiled. I would also try to make her look dumb and stupid by taking a long time to answer questions. In a scene, I could let a vase or something fall and break it, because that would make her look clumsy and innocent. Then, Brindsley could clean it up to show that he considers, likes her somehow. He could ask for Carol’s help to move the furniture, but then, Carol could tell him that she doesn’t want to break her nails and that's why she is not doing it, that would also make her look very spoiled.
ReplyDeleteThe character I was throughout the play was the Colonel. To fit into the scene I would make the Colonel, at first, a whole lot more careful with what he says to his daughter's fiancée. Furthermore I would eventually develop into the loving farther for her daughter who knows better than she does herself and therefore wants his daughter to break up with her fiancée. I might also bring in some more alcohol for the Colonel so he lightens into a better mood and brings even more humor into the play. Everything has to be done very tight and formal in a way that a high-ranking army officer would do, such as saying sir to men and sitting in a very formal and straight posture. I would also act a whole lot nicer to women than to men because that is a kind of stereotype that high-ranking officers do in my eyes. On the other hand what the Colonel wants during the play is for his daughter to break up with Harold. He repeatedly mentions that Carol should find a man that will help her and provide her everything she needs and that Harold, who is a very poor artist, is never going to do this for her. This motivation pushes him forward to being mean to basically everyone at the party including the little man. However besides all the constant cursing and insults that the Colonel says towards Harold he keeps pressing on and finally convinces the Colonel that he is good enough for her. What the Colonel also wants on a side note is his scotch, which he never seems to get because they always mess up the drinks in the dark. That basically sums it up with how I would get the Colonel more involved and fit into the play.
ReplyDeleteMy character in the ' Black Comedy' play was Carol Melkett. She is Brindsley, the protagonist's fiancee, but she doesn't know that he is interested in another woman.She has a really annoying voice and is is spoiled; it gets more clear when her father arrives, because she starts to talk to her father as a baby. She is one of the main characters. If I was told to be Carol in the play, I would walk carefully but a with short steps, I would wear pink to emphasize her immaturity. I would also make confused facial expressions; I would make a really annoying voice and I would wear a pinkie makeup, because that would make her look more spoiled. I would also try to make her look dumb and stupid by taking a long time to answer questions. In a scene, I could let a vase or something fall and break it, because that would make her look clumsy and innocent. Then, Brindsley could clean it up to show that he considers, likes her somehow. He could ask for Carol’s help to move the furniture, but then, Carol could tell him that she doesn’t want to break her nails and that's why she is not doing it, that would also make her look very spoiled. And also pretending to look far away would make her a confused type of person.And I think that what she wants is to have everyone's attention. She likes to be center of attention and one of the reasons why is that she is a spoiled, innocent, careful and confused woman.
ReplyDeleteThe Comedy in Black play is about a power surge and no one can see anything but we the audience can see everything but when they can see we can’t see. When Harold (my character) Brindsley’s neighbor returns from his holiday but doesn’t know that Bamberger “borrowed” his furniture to impress the father of his fiancé. As Harold doesn’t want to be alone in the dark so he decides to stay with Brindsley, Harold in my opinion is the funniest character in the play wile everyone is scared of the dark or busy hiding the evidence of theft Harold is right in the scene. Harold is what makes the play interesting to watch because he easygoing.
ReplyDeleteI really want to know what the author of comedy in black imagined Harold to look, talk, move like and how the author came up with the idea to make a play that is structured like this. I would also like to know what would happen after the ending did Brindsley have to pay for the Ming vase or even did they all work together to hide the maybe dead body? If I were playing him in a play I would probably put on a very colorful shirt and some khakis I would make my voice very energetic and walk around the stage looking for Brindsley because if I understood the play correctly he likes him. This is how I would act if I would be Harold in a play.
-Dominik