Scene 1
This scene involved Arlequino and another member of the Zanni class.

Positives: There was clarity in terms of the voices of the two characters—each had a distinct and personal voice for their character. Also the movement during the height intensity parts of the scenario involved highly appropriate movements that were in the style of the character being portrayed.

Areas of improve: Probably the most glaring area to fix would be the placement of the two actors simply because they weren’t always facing the audience and because of this, it was unclear what the action was. Also the movement during the low intensity parts of the scenario lacked—there was not real sense of the character being portrayed. This I felt devalued the scenario and the actions taking place simply because you could see the “high school students” rather the characters we were supposed to be portraying.

Note: This is just a reflection of the first video.

In both cases, Pantalone’s anger is not conveyed enough. there is enough physical and verbal actions to understand Pantalone’s anger, but it is not wrath.

When I opened my eyes after placing the mask, I definitely felt something was different. There were no boundaries – just myself with the mask. No homework, no schoolwork, no things that had to be done or taken care of, it was as if my slate of thought had been wiped clean. The only solid feeling that could be put into words was my sudden urge to explore the Black Box Theatre. At this moment, I still acknowledged the mask’s existence, which meant that I was trying to fix the mask into the right position so that I was comfortable with it. But as time passed by, walking in the Black Box and exploring the “new” environment, I completely forgot about the fact that I had the mask on. This fact, wearing a mask, was brought back to light when all four of us were touching each other’s masks.

After accepting the mask as a part of me, actions were simply taken because I felt like doing so (there was not much neurons conversing in the pre-frontal cortex). The actions seemed to come from most basic needs and wants that were simple and straightforward. Thinking back on what I was doing, I have to admit that our actions were like toddlers just getting accquainted with the world. Especially when we were toying with the props and the tambourine.

All in all, this mask experience has ignited some dormant ideas to become active; not so much in a theatrical sense, but in a therapeutic sense. The fact that the mask “takes over” your identity, you are cut off from your worries, desires, and thoughts that jumbled in your mind before placing the mask, and because the neutrality of the mask brings you to a “neutral” condition, your mental age, retrogrades (in a controlled way), which allows you to, quite literary, look at something (object, problem, ect…) in a new manner.

Initially I was a little lost and apprehensive at to what exactly we were getting ourselves when we were acquainting ourselves with the masks—it all seemed a bit silly. It was because of these reasons that I was very self-conscious of what we were doing. We were being told what to do and it didn’t seem to have much significance.

I began to develop a sense of a connection with my character when we began to do more physical work, when the beginnings of our character behind the mask were birthed. It was birth that was so important—naïve as it sounds, it was if I was becoming a different person. It is this idea that to me I find hard to convey, this separation of who I was prior to the workshop and my character doing the workshop. Soon after, we were introduced to several items which seemed as though it was the first time I had ever seen them. It felt very weird and new to feel. This was where I began to get lost in the workshop—things sort of blurred together almost like a trance. After this we were required to interact with the other masked figures which was a truly bizarre experience because I truly felt that I had no previous connection with them despite the fact that they are my classmates. My emotions jumped to a high when a tambourine was introduced and I got scared—something that would not have happened if I hadn’t been in character. The rest of the workshop went by in a blur and I was extremely surprised to hear that the whole task took 33 minutes—it felt more like 10.

There were many moments that stuck out in my memory. Probably the most interesting part was when we finally looked at each other with the masks on. When I looked at my fellow class mates with their mask on, I felt like they were completely different people and I almost felt threatened by them. I remember observing all three classmates and describing to myself what they looked like. I remember Seamus looking dangerous, Terrance looking brave, and Monica looking almost innocent. I did not refer to them by their real names in my mind, as we were all different characters.

I was amazed how long the work shop really was compared to what we thought it would be. I estimated about 10 minutes, but the real length was about 35 minutes. I was surprised because there were many things I did not remember doing in the workshop until later that day. It was emotionally strange and confusing.

I felt lost through out most of it in terms of not really being there as George. My brain was almost shut down while the mask took over. Other than that, I seemed to understand everything else going on around me.

I was probably most self conscious when we were touching the mirrors since I clearly remember that part.

The most difficult part of this activity to convey to another person would be the feeling you get when you see the other classmates differently. However, the whole experience is hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t participated in the activity.