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Toni is our first blogger
Monday night's Sapphire session was based on melodrama and stage fighting and because I missed stage fighting last time, I was really looking forward to it. We started off with a few warm up games then we gathered around and listened to the dos and don'ts of stage fighting.
You have to stand far enough away from your partner so you can't touch when you hold your arms out and then you follow the pattern of eye contact, pull fist back, punch and follow through.
We watched a few demonstrations and they were so realistic! It looks especially good if one of you has your back to the audience because of perspective. After this, we got into twos and started practising. It took a while to get the hang of making a loud enough noise or reacting at the right time but within 10 minutes everyone could do it pretty well.
For the final performance each pair was grouped with another to make fours (or a six in one case) and we were asked as a group to come up with a short transcript, similar to the 'Give me the rent' one from the week before but this time involve a fight scene.
By the time it came for everyone to perform, Sapphire had mastered stage fighting. Each group's performance was so creative and unique but then again, they usually are. Some had us all in stitches when a wine thief and his assistant came to steal a "very very expensive and precious" bottle of wine whereas others left us heartbroken with an unsung hero who saved a damsel's earring from the villain but was mistaken for stealing it. There were drunken pub fights to the traditional melodramatic saving of the heroine from danger. The variety was astounding! And there were so many highlights! Thank you Sapphire for making Monday nights the best night of the week!
Happy Yew Tree!
Toni 

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