Louise
My character Louise, was born in Lancaster on 24th August 1967. Which makes Louise the age of 20, in the play. Louise is a quiet character, she is happy in her own company but not necessarily happy with the life in which she is living. She is surrounded by people, but again, not necessarily people who take care of her, or who like and respect her; 'He puts his hands on her face...smudging make-up and leaving black'. Because of her quietness she has somehow ended up being the tag-along to Carol, a loud and confident but close friend of Louise. But just because she's quiet doesn't mean she doesn't know how to express her thoughts and feelings, dependant on whether she builds up enough confidence to do so. And doesn't she know what she wants in life!! She stores everything up and away from the people in her life, which sort of makes her a wallflower. "You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand" ~ Steven Chbosky. Louise knows and observes life as she lives it, but would never dare to speak of the things she see's or secretly knows; she simply understands.
Louise: aesthetically
I originally pictured Louise very differently to what I have now settled with. The left image shows you my first costume idea. It was the more tom-boyish and casual look, which at the time I felt suited her. But honestly it probably suited me more. If it wasn't for the suggestion of me wearing a dress or skirt; I created the costume idea no2, the image on the right. With the two ideas sat next to each other, I automatically see the image on the right as more the 80's/Madonna style that I originally set out to create. So my costume now consists of- my hair being curled and tied up high. It can be messy, with bits hanging down. Large hooped earrings. A light coloured denim jacket (the jacket doesn't have shoulder pads- "me shoulder pads slipped" but instead I just adjust the shoulder facing away from the audience so the tone is set on what I am doing and saying), with a black t shirt underneath. A tartan skirt, with fish net tights. Then heeled black boots which look considerably better than the red converses with this outfit. I've toned down the jewellery and am settling with just the one long silver cross chain, a lacy glove and a few bracelets.
Most importantly I feel more like Louise in my now chosen costume. I feel very 80's and I know it will hugely help me with my characterisation as Louise. I researched a lot into 80's fashion to ensure I was mastering the look, as such. The 'ra-ra' skirt look was Ra-Ra skirts were inspired by American cheerleaders, and they often came in many different colours with matching tops. They were the all-year-round sort of outfit such as skinny jeans are now, summer they could be worn without tights and just leg warmers etc, with white ankle socks etc. ~ A-Z Of The 80's, Ally Molloy. So I have given Louise a tartan skirt, similar length as the Ra-Ra skirts but without the frill of the tutu like material. I've gone for a non-patterned top half of my outfit with a denim jacket and a big black t-shirt. I am still using all the jewellery that I used for my last costume idea as it still very much looks the 80's part. The lacy/fish net tights, as said in the A-Z book, were a thing whether they were patterned, spotty, lacy, coloured whatever. I don't think the prospect of making your clothes match existed then. Pixie boots and chelsea boots were popular, they were usually suede ankle boots with a cuff at the top- hence my pixie boots look-alikes for Louise. I have made Louise into one of those people, we all know of, whom try hard to fit in with others. This is why it worked that me and Phoebe were wearing fairly similar outfits; which works really well because it is literally Louise copying her outfit in order to fit in. This is how I have perceived Louise as a character; someone whom only floats around Carol one to look cool and two to fit in with the crowd- i.e. the popular crowd that Louise is and has never been a part of. This is where me and Louise are probably quite different, as I am happy to have my own style of fashion, but it suited Louise well, it also highlighted her lack of confidence in herself and around others
Characterisation
I am not changing Louise hugely; by that I mean I am not changing her walk or posture as I feel that would make her a lot more un-naturalistic and that's not the look I am going for. My walk will be changed a lot because I am in heels, so I won't be walking as Issie. Nor will I be sitting like me, as I will be in a skirt. Her posture I don't think needs to change, however she wouldn't sit up straight with confidence, so making herself look smaller and shorter will suit her better. Being tallmakes her look awkward which coincidentally suits her character.In Jane Horrocks version of Louise, she often has her walking around quickly in her heels making her look really awkward in them. I've tried to take this into my entrance in Brenda and Carol's scene, the more clumsily and rushed I enter; the more comedic it will make this burst in- during quite a tense scene. Horrocks always seems to have her hands in her pockets, which again shows the lack of confidence Louise has. I have also tried to incorporate this into my characterisation of Louise; as I think it well suits her awkwardness as a character. I do this, especially in the entrance of her and Carol in the boys 'flat'. Louise is probably really excited but really nervous at the same time; so it's nice that we enter with linked arms as though supporting one another- not that Carol needs supporting. My other hand, delved deep into 'her' denim jacket. Reading into this body language a bit more, opened up a few more meanings: "According to body language when someone becomes unsatisfied with his self image he will put his hands in his pocket" And to my surprise this fits Louise well, although it isn't directly how I wanted to portray Louise in the opening of the end scene, it suits her characterisation in which I have created for her perfectly. As soon as she feels awkward, her hands will fall into her pockets; so like someone, 'unsatisfied' with their 'self image', which technically is a sign of lack of confidence, Louise feels awkward in the scene. Which is nicely backed up from, http://www.2knowmyself.com/Reading_body_language_hands_in_pocket, and its quote: "if someone always puts their hands in their pockets then this person might be lacking self confidence because he always feels uncomfortable around other people." This came as a nice reassurance to me as it mean't I hadn't branched away from Horrocks characterisation, which would've meant I'd have branched away from Cartwrights original interpretations- seeing as he directed these actors in the tv series. It also proves to me that I am nearing the grading criteria of 'playing a consistent' character, because even the subtlest of actions I do, always link back to my creation of Louise and my characterisation of her.
Vocally Louise is very different to other characters I have played and I was really excited to dive straight into experimentation with the Northern accent. I knew that I wanted to work hard on it, as I have been closely following the grading criteria given to me that reads " Perform a role, communicating meaning to an audience with consistent focus, showing imagination, flair and commitment to the work". From this I knew that I really wanted to become Louise and I knew the majority of doing this would be due to the accent. In various blog posts I have published, there is evidence of the accent work I experimented with in order to really improve the accent. The few books I loaned out came as really useful to me; one of the books had an audio CD that I made the effort to listen too and make notes on every now and then. The most help was the phone app- it targeted the northern accent in different ways. So there was an audio reading, a piece of text that you could read and record in the accent; there was also the different sounds of the accent listed. A huge ongoing thing for me is voice projection, I naturally have a quiet voice and this never seems to change when it comes to the stage. As the accent work was improving I knew that I needed to be heard; in order for that 'commitment to the work/focus' as Louise would really shine. This entire process of learning an accent has been new to me and my expectations of doing it lived up to the real thing; I really enjoyed going away and teaching myself even more to really master it and looking back on it now, I can really see how far I've come with it.
Other characterisations of the role
Nearing the start of the assignment I linked Louise with Charlie from The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, understanding that he is a male character, and Louise a female, I went on... he is a quiet character and simply observes life as it goes past. However he has things in life that he wants, one for his aunty to come back and to have friends. These 'dreams' are a running theme in the book/film. The end of the story, see's Charlie improving, as the secret of his aunty is revealed so I would like to say that his life after the story begins to improve and he gets all the dreams that he wants. Like Louise, I hope this happens to her. She starts to get really passionate and this is built up in the final scene where her confidence starts to build as well. It is all then released in her monologue and she says it quickly; listing off everything and anything she's ever wanted- done quickly, as though she is doing it before someone can stop her! The earlier reference to Louise being a 'wallflower' fits well to how I have created her. Like Charlie, Louise knows a lot but never speaks a word of it. Louise knows very early on, even in the pub (an un-seen scene, but mentioned) that Carol quite likes the boys. Louise knows not to mention this infront of the boys, seeing as it would completely ruin this persona Carol has built up for herself. So as soon as the boys exit, Louise: "you fancied them when you saw them!" Louise knows she is in the safety of, just the two as company and also knows that Carol does like them, "she likes you really' so its probably quite brave of her to announce this to Brink; but Louise isn't dumb- she most probably says this in order to get Eddie.
In terms of characterisation I have copied Charlie in different situations, in a party scene of the film; he is surrounded by girls, looking really quiet awkward. This situation doesn't happen in Road, however I tried to take from it Charlie's quietness, politeness as well as his awkwardness. He doesn't really know how to cope with all the girls attention so whenever Eddie makes an effort with Louise, I try to make it as awkward but at the same time make it obvious that she likes it. It's just never really happened to her before now, so its all a little bit new to her. This comes across in the kiss, as Eddie goes to kiss her, he pulls her back into a sitting position- this is all done slowly and as though Eddie knows exactly what he's doing; but they sort of go to kiss whilst still standing; and this really highlights that awkwardness radiating off of Louise. It feels awkward when doing it, which should hopefully show, making it more natural. Again this is very similar to Charlie when he kisses Sam; he really portrays his awkwardness as a character which is what I tried to do with Louise. In both characters, the hint of confidence shines through in the kiss- Louise goes for it, and it really shows that she would be much better off without Carol.
Other characterisations of Louise have been done by a very well liked actress of mine, Jane Horrocks. She played Louise in 1987, as well as playing her in the TV series. She was born in a part of Lancashire, so her accent is spot on for the play. In the tv series, to me she comes across a lot more confident than I have portrayed, for example her first line in the tv remake is delivered loudly, and directly at her brother, "can I get ta mirror?". She then says "I cant stand it" and puts a lot of emphasis on 'stand'. Again this is aimed at her brother, and said by Horrocks with a harsh and angry tone- which again shows a more confident side to Louise than what I have portrayed. She returns to the level of confidence I have given her, when in the tv series 'brother' harasses her and wipes the oil over her. She becomes this helpless girl. Then as soon as Horrocks enters in Brenda and Carol's scene she becomes the quiet character in which I have created. This remains the same for the following scenes, but again it is clear to see the build up in confidence when she goes to speak her monologue. However in this version, Horrocks says it a lot slower than I do, which I personally don't think suits the meaning of the monologue itself. I speed up the last few sentences of the monologue to really show that she's getting the hang of "letting out, out" and speaking her mind for once in her life: "I want magic and miracles and Jesus to come along and change things again, and show the invisible and not keep forgetting, forge-netting everything and kicking everyone" all that quote is said quickly, in one breath- but hopefully understandable. By doing this I am hopefully showing how much this means to Louise for really letting everything she's ever kept from everyone, out.
I had gathered a lot of my own impressions on Louise before seeing these televised versions so our two characterisations of the character seem to be quite different. But this is what I wanted, I wanted to create Louise as my own character- building on what I wanted to do for her as character and making her to exactly how I first interpreted her. We have our similarities in the two versions of Louise, but I have created mine a lot quieter, which I personally think makes a nicer balance in the characters in the final scene. Brink and Louise being the quieter ones, Eddie would be the leader if Carol wasn't so dominant but these different levels in characters make us, as a four, more realistic as such. We all know a group of friends, that have that one or two quieter members; these members are typically the outcasts and tag-alongs to the group but often just quieter, we then have the one or two dominant ones (Carol and Eddie)
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| Eddie, Louise and Carol: another 'Road' |
Louise: Characterisation//star sign
Being born in the end of August means that her star sign is Virgo. "When a Virgo is confident within themselves they are the most successful, structured and creative of all the signs" Virgo: Star sign this sums up Louise perfectly; when she finally builds up her confidence, in the end scene, she lets go of everything she has cooped up, all her feelings of the world, of Road and the people around her. This confidence shines through really strong, in this ending monologue as she lists everything she has planned to want in life, " I want magic and miracles, and a Jesus to come along and change things again and show the invisible. And not keep forgetting, forge-netting everything and kicking everyone." This is her releasing everything she has kept from everyone in her life, and now that she has the confidence she speeds through this list; before someone can stop her and make her turn inwards again. 'A kind heartedness' is amidst of this star sign and it is often 'played upon by others, for their advantage' and perhaps this is what Carol is doing. Carol refuses to admit to the boys (Eddie and Brink) that she quite likes them, but later admits to Louise, "you fancied them when you saw them? C: Maybe I did, maybe I did!" So it makes me wonder that perhaps Carol is using Louise to get the boys. In the bar, an un-seen scene in the play, Louise perhaps clearly shows her likeness to the boys and Carol also (but without expressing this physically or verbally.) So she used Louise as a reason to go back to the boys house, knowing full well that this is definitely what Louise wanted seeing as she really does like them. "Shy, they are happy to allow others to take center stage" Louise is more than happy to let Carol run the 'scene', if you like, Carol changes up the scene whenever she wants, such as there is a glimmer of a nice conversation between Louise and Eddie: "er nice place this really" "you think so?" "yeah I mean underneath it all, if it were tidied up" Carol the reverts the scene back to her at this point, ruining the slight hope us as the audience have started to build; the hope that Louise and Eddie get a proper chance to talk. Carol is, on some occasions leading the boys on, such as Brink: "hey so when are you gonna make the first move, when should we expect the first move then lads?" Other examples of her leading the scene, is her ordering Louise to leave.And that hint of a 'tag along' which I have debated on putting to her name, is shown here as she Louise just follow's suit, "C: Come on then Louise" 'Louise, gets up, grabs her bag'. I made sure to make this exit more hesitant from Louise, so when Brink gets up to stop us, he reaches Carol whom has made it nearer the door; so the stage balance ends up as me looking at Brink and Carol, and me and Eddie on the other split of the stage.
Carol, in her drunken state, get's up to express her feelings about boys, and how she wanted 'something else to happen for a change'; Louise lets her do so, as it perhaps takes the attention off of Louise and Eddie who earlier on in the scene, got 'together.' "A Virgo exists in the mind" Virgo: Star sign And again, this is Louise summed up. She keeps everything in her mind, to herself and it is rare that in 'Road' (the play, by Jim Cartwright) she says anything that has real meaning to her and is something from deep down- excluding her monologue of course.
Parents//upbringing
I have previously said how she isn't fond of her parents, as they have never really taken the time to properly look after her or her older brother (un-named.) Her mother and father both had jobs, but the unemployment 'tsunami' across the UK meant that they are both unemployed now (in the year of 87.) Both her mum and dad worked in banks, her father did a bit of travelling, to various different bank stores and her mum did a lot less but it was important that they were both bringing in money for the family. Louise isn't very fond of any of her family members, they have never really taken much of an interest in their children, but more so of her brother if they ever had a favourite child. Her parents parents never took much of an interest in Louise and 'brother' and so when they died, even that didn't have an effect on Louise and her upbringing; as you might expect to hear if say they'd been really close to their grand-children. This, I believe, has had a huge effect on who she is now. She is quiet because her brother and father were so dominant. Knowing full well she would never have more attention than her brother, she kept herself to herself, all her thoughts/dreams/passions included. Her confidence has been low because of the little amount of care given to her in her childhood, and this hasn't changed and probably won't as our childhoods have a massive effect on who we are today.
Childhood//school//friendships
Both her and her brother attended school, which is where Louise met Carol. Carol and Louise are a sort of odd couple. Carol is so loud and you wouldn't place someone like her, next to someone like Louise. They have a close friendship but I am still adamant that Louise is purely Carol's tag along and that after the show finishes- after Louise's monologue- Louise spreads her wings a bit, and escapes 'Road' and goes to live a life, away from her childhood which means she leaves Carol behind. Although I have no doubt Carol is just as keen to escape also; "anyway Iam leaving soon and all that so".
This sudden and random confidence spurt, on behalf of Louise, opens a new door for her and I believe that she keeps this new persona up; and gets friends whom don't take advantage of her, and like her for who she is, and also actually include her as a friend; instead of what Carol does which is just letting her be the tag-along. But this doesn't bother Carol, and why should it? It is a confidence boost for her (Carol I mean) not that she needs it, but it proves to everyone else that Carol is someone of a popular popularity; with someone always floating about her- that being Louise.
At school Louise wasn't the 'weird out-cast' she had her friends (Carol, and a few others) but she was never the 'popular' girl which so happens to also be Carol. So her (Louise) social status wasn't the lowest of lows, she was liked by various people but because she's so quiet, "I'm a quiet person me" she's never had the confidence to go off and find new friends- which has lead to her being stuck with Carol. The integrated quote is something quite brave for Louise to admit. Some people find it hard to admit they are loud and overly confident, so in opposition; it must be hard for her to admit that she's quiet; but also mature of her to acknowledge that 'people think I'm deaf and dumb', which must be hard to deal with when, perhaps she just wants to get away from Carol but people don't see her as a person- whenever she is without Carol. Her social status at home is even lower than it was at home, she is not liked by her brother, mum or dad and fortunately she doesn't like them either. She very much keeps herself to herself, happy in her own company and thoughts which is where I have made Louise conjure up all these thoughts about wanting "magic and miracles, and a Jesus..." and a better life.
Social skills
Louise's social skills don't shine as brightly as Carol's do when we first meet her but she does have her skills. Firstly she has kept a close-ish friend for a fair few years and at that school age friendships tend to change dramatically; usually quite a few times before you reach that maturer age in which you have found that close set of friends (friend in Louise's case.) This close friendship is shown, through Carol knowing that Louise really likes Eddie, so in the dancing Carol pushes Louise into him.
Louise manages to 'get' both of the boys, Eddie and Brink, just half way through the scene. At first I thought that it was just her playing easy, but because she's so quiet; this is really out of character for her. A strong sense of likeness towards Eddie and Brink must have happened in order for her to 'let go' and 'go for it' as such. Carol shows this sort of affection but it is a lot more dominant, and of course lead by Carol and not the boys. Whereas it is Eddie whom brings Louise into him; with Louise not protesting which tells us that she feels something strongly about him otherwise she would've put up a fight, or been too shy to make a move. This scene, to me, is completely out of my character interpretations of Louise. I could never see her feeling that confident to kiss Eddie and Brink back but she does. But I think this is all her building herself up for when she explodes in her monologue. So this is her sort of getting back at Carol, in the most politest and subtle way possible. Carol would be really, really cross- Louise has pulled a guy, and she hasn't. And this is most probably never happened before, it's probably always the other way round. So really, Louise's social skills must be good, or her 'boy' skills being good.
Louise comes across as a friendly character, more so than Carol does which must work in her favour. People like other people who listen, observe, and often have nothing much to say in return: we don't have many people like so in our world so people like Louise are people magnets; because she comes across really quiet, friendly, she can have a good laugh and she knows when and what to say- she really is just a nice character. And that's why she is so contrasting to others on 'Road'. I couldn't pin point any other character in the play, that genuinely comes across as nice. The Professor is a genuine guy but he's had a hard life, so he either sticks up for himself in every and any situation or he lets people trample all over him. Brenda is a loner, but a fiery one just like her daughter. Scullery is good fun, but a bit loud to ever be compared to Louise. Jerry is far too stuck in war times.Clare is probably the most well suited for Louise, but that's a bit hypocritical seeing as Clare doesn't last even to the end of the play. So even from these brief character descriptions; I still think Louise is the only nice character, and someone I would honestly quite like as a friend.
She is not hugely out casted on 'Road' and this is shown where the meeting of Carol, Louise and Scullery takes place. She is known by others on 'Road' such as Brenda and Scullery. But apart from that there is no mention of her via other characters. However I think that Dor and Lane could easily become friends with Carol and Louise. Or perhaps when Louise goes off, and 'escapes' 'Road' Carol will be left with noone, but soon discovers Dor and Lane, two more feisty characters whom wouldn't just follow Carol which will teach her a few lessons, but two characters who would make good friends.
Politics
I believe fully that where Louise lives and the things she has lived through has hugely created who she is now, in the play itself. Politics were huge in this era, "J: 19--87 this" Margaret Thatcher at the time was the leading Prime Minister under the party-Conservatives. She was a very un-liked Prime Minister but a lot of people expected her to be really successful seeing as she was to be the first female Prime Minister. I believe that Louise would've been one of these people; hoping that Thatcher would come into power bringing in some new and refreshing terms that would hopefully change the way in which they were living, on 'Road'. This was the complete opposite, Thatcher enforced some rules that either directly lead to huge unemployment or some would say that it wasn't her fault at all, but at the time of 'Road' this is what was occurring and it really did ruin people, especially the people like those we meet on 'Road'. Unemployment is something really hard to deal with but those on 'Road' don't have much any ways, so this cannot of helped them. This is why I think that Cartwright has written in the poorness of these people so well, and so realistically true to what was happening at the time that it's realateable to us as audience members.Global issues
Other less dominant things were also happening in the mid-80's that I do believe had an influence on Cartwright writing of 'Road' as well as the characters on 'Road'. For example the U.S bombs that happened in Libya in 1986 as well as the famine in Ethiopia which happened in 1985. As you know drinking (of the alcohol substance) is a huge theme in 'Road' and I have previously said how this is to do with them trying to drown out and rebel against the things happening around them so I can now link this to the bombings. As far as I know this must've come as a very big thing then seeing as all these new and powerful bombing equipment were starting to 'improve'. So people at the time, especially those on 'Road', whom had no power towards any political or global decisions, used alcohol as 'ear plugs' to escape from the world in which they are living in. Bombings are scary. And so it is a very easy way to drown this out with alcohol and putting on such a front that they love their lives and where they live- and this is done only by Scullery, but maybe he is so proud of his way of living because he can appreciate their luck as a 'community' that they are safe; so he see's it as though they are lucky to have Thatcher against having bombings instead.
Very much like a previous character I played, being Rachel from '13'~ Mike Bartlett, I think that Louise is very political but only through her parents enforcements as I have acknowledged that they have both been made redundant. Meaning that they would have very little belief in Thatcher/the conservatives. This would naturally become a large thing in their family and depending on the parents parties voting choices; they were either hugely against Thatcher and her 'fault' for their unemployment or they were for Thatcher and believed other ways. Saying this, I think that all on 'Road' are against Thatcher and the Tories as it did massively effect them and that is shown by Cartwright through many characters but mainly through the means of them hating their lives and not being able to 'get over the past' and how they wanted different things in their life such as 'magic and miracles', but also how life is like 'fat hard hands in bed' - it is always something that is on each and every characters minds, and so is escaping. Which makes the 'somehow a somehow might escape' a lot clearer to me now; than it originally was made out to me in the beginning. We all want to escape, 'somehow' and it's all a bit like a game, it is not decided who will escape, being the second 'somehow' . 'Might' is stating the little possibility that it might happen or the little motivation that they all have to believe that they 'might' actually 'escape'.
Occupation:
Louise has no occupation however I don't see her leaving school with no ambition in life, because she is different to the other characters on Road. She knows what she wants, "A Jesus to come along and change things, and show the invisible... all the gold and jewels out on the pavements" She wouldn't have aspired after her parents, bank workers, I think she would've gone for something more. Perhaps a teacher? Someone who sets out to do good in the younger generations? Louise wouldn't ever want any child living her childhood; she was that unhappy, so if she sets out to teach these children properly-good Maths, English, good life skills etc then they could 'escape, this trough'. Secretly I can see Louise being much, much smarter than Carol but is never mentioned as it would dampen down Carol's great reputation she has built for herself. So Louise could breeze herself through teacher training and go onto be really quite successful; but if she were to be a teacher I don't see her moving away from 'Road'. It would be important for her to bring up 'Road's' next generation better than hers, so she would teach in 'Road's' local school to make sure this wish is brought to life. Although this contradicts what she, on the surface, is saying in her monologue, looking deeper its not just that: "When that man on the record sings, you put the flags up" this isn't just her appreciating the music, it's her showing her respect for the singer. The words perhaps, are hugely relatable for Louise and she really respects him as a singer. This in itself is a huge contrast to the other characters on 'Road'; as the little things they do have, they take for granted such as alcohol. As well as most others on 'Road' do have a passion for a better future but none of them have the motivation to do so, even Clare knows, "I did a honey quiz, and got full marks! But where do I drive this?" that she could be successful but there is nowhere for her to 'drive it.'
Religion:
Louise has belief in religion but it's nothing strongly drawn to her. She has been brought up; very much against religion which doesn't surprise me seeing as they live on 'Road'. But like I said, she does have belief in it, "I want a Jesus to come along". The use of 'a' Jesus' tells me she isn't hugely religious because the 'person' in which she is talking in. But there is definitely some belief there, which makes her believe/understand that 'Jesus' is the one to come and save her from this life, and 'change things'. Religion is a very rare theme in 'Road', so I think it interesting that Cartwright was written this into Louise, but like me he must know that she is the different character on 'Road', more like the "fucking nutter", and so he knows that she has different 'wishes' in life, and all the things she lists in the monologue such as, the questioning; "why's the world so tough?" "I want my life all shined up." Again in her monologue, she talks about "he reminds you of all them feelings you keep forgetting" and I understand, that on the surface, this is about the singer on the record. But could it be a religious reference? This 'he' reminds Louise of the real meanings of life such as 'feelings, the ones you keep forgetting' and she also says how she 'puts the flags up' when 'he' sings; singing being Jesus/God speaking their words of wisdom and religion to all those in belief of 'him'. The 'flags' being a method of Louise and others showing their belief to 'him'.
'Road'
Talking in terms of 'Road' and Louise in 'Road' now, I want to talk about the first scene in which you meet Louise and her brother. This scene is quite tense, and probably quite awkward for Louise although she is more than familiar with her brothers antics. The scene takes place with just her and her brother, and it is her getting ready to meet Carol as they go to "every pub in site, including the Molokos" . The brother is doing nothing. I like how Cartwright has written in the 'brother' character with no name; it really highlights how little the brother means to Louise.
Before this scene, I reckon that nothing much has happened, as the tense and exciting bit is being slowly built up as soon as the scene starts and you can sense that Louise is frustrating brother every time she questions him- so the atmosphere is growing ever stronger until it explodes with "lets dance" onwards. If it wasn't for Louise provoking him he would've easily gone off to his bath and that be that. So it really was all Louise's fault for pushing him- and you would think she'd have learnt his ways and what not too do, as we all have learnt to do with siblings. But most of us do it purely just to annoy them so was Louise doing it on purpose? If so she has no need to react intimidated so instead of delivering her line, "you cant dance with your brother?!" she would instead reply in a more of a dead tone, as though brushing off the brothers actioning. But instead I have made her reacts as though it's all a surprise to her, but it clearly shows to me that the brother never fails to be as intimidating as he was the first time he did it; that is his personality and Louise both knows how to provoke it and also avoid it.
This is another thing she keeps from others, the fact that her brother is extremely threatening and intimidating towards her; she keeps this to herself and even when Carol asks "what's up with you" Louise brushes this with an excuse that her 'shoulder pads slipped'. I reckon this is just a cover up for Louise leaving her house and entering Carol's on a high energy rush, after just experiencing her brother being so abusive. All of this just makes it more apparent to me that although she (Louise) is a quiet character, she still has a lot of issues in her life but we, as audience members, aren't aware of this verbally like we are with other characters such as Curt: "it's where things slide to but don't drop off" meaning that his life and where he lives is purely just the place for the poor whom have nothing and it's then a place where these types of people just stick and never seem to leave. Carol also hints to us that she 'wants something different for a change' and Louise even says how 'every things been made ordinary in our eyes' so Cartwright has very much written in negativity into the play and so even the quiet characters such as Louise have issues, as we all do, but it's only when looking deeper that these are discovered and understood.
To conclude, Louise has been such a great character for me to play. I have really enjoyed playing her, and I really feel as though I became her in the performances. In the past, I have felt that my acting as a character hasn't been persistent so I tried hard to ensure Louise was. The little things like when backstage, I tried to keep moving; whether it was just walking up and down backstage, dancing to Bisto's music etc- this all kept my energy levels up which I so needed for the final scene, so I knew if I sat down and simply just waited, my energy would've dropped significantly. I practised at home, walking, sitting etc in my outfit to get a feel for the skirt and heels. As well as feeling more confident with having my hair tied up, with the lashings of lovely coloured/clashing make-up. I practised entering my bedroom, as though entering Brenda and Carol's scene, faffing around with my outfit to represent having just rushed out from the scene beforehand. My family at home must be sick with my accent work as I really did try to practise as much as I could; which meant home conversations were done in the accent. All these little elements to Louise helped me become her more and more, the more I did them. I am most pleased with the accent work as I was, extremely apprehensive about mastering it as I knew how very weak it was in those first weeks of 'Road'.
Louise will definitely go onto to do bigger things in her life, now that the play is finished. Perhaps like Cartwright himself, she will 'escape' and go onto be successful- as a teacher I hope. Helping others to break the circle of the 'Road's' way of living, giving the children the education needed to break this circle and for them to go on and be successful just as she did. ..."somehow a somehow might escape X4..."
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