Drama Key Moments

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Key moment 1

  • What happened?
    • Hurricane (opening scene)
  • Why is it important?
    • Introduces the audience to Hortense and Mrs Ryder
  • Characters involved?
    • Mrs Ryder (Amy Forrest)
    • Hortense (Leah Harvey)
  • Quotes used?
    • "My very first hurricane"-Forrest
    • "I believe you might ask why I am in this room with this fool American woman"-Harvey
    • "Ooo, Hortense it's almost here"-Forrest
    • "The reason I am in this schoolhouse is because I chose to be"-Harvey
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Underneath a table CS with an excitable expression on her face. Harvey is DSR performing a monologue to the audience, whilst Forrest is frozen behind her.
    • Harvey uses an Afro-Caribbean accent, whilst Forrest uses a posh RP accent and a joyful tone. Harvey uses a sarcastic tone and makes large gestures towards Forrest
    • She also has an annoyed/frustrated expression on her face
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Key moment 2

  • What happened?
    • Hortense meets Michael
  • Why?
    • Shows Hortense's back story and expresses the internal abuse that can occur 
  • Characters involved?
    • Young Hortense (Keira Chnasa)
    • Mr Philip (Trevor Laird)
    • Young Michael (Shaquahn Crowe)
  • Quotes used?
    • But what if she comes back to us look for us-Chansa
    • So, this is Lovell's child?-Laird
    • Little girls do not climb trees-Laird
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Chansa has been walked in from USR down to CS by James-Young who is partly dragging her. Chansa looks terrified. Laird glances up and down at Chansa and uses an overpowering voice
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Key moment 3

  • What happened?
    • Bernard meets Queenie
  • Why?
    • Displays the importance of marriage within the 1940s and how strict the roles within society were
  • Characters involved?
    • Bernard (Andrew Rothney)
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
  • Quotes used?
    • I was...-Rothney
    • Tall, skinny. not bad looking-Loftus
    • The Weather's rather cloudy-Rothney
    • They say silence is golden but this in danger of being burnt to a crop-Loftus
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Rothney enters USR, Loftus is stood USC. Rothney speaks with an RP accent yet has a slight stutter and his words are slightly mumbled. He looks nervous and fiddles with his fingers. Loftus speaks with a sarcastic tone and at an even pace, her accent is northern with unclear diction. She looks quite awkward but remains smiley whilst she is weighing sweets for Rothney
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Key Moment 4

  • What happened?
    • Queenie meets Gilbert
  • Why?
    • Shows that racism that occurred within 1940s Britain and the segregation that happened
  • Characters involved?
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
    • Gilbert (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr)
  • Quotes used?
    • I don't want people thinking I harmed you-Eustache Jnr
    • Man, this woman was so lovely-Eustache Jnr
    • Thank you for bringing him back-Loftus
    • Segreant ******* will be waiting for me at camp-Eustache Jnr
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Eustache holds his hands up with a worried afro-Caribbean tone at a fast pace with nervousness and stutters
    • Loftus is smiling and has a joyful tone of voice. she steps closer to HIm to create closer Proxemics and looks confused
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Key Moment 5

  • What happened?
    • Arthur (a beloved character is shot)
  • Why?
    • Shows the horrific displays of racism within Britain during the 1940s and an empathy/relief for Queenie from the death
  • Characters involved?
    • Arthur (David Fielder)
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
    • Gilbert (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr)
    • American GI (Daniel Nortford)
  • Quotes used?
    • Sit where you're told boy-Nortford
    • Stay-Loftus
    • What did you do that for? It's only Arthur-Loftus
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Cast are CS on chairs. Nortford jumps up and shouts the line with anger/aggression. Loftus pulls on Eustache Jnr arm whilst stating her line loudly.  Loftus' face turns to distraught and rushes forward and puts Fielder in her lap and sobs
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Key Moment 6

  • What happened?
    • Michael comes back
  • Why?
    • Shows contrast between the love between Queenie and her husband and her relationship with Michael
  • Characters involved?
    • Michael (CJ Beckford)
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
  • Quotes used?
    • I think I can accommodate you-Loftus
    • You kept this in your pocket?-Beckford
    • Your palms, they're blacker than mine-Beckford
    • This isn't me-Loftus
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Loftus looks shocked whilst Beckford stands at the door USR with a grin. Loftus gasps and says his name adoringly. The couple stands CS with Beckford holding Loftus' hand. Their gaze is on each other and Beckford says his line with a slight tenderness to it and clear adoration in his voice. Their proxemics are close and Loftus stumbles back with a small gait whilst Beckford strolls in with a wide gait swinging his arms happily.
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Key Moment 7

  • What happened?
    • Hortense arrives in England
  • Why?
    • Shows the segregations and racism shown towards people of colour in the 1940s but also shows Hortense's views of gender roles within society
  • Characters involved?
    • Hortense (Leah Harvey)
    • Gilbert (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr)
  • Quotes used?
    • Show me the other rooms...that you forget to come and meet me"-Harvey
    • But this is is-Eustache Jnr
    • Only one bed?-Harvey
    • Yes, nights are very cold-Eustache Jnr
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Harvey enters through door USR with a shocked expression on her face which soon transforms to become a look of disgust. Harvey drops her bags upon the floor with a form of brutality and aggression. Eustache Jnr's mouth is agape and his hands are splayed out in front of him. His expression is shocked and looks taken aback.
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Key Moment 8

  • What happened?
    • Bernard comes home
  • Why?
    • Shows the realities of war and displays the continuous racial difficulties within the society of the 1940s
  • Characters involved?
    • Bernard (Andrew Rothney)
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
    • Gilbert (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr)
  • Quotes used?
    • Queenie, it's me-Rothney
    • Didn't you get my letter? he died.-Loftus
    • It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Bligh-Eustache Jnr
    • You could've got white lodgers-Rothney
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Loftus wraps her arms around her. Anger is ridden in her voice which raises at the end of the question. The end of the line is barely audible. Eustache Jnr stretches his hand out to Rothney to shake it with a grin on his face. Rothney ignores the gesture, Eustache Jnr has a joyful tone and is at a moderate pace with clarity.
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Key Moment 9

  • What happened?
    • Queenie gives birth
  • Why?
    • Shows the social attitudes towards biracial babies
  • Characters involved?
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
    • Hortense (Leah Harvey)
  • Quotes used?
    • Hortense, stay with me-Loftus
    • Mrs Bligh are you with Child?-Harvey
    • It's a boy a lovely perfect little boy-Loftus
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    • Loftus is CS gripping onto a chair with lots of tension whilst screaming loudly with a red face and a pained expression. Her scream is at a low pitch. Harvey's voice shows concern with a mix of curiosity. She is trying to look at Loftus whilst keeping distanced proxemics. Harvey stares in shock whilst Loftus laughs with a smile on her face
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Key Moment 10

  • What happened?
    • Queenie gives her baby
  • Why?
    • Shows the abuse and discrimination women were faced with when they slept with men of a differing colour
  • Characters involved?
    • Queenie (Aisling Loftus)
    • Hortense (Leah Harvey)
    • Gilbert (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr)
  • Quotes used?
    • You have a name for him?-Harvey
    • Michael-Loftus
    • Michael is a favourite name of mine-Harvey
  • How did they perform it? Body Voice
    •  Harvey states gently and with sincerity within her voice, whilst rocking the baby matching her voice. She is CS and has close proxemics with both Eustache Jnr and Loftus when the baby is named. There is a short pause where Loftus and Harvey make direct eye contact and there is a form of sadness mixed with love within Loftus' voice.
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