I've mentioned in an earlier post that Teo, who oversees the Drama Workshop at Camphill was going on holiday for three weeks and that he had set up and alternative project for us to work on, run by Paul, who is his assistant. Three films, which were selected by the residents, 'Oliver!', 'The Sound of Music', and 'Monty Python: and Now For Something Completely Different,' and how the residents had to devise improvisations based on these films. Unfortunately there had been complete breakdown in communication, because no sooner had we done the regular check-in (whereby each resident, co-worker or volunteer is allowed to say how they were feeling before the day began.) than we got a message to say that we were to have visitors from a school with their pupils coming to try out the drama workshop. It put the whole group into a bit of a panic because it meant finding something to occupy both the regulars and the students from this school, the Walnut School. We were supposed to rehearse 'Stranger Danger,' but with some of the cast missing, it wouldn't be worthwhile, although did set up things and when the group from Walnut School eventually arrived we did a truncated version of he play, with one central scene missing and later showed them the video of the play. I was surprised how different the show is since they made the video over a year ago (well before I went to work as a volunteer at Camphill.) The whole play is far better since it's been converted into a 'live' show and the actors put far more effort into thins and it somehow has more depth. It was interesting to see how the pupils who visited reacted to both the play and the video and feedback was worth listening to.
After tea we were involved in the parachute games. I had no idea what this was, until a large multi-coloured material shape was bought into the hall. It had handles sown onto it and we all had to hold this large 'parachute' shape up off he ground and by pulling it taut keep it off the floor. The first game was called 'Sharks.' The idea being that someone started off by running under the parachute and keeping their hand up to represent the shark's dorsal fin and when they reached the other side they touched another person and they had to take over and move to another person holding up the parachute. All the while everyone else holding onto the parachute had to keep it moving as it if was the sea. Then, a game where a load of coloured balls was thrown onto the taut parachute and when it was shaken, the balls are bounced off and we had to count how many were picked up. Another game was with two large balls, about the size of footballs, were placed on the taut parachute and it was timed to see how long it took to get the balls off the parachute, this was also done with all the coloured balls. Quite exhausting, but a lot of fun and a good way to get everyone involved and also good exercise!
After lunch we watched the beginning of Oliver!, which was projected on to the large cinema-sized screen in the Chrysalis Theatre. I haven't seen the film in a long time. I was taken to see the original London production of Oliver! when I was at school, in the early 1960's and I saw the film of Oliver! when I went to London for an interview at RADA to go on a stage management course in around 1968 (I didn't get selected.) I can't believe the film had an overture, which lasts a good 10 minutes! I don't recall the film ever having an overture, unless when I originally saw it I walked into the cinema after the overture. Also, the long list of credits shown before the film, which lasts around 5 minutes. Modern films never have credits BEFORE the film starts. I don't think modern audiences would tolerate such a thing. I do recall film of 'My Fair Lady' having an intermission. From watching this, it will be interesting to see what sort of improvisation we come up with. Next week we will watch some more of Oliver! But we have two more films to watch, so if we watch around 30 minutes of each film each week it will take some time to view all of each film.
At around 3.20 we stopped watching the film because it was Pancake Day! We went outside onto the area infant of the offices at Camphill because pancake races were arranged. A course was cleared along the road which lead out of the campus. One of the guys from the drama workshop, Matthew, held the tape at the end of the course. The starting line was outside the offices. There were several heats (I didn't join in. I don't think I was 100% fit at that time of day.) Then the winner of each heat went on to the next heat until a winner was awarded a certificate as well as 2nd and 3rd. It was a good event. I rather like the community spirit of Camphill. Everyone is appreciated. No-one is left out, regardless of their disability. The staff are brilliant. The residents support one another. It's a totally great place to work. People come from all over the world to work in the various Camphill communities, not just in Milton Keynes. It really is great to be part of it all!
After tea we were involved in the parachute games. I had no idea what this was, until a large multi-coloured material shape was bought into the hall. It had handles sown onto it and we all had to hold this large 'parachute' shape up off he ground and by pulling it taut keep it off the floor. The first game was called 'Sharks.' The idea being that someone started off by running under the parachute and keeping their hand up to represent the shark's dorsal fin and when they reached the other side they touched another person and they had to take over and move to another person holding up the parachute. All the while everyone else holding onto the parachute had to keep it moving as it if was the sea. Then, a game where a load of coloured balls was thrown onto the taut parachute and when it was shaken, the balls are bounced off and we had to count how many were picked up. Another game was with two large balls, about the size of footballs, were placed on the taut parachute and it was timed to see how long it took to get the balls off the parachute, this was also done with all the coloured balls. Quite exhausting, but a lot of fun and a good way to get everyone involved and also good exercise!
After lunch we watched the beginning of Oliver!, which was projected on to the large cinema-sized screen in the Chrysalis Theatre. I haven't seen the film in a long time. I was taken to see the original London production of Oliver! when I was at school, in the early 1960's and I saw the film of Oliver! when I went to London for an interview at RADA to go on a stage management course in around 1968 (I didn't get selected.) I can't believe the film had an overture, which lasts a good 10 minutes! I don't recall the film ever having an overture, unless when I originally saw it I walked into the cinema after the overture. Also, the long list of credits shown before the film, which lasts around 5 minutes. Modern films never have credits BEFORE the film starts. I don't think modern audiences would tolerate such a thing. I do recall film of 'My Fair Lady' having an intermission. From watching this, it will be interesting to see what sort of improvisation we come up with. Next week we will watch some more of Oliver! But we have two more films to watch, so if we watch around 30 minutes of each film each week it will take some time to view all of each film.
At around 3.20 we stopped watching the film because it was Pancake Day! We went outside onto the area infant of the offices at Camphill because pancake races were arranged. A course was cleared along the road which lead out of the campus. One of the guys from the drama workshop, Matthew, held the tape at the end of the course. The starting line was outside the offices. There were several heats (I didn't join in. I don't think I was 100% fit at that time of day.) Then the winner of each heat went on to the next heat until a winner was awarded a certificate as well as 2nd and 3rd. It was a good event. I rather like the community spirit of Camphill. Everyone is appreciated. No-one is left out, regardless of their disability. The staff are brilliant. The residents support one another. It's a totally great place to work. People come from all over the world to work in the various Camphill communities, not just in Milton Keynes. It really is great to be part of it all!
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