Documentary Theater "Reenactment"

SUMMARY

The British was the first to officially define what reenactment really is. Its "any presentation or other event held for the purpose of illustrating conduct from a particular time or period in historic sites around the world. Reenactment come in all shapes and sizes, and is performed all around the world. It's designed to entertain as well as educate the viewers. It's a very unique chance for you and your family or friends to go see in a great historic place.

SEEING A PERFORMANCE

At a performance you will see people dressed costumes living the life of there characters from that ancient town history. They will be doing everything as accurate as possible like even speaking in the appropriate accent. They will be interacting with visitors as their historical characters as if we're in their time. You have the opportunity to touch, see, and smell everything they did throughout the day during that historic time.

IMAGES

This is a reenactment on Patriots Day. It's of the Revolutionary War. The soldier standing over the other one is British and about to shoot the other one. Also you can see the dead soldier. Plus the crowd enjoying the show.

This image is taking place inside the fortress Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. They are probably having some drinks and talking during the middle of the day. You can see the visitors in the background walking.

VIDEO

This is a live video of a reenactment of the historical battle that took place in Oostmalle. You can see and hear the guns and cannons firing off. Also they have soldiers removing the injured or dead soldiers from the battle field. This is a perfect shot of a live reenactment.

INTERESTING FACTS

1) Reenactment got some ancient history. The ancient Romans as part of their infamous games, they refought past battle that was actually killing the combatants. It's not the type of reenactment we know today.

2) In 1998 about 25,ooo "troops" took part in a recreation of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. It's known as the largest reenactment and has not been matched since.

SOURCES

http://www.eventplan.co.uk/history_of_reenactment.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5Gr8gfLis

The World of Theatre pages 166 and 167

Shadow Puppets Tradition

SUMMARY

Shadow puppet theater is the oldest form of motion picture that still exist today. It goes back thousands of years to the Stone Age history. They learned how to use the their bodies, hands, or sample things off the campfire light to help tell fascinating stories about their family or clan. The earliest form of shadow puppet are thought to have originated in Asia. Throughout time shadow puppetry begin to grow and with different popular scenes like the "wayang kulit" it began to spread across the world following trade routes which later ended up in Europe and America. The Shadow tradition only requires three things to have a show. The light, blank white screen, and the different shadow figures. The lighting is a very important in shaping the shadow that we see. First an open flame or oil was used for the motions of the shadow. Today they use electric lights or an overhead projector to make a more steady and brighter image.

SEEING A PERFORMANCE

Shadow puppetry you will only see three things. The light, the blank white screen and the shadow figures of the screen. The puppeteer will create an entire world of different characters on the screen that will entertain the crowd.

SHADOW PUPPET IMAGES

This shadow is of a dragon flying in the air and it looks like the dragon is about to attack the castle. You can see how the figure is being held by some rods.

This image there are two people walking through a lot of trees.

SHADOW PUPPET VIDEO

This video shows different images and characters performing to the song titled A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and performed by Raymond Crowe. First there was a animal singing then it went to a duck. Also he made a rabbit and a grown person hand playing with a baby hand. Then ended with a animal coming back and singing, and he did all this with his hand.

INTERESTING FACTS

1) Priests and monks transmitted religious stories to populations who did not know how to read.

2) In many place shadow puppetry is a favorite way to teach people important myths and legends of their culture.

Sources

http://www.chinesetheatreworks.org/projects/shadowinfo.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AOPlDwLpLU

http://www.shadow-puppets.com/Shadow_Puppeteers.html

The World of Theatre Textbook pages 140 and 141