This is Abigail "Gail" Lynn

Name: Abigail Lynn 

Nickname(s): Gail 

Significance of name and nickname: It was a nickname given by my late grandmother. I loved her so much, and I only allow very few people to call me by that name. That includes my parents, siblings, and very close friends. Even Fred doesn’t call me by that name, but I let Eric address me by that name.

The name “Abigail” itself means, Father in rejoicing. I am a daddy’s little princess. I am the only child, therefore making me the one and only daddy’s little girl. I get a lot of things from my dad when I was young. Now I’m leaving separately from him, but I still do keep in touch with him.

Age: 36

Exact birthday: 29^th April 1955

Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut

Astrological sign: Taurus

Significance of birth details: People born under the sign of Taurus values order, security and self assurance. I don’t like things to be out of order. I like things to be in order, and in terms of future, I need to feel certain about my future. I need to know that things are going to be fine, and we have plans, and backup plans, if the main plan was to fail. I need to know that when I start a family, my husband will be able to provide me with the finance, love and assurance.

Period and Culture: “Me Decade” of the 1970s. This was a significant time of my life. For the youngsters of that time, it was the time of hippie culture, disco etc. I was about the age of 20 at that time. It was the time of my life. I met the love of my life, and finally knew how it felt like to be in love.

Place: New York, New York

Social class, politics: An average middle class citizen. I Live in a small, comfortable semi-D house in Connecticut with my husband and new born daughter, Elizabeth. Not much into politics, but she’s intelligent and is aware of what is going on around me.

Historical events that affect your character: I used to have a relationship with Eric Evelyn Cooper, it was serious to the point we nearly got engaged. We talked about how it is like if we were together, and already were starting to think of starting a family together. That is until he bailed on me and left on a boat to Saint John.

Family:

Parents: Ethan Lynn (father), Mia Lynn (Mother)

Sibling(s): None

Other significant family: Frederick “Fred” Young (husband)

Biography

Significant events in:

Teenage/Young Adulthood: Entered university at the age of 18, that was the first time I left Connecticut to go to New York to study communications and theatre arts. It was in my second year that I met Eric. He was a working in my favorite coffee shop. It was almost like one of that love at first sight. I gave all of myself to him, because I knew that this relationship was something that was going to go far.

Adulthood: My relationship with Eric lasted for five years. We were serious, despite the young age. But I never knew that he was going to bail on me. He left me when I was 24, without saying goodbye. From then on, our communications were completely cut off.

I was 28 when I met Fred. He was a young man, working in a bank. He moved in to the apartment next to mine in New York. Gradually feelings grow for each other, though I knew that my feelings for Fred are not as strong as my feelings for Eric. But I have grown tired of waiting, and I gave up waiting until Eric comes back. I decided to give Fred and I a shot. It was not as eventful of a relationship as when I was with Eric, but I can see a future, a stable future for Fred and I.

At the age of 32, my parents were already urging me to get married. Though part of me don’t want to get married just yet, I realized that I won’t stay young forever. I am an only child, and the only hope of producing off springs to continue the Lynn genes. I, of course, didn’t say anything of this to Fred; I wanted to make sure that he was ready, though I know somewhere inside me I don’t want to get married to Fred.

By the time I was 33, Fred proposed to me, and we got married later that year. We moved from New York, back to my hometown, Hartford, Connecticut, just so that I can be closer to my parents. Conveniently, Fred’s parents lives in Hartford as well.

I was blessed with a beautiful daughter, when I was 35. I named her Elizabeth Young.

Education events: Grew up and spent most of my earlier years in Connecticut. I moved to New York when I got into university. I attended New York University, majoring in communications and theater arts.

Relationship and sexual events: I got into a couple of relationships in high school, but were never serious with it. Eric was the first serious relationship I got into. It lasted for 5 years and ended unexpectedly. Fred came later on and the relationship lasted for about 4 years, and I ended up marrying him.

I gave my first time to Eric. It felt right at that moment and I thought we both could go far. So I gave him my first.  

Career and work events: I have always loved the theatre since young. Hence why I chose to major in communications and theatre arts. After, my graduation, I went for auditions and was casted for a few productions.

Travel, dislocation, relocation: Age 18, left Connecticut to go to New York. Age 33, moved back to Connecticut, and lived there eversince.

Marriage events: Married Frederick “Fred” Young, out of convenience.

Specific places: Hartford, Connecticut. New York City, New York, New York University.

Physical Characteristics

Describe your character’s body from his/her point of view; from another’s’ point of view.

From other’s point of view: Slender. Not fat, not skinny, just the right proportion of fat and muscle. Gail’s hips are bigger than her shoulder, giving her the apple shaped body.

Gail’s perspective: Just normal. I think that my hips and stomach are a little bit too large.

What words describe your character’s movement? Use images as well as adjectives.

Graceful, soft, but also can be hard and thrusting when needed to be.

Energy center

Chest. I am a very emotional person and the chest is where my heart is. I am driven by emotion hence by my energy center is on the chest.

Power focus.

What part(s) of the body is the focus of your character’s power? vulnerability?

My hands. They are used to intimidate and get my points across, when I’m talking to someone. My hands are used to hold people that I hold dear, and to throw those that aren’t.  

What parts of the body are attractive? unattractive? Shameful? Open? Locked?

Attractive. My eyes. I believe the purity of a person’s intention can be seen through the eyes, and I am a very genuine person.

Shameful, would be my stomach. Since I was pregnant, my stomach will not return to the original size it was. I try to hide them and tie them in using belts etc.

Imagine your character’s body in detail

Hair and face: Short hair, kept neatly in a bob hairstyle. This is easy to maintain and doesn’t get in the way when I work. Small, petite face, with gentle features. I look very motherly.

Torso and groin: Apple shaped body with bigger hips than my shoulder.

Arms and hands: medium. Not too fat, not too skinny. But they are strong hands meant for work and handling kids.

Legs and feet: A nice ratio of muscle and fat. They are strong legs that had held her for years through the ups and downs.

Movement:

Generally, how does your character move? Describe in adjectives and images.

Light, Direct, Sudden. I’m a dab character.

Name an animal physically like your character? Be specific as to why and how.

A cat would behave like me. A cat is very light, but direct in her directions and move very suddenly most of the time. A cat is driven by what it feels interest her at the time, much like I am.

Voice and Speech:

Generally, how does your character speak? What tone and volume?

I usually speak in a very commanding voice, though not loud in volume, and still gentle in nature

Generally, where does your character place his/her voice?

On my throat. I would say this is because when I am calm, there’s still control. When I am not calm, there’s a tendency for me to go loud and pitchy. This shows the occasional need of self-assurance  

Dress

How does your character dress? Why does he/she choose her/his attire? Be specific from undergarments to outer-garments, from casual to formal.

I choose to wear loose clothing such as dresses as they are easy to move around in. Usually I would wear them with a shawl or a cardigan. Undergarments would consist of a normal bra and granny panties.

What are your character’s colors?

Red, which signifies strength and passion as well as flaring emotions

What style or period?

I love the style of the 1950s. I think they are very feminine, and shows character. Knee length dresses are very feminine at the same time somewhat shows freedom that I want.

How does your character groom him/herself? Hair? Make up? Scents?

I don’t put on a lot of make-up. Usually when I get out, I would put on lipstick just to add color to my face. I usually wear my hair down, swept to one side.

Accessories?

A simple necklace and a wedding ring will be my everyday accessory

Relationships/Marriage

Is your character married or involved with someone? When and how did that happen?

I am married to Frederick Young for about 3 years now. I married him on the 26^th October 1988.

Who does your character have to care for? Children? Old parents? Pets?

I have to care for Elizabeth, my daughter.

What are the pleasures and satisfactions?

Taking care of the little bundle of joy I have

What are the sadnesses, problems, and fears?

I know deep inside my heart that I still love Eric, and that I don’t love Fred. I do have the fear that one day this feeling can be a hindrance in our family.

What is your character’s relationship history?

I use to have a relationship with Eric. But that took a turn for the worse. I had a relationship with Fred and now I am married to him.

Other aspects

Create a list of your character’s likes and dislikes regarding anything: food, people, quirks, sports, activities, reading, music, entertainment.

LIKES	DISLIKES
Animals	Disorganized
Pictionary	Uncertainties
Order	Loud noises
Peace	Fights
Reading	Getting left behind
Theater	Lies
Performances
Order

Books and magazines your character reads; movies and TV shows; music.

Books

• ·        Pride and Prejudice
• ·        Of Mice and Men

Productions

• ·         West Side Story

What are your character’s physical habits?

Nail biting

What are your character’s secrets? Who knows about them? What secrets does only your character know?

I don’t love my husband. I didn’t want to marry him. I married him out of convenience

What music would you play on your ipod to “get into character”?

Gravity by Sara Bareilles

Rehearsal Notes - Holidays! Or not.

Yea, there won't be a break for us theater students. When people are at home being a couch potato, we were doing work. Not that I mind.

So Teck Sern and I decided to use the room at 1pm, and luckily enough it was empty. The theater had no one in them so we took control MUAHAHAHHAHAHAA.

So obviously we set up the stage, and we practiced our blocking and worked on them for about an hour. It's just a rough blocking, it still needs work on them. But at least now that we've tried it out on stage, I feel a lot more secure. We have an idea of how it was going to look like in the end.

We also went on to do the whole entire play. We block for majority of the 10 minutes scene and now we're finally making good progress.

By the end of our rehearsals, we were both tired! Urgh. So we decided to just script read to one another and then underline the words that we're giving emphasis upon. With that our rehearsals ends. :)

Rehearsal Notes - 10 minutes

No, the rehearsal did not last for 10 minutes only. I meant we were doing the whole 10 minutes thing. Because we haven't got the lines down, we began with script reading. The first 1/3 of the play was easier because we've done it before. But just to make sure, we read it anyway.

We then began working with the second thirds of the script at the same time, tried to do the blocking as well. We made progress here because by the end of our rehearsals, we at least got the intonation for the second part down. We still need to work on the blocking though. I'm a bit scared of the blocking part because to be honest I have no idea how to do them. Oh wells, I guess I'll just wait till the next rehearsals.

Rehearsal Notes - First one third of the play

Sooooo, we decided that we're going to do The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Jason Katims. It is such an emotional play, but I know that Teck Sern and I are going to pull it off. We have to.

So just as Rey had instructed, we have to divide the play to 3 parts, so that we can practice one part at a time. Which I thought was a great idea. So we discussed that and within 5 minutes we had all 3 parts separated and got started on the first one third.

We read out the lines to each other to try to get a feel of the character more. We did that 3 times and then tried out the blocking as well. It was hard because there wasn't much space inside the classroom due to all the tables and chairs inside there. Urgh. Regardless, we tried to make it work. But we didn't focus on the blocking much this time; we focused more on the dialogues and the intonation of the lines.

Script Reading

[Wednesday, 28th March 2012]


So it's been two weeks since we got our anthologies, so that means we had to show our choices today. Teck Sern and I had already met up to do some script readings, and came down to two choices; Flop Cop by Laura Cunningham and The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Jason Katims.

We went on with Flop Cop first. It's about a deranged playwright, who had lost his mind due to his constant downfall in life, and a cop, that's trying to capture him. I personally liked this play because it's dark, and there's a lot of possibility in the playwright character. It's up to the person, how they want to play them. Its interesting. But , the play is meant for two men, and there were too many references to testicles. If we were to choose that one it would mean having to change a lot of the script, because I'm a girl (you don't say :P)

So we ended up with the second one. The Man Who Couldn't Dance. It's about two people who used to be in each other's life, but had something along the way that tore them apart. Now she's married with a beautiful daughter, and he is living a simple life on his own. They took a walk down the memory lane, confesses to each other, and thought of what could have been if they hadn't screwed up along the way. I liked it because it's in a way sweet, and it taught me not to do something that you would regret :)

A Scene from another adaptation of The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Alma College

Other pieces that we considered included Ferris Wheel and Stars. We didn't go with Ferris Wheel because it had 3 kissing scenes in it, and I don't think I'm comfortable enough to kiss Teck Sern on stage or let him kiss me on stage. Nevertheless, I find the story very cute, and I could so imagine the girl as Emma from Glee. The kind of neurotic, awkward but cute at the same time kind of girl. Stars, I just didn't really get Stars. So that's why we didn't choose it.

Rehearsal Notes - Confusing Script

Yes, the script is confusing. It doesn't even make sense!!

So I met up with Teck Sern on Tuesday. We couldn't meet up on Monday cuz he had to go to a doctor. The poor boy got elbowed on his back twice in a basketball game.

So we met up at 1, right after our class to practice. We brainstormed a bit and tried out different scenes. But none of them worked well. So we took, what I would call an easy way out; turning everything to a sexual innuendo.

Bleh, I felt so awkward at first doing it, and it didn't help when people barge in a couple of times. But I think it was an ok practice. Not the best one but just OK. We went through runs and once we were done, we went to the script reading for the finals. We read up Flop Cop by Laura Cunningham and The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Jason Katims. We didn't get to read up Stars though.

So here's the beat and object exercise

Who am I?
- A stripper trying to get a client to sleep with her.

Where am I?
- A local club called Milkshakes

What time is it?
- Around 11.30pm. I had a bad business so far today.

What are my relationships?
- I have a relationship with the customer/client

What are the given circumstances?
- I haven't had a customer all night, so I'm trying to see if this guy wants some action

What do I want?
- To get him to come take my service and money

What is in my way?
- He's offering too little

What do I do to get what I want?
- Flirt with him more, hinting that I want more money

Here's the beats

A: (enters) GIRL! (takes off shirt) Hold ma poodle. (shakes chest and walk towards B)
B: Would you go out with me on Saturday? (wraps arm around waist and pulls)
A: Ohh (comes closer towards B's face) I hate your guts (flicks, then walks away)
B: The car just took the corner at a hundred miles per hour (takes out money)
A: (Turns around, saw RM100 only) What the hell?! (walks away further. He's too cheap man!)
B: (to himself) Why game so fun to play with? (takes out another RM100, calls A)
A: (goes towards B, takes the money out of his hands, Now he's worth my time) Have you taken your pills yet?
B: I enjoy singing in the bathroom (whispers in A's ear)
A: What did you have for lunch?! (walks away, digusted)
B: I looked in the mirror.
A: (looks at the money, and then the man) I'm about to go on a stage (Takes his hands and leads him out)
B: Enter Sandman.

Shitt!! I swear, this was sooo awkward in so many different stages. Bleh. Just hopefully things will turn out good tomorrow. Urgh. Cross fingers

Rehearsal Notes - Mid Terms

SHIT ITS MIDTERMS.

DAYUM.

Anyway, so I was paired up with Mohammad and I tell you it was so hard to work with him. Yes I am not holding back with him here, because in reality, that was the way it is.

So here's like a summary of what happened throughout the whole week of practice in preparation for mid-terms.

On Wednesday, I found out that my partner was Mohammad. OK fair enough. Texted him asking  when he wants to meet. He replied once and when I replied, I didn't get any reply back. Joy. There you go Thursday gone, poof, with me trying to call him 30x and he was unreachable.

So we end up meeting on Friday. We worked on the basic scene whereby it was about a sex addict who found out that she had AIDS. Well it was supposed to be Mohammad that was the sex addict, but I end up doing it because I thought that I rather play this character than the doctor. In the end she finds out that the doctor had made a mistake, and that she doesn't have AIDS.

We tried it out, it worked. The flow was good, and there was a powerful pause in between that must be done at all cost. So with satisfied mood, we left for the weekends to do our own rehearsal. I did a bit of those to remind me how the flow goes. I wrote the script and replayed the scene over and over in my head so I know what to do.

Monday comes and we agreed to meet at 12.30. And no surprise, he was late, almost an hour as he went to go and eat. Fair enough, nature calls. We started the rehearsals soon. We went through the scene and it was apparent that he didn't do his practice. I bet he didn't even look at the script. The flow was messed up, and the pause, that powerful pause, just didn't happen.

So we decided to change the scene last minute to something about selfishness, trying to work things out and all. Credits to Jueneke for giving me this idea. So I'm a girl who double dated herself and tries to get her bestie to cancel the plan. Again I worked on the script and asked him to work on his version of the script and we'd compare who's was better.

Tuesday came. We agreed to meet at 3pm. But he came at 4pm. Who wouldn't be pissed? And he was distracted by his friends. That is not cool. The midterms was just the next day and I couldn't be bothered to deal with this kinds of crap. So once he was done, we got to practicing. We practiced for 3 hours on that day. Only 3 hours because he came late and we spent one hour eating. Bleh, all we can do is hope for the best for the next day.

Damn I sound like I'm ranting on this post.

So here's the object exercise:

Who am I?

-          I am Sera, a tomboy teenage girl who loves her video games, especially the one on one fist fighting and sports kinds. I am a childhood friend of Gianni, and we grew up together as a friendly rival in anything. Games especially. I hate losing, especially to Gianni, and will always swear to beat him back. Something along those lines. Though I care for him like a brother since we’ve been so close since young. Though lately I haven’t been able to hang out with him

Where am I?

-          I was just at the shower, going into my room.

What time is it?

-          Around 6pm. I just got back from classes, and right after a good shower, and receiving a message from my boyfriend Robert. Feels good.

What surrounds me?

-          My bed, my cupboard, the door that leads to the bathroom and the door that leads to the living room.

What are my relationships?

-          Gianni and I are close childhood friend. I care for him like a brother. I’m scared of disappointing him and make him feel sad, because I don’t want to make him feel that way. He rarely disappoints me, so I don’t want to disappoint him.

-          Robert is my boyfriend and I love him. I can’t bear to cancel a plan that I’ve made with him. I miss him so much because we haven’t got the chance to hang out much due to the amount of homeworks and assignments from college.

-          I have a relationship with my phone. I love my phone as it is my means of communicating with the people I care and love

-          Sam, my younger brother. I always practice the tough love on him as an older sister. I care for him very much, and would protect him from anything. But I still tease and be mean with him.

What are the given circumstances?

-          I made a plan with Robert to go out with him on that weekend for the Avenged Sevenfold concert at Singapore. Basically spend the whole weekend with him, and I completely forgot that I already made a plan with Gianni to have a gaming marathon with him.

-          Gianni will obviously be disappointed and it’s not fair on him.

WHAT DO I WANT (objective)?

-          I want to go to the concert with Robert and make Gianni agree to cancel the plan.

WHAT IS IN MY WAY (obstacle)?

-          My guilt and the fact that I know that Gianni will be disappointed and I know that it’s not fair on him

WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I WANT (ACTION)?

-          Apologize to him, promise to him that I’ll give the whole of next weekend for him and have game marathons, and give him time to chill.

And here's the Script and beats for my part:

Sera (S): (Just came out of the shower, with a towel on her head. <I need to dry my hair>continues to dry it with the towel as she makes her way to the bed. >Picks up phone < I got a message from Robert > smiles > lies down as she replies the message)

Gianni (G): (>I’ve got to beat this high score<So I swing my hands around in a tennis motion, trying to beat the virtual opponent = I’m trying as hard as I could) YEAH!!! I’M SO CALLING HER (<excitedly>FINALLY I BEAT HER HIGHSCORE FOR THE 7^TH TIME!<I’ve got to tell Sera > calls Sera)

S: (on the bed > receives a call from Gianni > picks it up)

G: (shouting, at the same time Sera pulls away from the phone a bit) I JUST BEAT YOUR HIGHSCORE 7 TIMES IN A ROW, IN YOUR FACE BITCH! (>pointing at the air as an emphasis)

S: (<I’m surprised, and disliked the fact that Gianni had beaten my highs core>sits up > shouts back at the phone) WHAT? DUDE THAT’S NOT COOL! NOT COOL! I AM SO BEATING YO ASS THE NEXT TIME I GET THE CHANCE TO. (>fingers pointing and poking at the air)

G: Challenge Accepted. This Weekend, my place, as we planned. (>My hands goes up to show the acceptance)

S: Wait what? This weekend? (<surprised<wrecking my brain to see if I had forgotten something)

G: Yea, this weekend. Remember you’re coming down and bringing down Mario game?

S: OH SHIT!! (Shouted, followed by some lower volume “oh shit”) OMG. I’m so sorry, but can we do that another time?

G: Why, what’s wrong?

S: Errr, Well, Robert asked me out. Avenged Sevenfold’s concert is this weekend, and I really want to go. Plus, I haven’t got the chance to spend time with him for so long. I’m so sorry, but can we change it to another time?

G: (pause, COMPLETE SILENCE, sigh, and then quietly) oh wells, I guess you go and have fun then. Bye (hangs up)

S: (<Oh Shoot, he just hung up < what do I do > walks around, thinking and scolding myself < I have to apologize and make it up to him > stops, and sits down on the block = calls Gianni back to apologize)

G: (<She ditched me<How can she do that?>I sat back on the chair limply>plays around with the phone>looks at wii<I don’t feel like playing it anymore<The phone rings again=Pick up the call)

G: Yes? (silently)

S: Hey Gianni, listen I’m so sorry.

G: Nah it’s fine.

S: I mean, I shouldn’t have said yes to Robert, even if he was my boyfriend. I should have remembered that I had a plan with you. I’m so sorry.

G: It’s Ok, I understand.

S: Sure?

G: Positive.

S: (pause, appears to be in thoughts for a bit) I’ll make it up to you ok. Next weekend ok. I’m free then, so that weekend will be all yours. I’ll bring down all the games that you want to play. God of War, COD, Pokemon, Mario KartI, and we’ll make next weekend like a game marathon alright? I’m so sorry I ditched you this time. I promise promise promise next weekend will be all yours.

G: As long as you don’t ditch me again then its on.

S: Sure?

G: Yea yea sounds good. Hey I’ve got to go out for dinner so see you.

S: See you (softly) (hang up)

G: (gets up from the chair <turns off the wii<made his exit to get ready for dinner outside)

S: (>Still feeling bad>remembered that I have to find the bunch of old games<looks to her cupboard<rushes towards it and started ransacking the content>I can’t find the games! > I’ll check with my brother, Sam) Sam! Where are my old games?! (<walks out of the room)

Bleh, so that's it :D