King Lear
PROMPTBOOK INSTRUCTIONS
PROCEDURE:
DAY 1
1. Script Analysis: Your acting company should carefully read through and study your scene.
a. On the script given, circle any unfamiliar words and define them using a dictionary, the notes in your
textbook, or other resources provided.
b. Complete the “Company Report.”
c. You may choose to do your production with a traditional presentation (Elizabethan) or you may
present your scene in a different setting. Be sure to decide this before you continue!
2. Set design: Decide how you want to stage the scene and then draw the stage set including props, backdrop,
etc. Make two drawings, one from the audiences perspective, and one a bird’s eye view. For a finishing touch,
write a key line from your scene under the set design.
DAY 2
1. Blocking and Rehearsal: In the margins of your script:
a. Write your stage directions (movement) next to the appropriate lines for each character using the
correct drama terms (see additional handout). Don’t just note entrances and exits. Put notes for
other types of movements on the stage.
b. Make production notes for the way you need to portray your character. These notes should include
how you want the lines delivered, including: pauses, tone of voice, volume (shout, whisper, etc.,
who/what the character looks at, gestures and facial expressions, etc.
c. Begin rehearsing your scene.
DAY 3 and 4
1. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! Practice makes perfect!
TO BE COMPLETED AS HOMEWORK:
1. Character Analysis: answer the questions about your individual character.
2. Costume Design: Decide how you will costume yourself for your role.
a. Provide a drawing or picture of your costume.
b. Write a brief justification (one paragraph) for why you think this costume should be in your
performance. (If you do the scene in modern dress or in another time period, describe the era and
explain your reasons in a second paragraph.)
c. Provide your own costume for your performance.
Please assemble your promptbook in the following order:
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Cover (with a key line from your scene as the title and cast names.) Group assignment
Script with notes (both stage directions and delivery of lines.) Group assignment
Set design. Group assignment
Costume drawing/description and justification, (individual assignment)
“Company Report,” (group assignment)
“Character Analysis” (individual assignment
Promptbook and performance Rubric.
Your Promptbook is DUE ON: ______________________________
Your Props, Scenery and Costumes are DUE ON: ___________________________________
Your Performance is DUE ON: _______________________________________
PROMPTBOOK Company Report and Scene Analysis
After you have read your scene aloud with your group twice, answer the following questions:
1. What is the name of your acting company?
2. What is a key line in your scene which will become the title of your scene?
3. What happens in your scene? Outline the basic events (bulleted form is OK).
4. What do you think are the key purposes of your scene? (Keep these purposes in mind as
you block your scene.)
5. What are your reactions to this scene?
(What do you like about it? What is challenging about it? What emotions do you feel as you portray this scene? What do you think the
audience should feel as you portray this scene?)
6. How will you present this scene, traditionally (Elizabethan England) or in a different era
and location? Why?
7 Where does your scene take place?
8 What does your scene require in terms of scenery and who will provide them?
Scenery items:
Who will provide/make them:
9 What props does your scene require and who will provide them?
Props:
Who will provide/make them:
PROMPTBOOK Character Analysis
No matter how big or small the part, every actor needs to know the answers to the following
questions.
1. What does your character want in this scene?
2. What is your character’s motivation for doing what he or she does?
3. What obstacles stand in his or her way
4. What happens when your character confronts these obstacles?
5. Mention any distinctive elements in your character’s way of speaking and how they help
reveal character. Do his or her lines contain imagery? Does character speak in verse,
blank verse or prose? How do the specific lines or words support your character’s
personality? Mention irony, if appropriate, or use of animal imagery that may be
significant to understanding your character’s emotional lif
6. What is your character thinking during the scene? (How does he or she react to the other
characters and events?)
Costume Design: One drawing or picture for each character
Name of Character:
Cast Member:
Acting Company:
Explain your choice of costume. How
does it fit your character in this scene?
Company Members:
Title of Scene:
PROMPTBOOK Scoring Sheet
Completeness
Company Report
20
Set Design Drawings
15
Production Notes on Script (stage
directions and delivery of lines,
paraphrase of text)
Costume Drawing/Descriptions and
Justifications
Character Analysis
20
15
20
Effort/Correctness/Appearance/
Depth of Thought:
10
TOTAL
Comments:
PERFORMANCE Scoring Sheet
To what extent does the performance show:
Points
Possible
Understands characters, plot and the language as well as
demonstrates the ability to use language to portray character
10
Well planned movements, use of props, costumes and scenery
20
Attendance and participation in rehearsals and performance
(NOTE: if you are not a courteous and attentive audience member you will lose points from
your own performance and an absence will result in an “F” for your final)
TOTAL
Something Extra (memorization, sound effects, elaborate
props, etc.)
Comments:
10
40
15
Points
Earned
Suggested Scenes.
• 1.1—Lear divides property
◦
Lear
◦
Goneril
◦
Cordelia
◦
Regan
◦
Kent
◦
(Duke of Burgundy)
◦
(King of France)
◦
OR Divide first act into two groups:
1.1 lines 35-213
1.1 lines 214-310
Note: Can be adapted for 4 actors if necessary--cut opening dialogue, have daughters (R and G) exit and return to play Kent and
France (do a lot of line-cutting in marriage section), then include sister scene at the end. Actors playing R/G and Kent can choose
which character to analyze; actor playing R/G and France should analyze daughter.
1.2 Gloucester and Edmund
• 1.4—first half Kent rejoins Lear, Lear doesn’t like treatment at Goneril’s 1-192
◦
Lear
◦
Kent
◦
Fool doubles with Knight (borrow someone for Oswald
◦
Knight
◦
Oswald
◦
• 1.4—Kent rejoins Lear, Lear doesn’t like treatment at Goneril’s 194-370
◦
Lear
◦
Kent
◦
Fool
◦
Goneril
◦
Albany
• 2.1—Edmund tricks Edgar into leaving, Gloucester orders Edgar killed, Edmund joins forces with Regan
◦
Edmund
◦
Gloucester
◦
Regan
◦
Cornwall
◦
Edgar
• 2.2—Kent fights with Oswald and Cornwall, put in stocks
◦
Oswald
◦
Kent
◦
Cornwall
◦
Regan
◦
Gloucester
• 2.4—Lear fights with Regan and Goneril 1-140
◦
Fool
◦
Lear
◦
Kent
◦
(Borrow a Gloucester)
• 2.4—Lear fights with Regan and Goneril, rushes out into storm 142-328
◦
Lear
◦
Regan
◦
Goneril
◦
Borrow Cornwall
• 3.2—Lear in the storm
◦
◦
◦
Lear
Kent
Fool
• 3.4—Lear and Kent meet disguised Edgar, Gloucester decides to help them
◦
Lear
◦
Fool
◦
Kent
◦
Edgar
◦
Gloucester
• 3.7—Regan and Cornwall blind Gloucester
◦
Gloucester
◦
Regan
◦
Cornwall
◦
Servant
Note: Could be done with 3 actors with lots of cutting
• 4.1—Edgar leads Gloucester to Dover (for this scene, whoever plays old man could analyze would either Edgar or
Gloucester)
◦
Edgar
◦
Gloucester
◦
Old Man
• 4.6—Edgar pretends to aid Gloucester in suicide, meet Lear, Edgar kills Oswald (Gentleman/Oswald)
◦
Gloucester
◦
Edgar
◦
Lear
◦
Gentleman/Oswald
• Note: Can be done with 4 students rather than 5 if cut out Oswald scene or double up Gentleman and Oswald parts.
Don’t do entire scene. Choose half
◦
• 5.3—end of play—195-394
◦
Edmund
◦
Lear
◦
Albany
◦
Edgar
◦
Kent