STONE COLD EXAM QUESTIONS
There are 4 types of exam questions you will need to know how to answer.
One of the most important things to be aware of is that each of these questions will
be based on a specific section of the play which will be stated before the questions
themselves. It is the same section for all 4 questions.
You Must Ensure You Only Answer On The Given Section As You Will Gain No
Marks For Anything You Suggest Which Is In A Different Part Of The Play
(even if it is a brill idea!)
QUESTION (i)
This question is worth 4 marks.
It usually asks about a character’s entrance in a scene.
It expects you to say:
where they should enter from &
*
where they should walk to
why you have given these
in what manner
suggestions
they should walk
If you make sure you answer the left hand points above and give a reason for each, you
should, if your ideas are suitable, get all 4 marks.
Some Examples Of Question (i) Questions & Answers
Look at Act 2 Scene 1 – The Daily Tribune Office
To
Act 2 Scene 2 – His room snaps to black
(i) How would the actor playing Gavin make his entrance in this section? You should
refer to the character’s movement and positioning on stage giving reasons
for your answer.
ANSWER The actor playing Gavin should enter downstage left into The Daily Tribune
Office. He would be stood behind Louise so that she does not immediately
see him. Louise should be stood downstage of the desk facing the audience.
He would walk in hesitantly looking at the floor as he is attracted to Louise
and wants to help her with her assignment, but is nervous of her response.
He is also nervous for her as the assignment could be dangerous.
Look at Act 1 Scene 12 – Charing Cross Station
To
Link exits while Scouse admires his prize.
(i) How would the actor playing Link make his entrance in this section? You should
refer to the character’s movement and positioning on stage giving reasons
for your answer.
ANSWER The actor playing Link should enter from downstage left and walk over to
downstage right, on the apron, where there will be a freestanding door for
him to sit down by. On the apron it will be easy for the audience to see him.
He should walk on shivering as it is night time and cold outdoors. He should
also be dragging his feet as he is tired, but looking around constantly to find
a suitable place to sleep.
Look at Act 1 Scene 13 – Shelter’s room
To
Lights fade back to Shelter’s room
(i) How would the actor playing Shelter make his entrance in this section? You
should refer to the character’s movement and positioning on stage giving
reasons for your answer.
ANSWER The actor playing Shelter should enter from the door in the upstage wall
which ‘leads’ to the rest of his house. He should be marching to the beat of the
military music which is playing and be very upright to show his obsession with the
army. He should at first stop facing the picture of the old-looking soldier and salute
it, before turning, military-style, to face downstage in the centre of his room and
drop down to his knees in order to open the trap door. All of these ideas will show
the audience how important the army is to Shelter.
NOW ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION (i)s yourself:
(A) Look at Act 1 Scene 1 –The street
To
Act 1 Scene 2 – Lights snap back to the street scene
(i) How would the actor playing Link make his entrance in this section? You should
refer to the character’s movement and positioning on stage giving reasons
for your answer.
(B) Look at Act 1 Scene 3 – Enter Vince
To
Joan hands Vince a ten pound note
(i) How would the actor playing Vince make his entrance in this section? You should
refer to the character’s movement and positioning on stage giving reasons
for your answer.
(C) Look at Act 1 Scene 14 – The street
To
Link and Ginger walk on
(i) How would the actor playing Ginger make his entrance in this section? You
should refer to the character’s movement and positioning on stage giving
reasons for your answer.
QUESTION (ii)
This question is worth 6 marks.
It usually asks about a character’s costume in the specified scene.
It expects you to say:
Period of Play
Types of clothes
(garments)
What do your choices here tell the
audience about the character
Colour (clothes)
Style of hair /
make-up
If you cover all the above
and give at least 2 reasons for your choices
you should gain full marks.
Some Examples Of Question (ii) Questions & Answers
Look at Act 2 Scene 1 – The Daily Tribune Office
To
Act 2 Scene 2 – His room snaps to black
(ii) Describe a suitable costume for the actor playing Gavin in this section.
In your answer refer to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice,
hair and make-up would emphasise elements of the character.
ANSWER ‘Stone Cold’ is set in the 1990s so the costume must be suitable for this
period. Louise, a journalist, is in work and is young and smart so I would have her
wearing a cotton skirt suit with a blouse underneath the jacket. She is quite
feminine, which we can tell because Gavin is obviously attracted to her, so I would
want the suit to be a soft pink; this also shows her kind character. The blouse would
be white and she would wear small silver earrings and a silver chain necklace. This
jewellery would be subtle as she is trying to create a good impression in work as she
is quite new there. Her hair would be dark brown and long, but tied back so that it
does not get in her way. She would have soft feathery bits at the sides of her face
so that it does not look severe. Her make-up would be foundation, pink lipstick and
blusher; subtle as she is in work.
Look at Act 1 Scene 12 – Charing Cross Station
To
Link exits while Scouse admires his prize.
(ii)Describe a suitable costume for the actor playing Scouse in this section.
In your answer refer to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice,
hair and make-up would emphasise elements of the character.
ANSWER ‘Stone Cold’ is set in the 1990s so the costume must be suitable for this
period. Scouse is homeless and has been on the streets for a while. He is quite a tough
character. I would have him dressed in a tatty black leather jacket to make him look
like a bully, but to show the jacket is old. He would have under it a now off-white
England rugby shirt, to reinforce the tough guy image and make him intimidating to
Link. He would have scuffed black trainers. His hair would be long and greasy as he is on
the street, and tied back in a pony tail. He would have basic stage make-up plus a scar
on one cheek to show that he is not afraid to get physical.
Look at Act 1 Scene 13 – Shelter’s room
To
Lights fade back to Shelter’s room
(ii)Describe a suitable costume for the actor playing Debs in this section.
In your answer refer to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice,
hair and make-up would emphasise elements of the character.
ANSWER ‘Stone Cold’ is set in the 1990s so the costume must be suitable for this
period. Debs is a homeless girl. She would wear a pair of faded blue jeans with
embroidery on the back pockets, to show that she used to be quite a feminine
character who cared about her appearance before life pulled her down. She would have
a dirtied red duffle coat which is done up to keep out the cold. The red symbolises her
blood which is about to be shed by Shelter. She would have black afro hair, as she is
black, which is quite long. Her make-up should make her naturally dark skin look more
pale than is healthy with dark rings under her eyes due to not enough sleep.
NOW ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION (ii)s yourself:
(A) Look at Act 1 Scene 1 –The street
To
Act 1 Scene 2 – Lights snap back to the street scene
(ii)Describe a suitable costume for the actor playing Shelter in this section.
In your answer refer to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice,
hair and make-up would emphasise elements of the character.
(B)Look at Act 1 Scene 3 – Enter Vince
To
Joan hands Vince a ten pound note
(ii)Describe a suitable costume for the actor playing Joan in this section.
In your answer refer to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice,
hair and make-up would emphasise elements of the character.
(C)Look at Act 1 Scene 14 – The street
To
Link and Ginger walk on
(iii) Describe a suitable costume for the actor playing Link in this section.
In your answer refer to the period, garments, colour and how costume choice,
hair and make-up would emphasise elements of the character.