Confesiones..

Description.

We saw 'Confesiones' a demostration of work from Ana Correa. She was the only one in the stage the whole time. She told us about her characters and things that inspired her in order to create them. After each introduction of characters she went and used another part of the stage in which she performed as the character itself. There were two parts of the stage, one in which there was a chair and a bunch of props and costumes, and the other half was made of masking-tape in the floor forming a big square in which she performed as different characters. She welcome us as a character and interacting. Afterwards sat on the chair and started introducing not only her biography but specific things that contributed to create the following character. She presented us six character, each one very different from each other.

analysis

First of all, i would like to start with the introduction of this play. Ana Correa dressed as a nurse and throwing toilet paper to the audience. At first you did not realised it was actually Ana Correa performing as it had complete use of body characterisation. She used a mask, which is a primary symbol in theatre, it had a happy face expression. This symbolizes that everyone is happy wearing a mask as it camuflages your true self and feelings. This is the highest point of the play, one taken the mask of it was a more serious appeal. This was a strong beggining as it brought the audience to interact with her and had a fun time. This achieve the audience attention.

Furthermore, she sat down at the other part of the stage and she took off the mask. This unmasking was like showing herself, her real emotions, her real expressions. She looked at us directly, as she spoke about her experiences not only of theatre but her personal life. This establishes a closer approach to the audience as we get to know her thoughts while creating a character. She continued by taking pieces of her costume and transforming it into another character, this time it was a lady. She explains that she chose aspects from that lady because she met this lady who lied about herself in order to sell stamps. For me this was surprising because Ana Correa took things from her and adapted into her character as to create a full character based in that woman who really inspired her.

Moreover, she continued like this stripping into different characters, this was very symbolical as each time each character became more vulnerable. As she proceed to explain each character she actually ended up becoming it. It was fascinating how by stepping to another part of the stage she becamed her character.  When she acted like a teacher, she used a really strong voice and staccato movements. This is because she wanted to express the agressive teachers of that era. She also used a mask and started banging the desk. This represents that the teachers became not only monters but robots of themselves. Another surprising moment was when she acted like this lady that was hanging her wet clothes. This was a really strong image because she pictured the clothes as a baby, because she could have one in real life. So she apported that into the character in order for it to be more realistic. This made the audience feel identify because we sometimes have this week moments and we need to express ourselves. At the end of the play she performed as a woman from the jungle. She was topless this was because it symbolizes the woman in times of terrorism that reveal themselves in order to get the attention of the people to have food for their children. She used this aspect and applied it to her character. Also she blowed this whistle and used zampoñas and used them as wings. She did this in order to make the jungle the main setting without actually referring to it. She wore this tunic full of pictures and writing from the victims of terrorism. This made us feel not only pity but we were horrifyed by the things they did to the victims. She made us surround her, this established a better connection as if to be closer to this vulnerable character, as she opens up into telling us the suffering there was.

Connections

For me there was a connection with German Expressionism. I realised that in germa expressionism they use their personalities and exaggerate them, in order to create a character with realism. In Confesiones, we were able to see key elements of Ana Correa as she explains how she actually took parts of her personality into the character.  For example 'the teacher' she realised that she actually had sometimes the same personality and learnt about herself. Also in the woman with the wet clothes, she used her experience of not being able to have a child in order to exploit it and use it for the personality of her character.

Also there is another connection towards German Exp. There exaggerated movements in the character of the teacher, when she started shouting and moving her face so much that it actually began looking like a mask. Just like the expressions used in G.E.

Reflexion

From the beggining I got really attached to the performance of Ana Correa as I thought it was really inspired. This was because it combined two of my favorite things biographies and acting. It is really different watching a play and get your own interpretations than actually getting to know how an actor gets to form a character step by step. Knowing what things were going through your life and which aspects got attached to you character process. For me this was very touching because there is not a perfect life and is really brave for her to open up and tell her own experiences to the audience. This showed how confident she was to be able confess her thoughts, desires and worries. I learnt that she gave voice to the people who could not speak for themselves. Taking little things, from people who inspire her and building a character to transmit thoughts. She said she felt she let their characters use her body as a way to communicate. I also learnt that growing as an actress is also growing as a person. Being able to recognize your errors, and see yourself through other eyes. Theatre is the art of people. So you have to know yourself well in order to act like somebody else. I think Ana Correa actually taught me it's ok to try new things, to not do what you normally would do. But to not be afraid of trying something completely differrent. Acting is a personal thing and it helps you to be more open and by not doing what you normally do you learn your barriers until which point you are able to go. Is an emotional trascendence.

Final Questions.

How can you be able to manage changing character really quickly? How much of an impact have characters in us? Which skills are the most important in theatre? Do we always depend on ourselves to create other characters?

I dedicate this to La dama de estrella, Scarlett and Consuela. These are my three characters I was able to perform in school plays. And to appologize for those characters which couldn't appear in other school plays.