1. Given Circumstances - Details of the given circumstances of the character and if this is fact (told by text or by director) or opinion (decided by myself)
We are inside, in a drawing room - F
I am wearing a coat when I enter the scene - O
There is a makeshift stage being built outside - F
This is visible through the window of the drawing room - O
In the room there is a chaise lounge and a table with two chairs - F
I do not own the house - F
I do not particularly like the owner of the house - O
I am lower status than the homeyowner - F
I’m wearing my nicest outfit today - O
It is dusk - F
The curtains and window are open - O
The sound of builders is coming in through the window - F
I have just been on a walk - F
I am with Masha - F
We were speaking about a book we are studying in English - O
The book is ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ Tolstoy - O
I have a copy of the book with me - F
We enter the room through external double doors - F
It is cold outside - O
2. Ask Questions
a) Who am I?
Name: Alexei Meshvedenko
Age: 32
DOB: 27th October 1862
Height:6’2”
Weight and Build: Slender, weighing about 9st 4lb
Education: Educated in the village of Lopasnya near the estate (see geography), by a professor from Moscow, from the age of 14. I was taken to Moscow by the professor to take my exams, gaining 2 advanced qualifications in English Language and English Literature
Occupation: Private tutor for Masha and another young boy on the estate. I teach them general studies, however Masha and I have begun to focus on English, much like I did with my old professor.
Income: 23 rubles a month, equivalent to about £9k annual salary in 2016
Religion: Russian Orthodox, the Russian church affiliated with the Tsar.
Likes: Classic and contemporary literature, smoking a pipe, Masha
Dislikes: My neighbours, particularly those not of his age; Konstantin
Health: I am often under the weather, as I am not wealthy so cannot afford fine food or good insulation and healthcare, but I am not diagnosed with any serious conditions
Behaviour: I am introverted and antisocial, preferring one on one interactions to speaking in a group or crowd. I am intellectual yet very pessimistic, able to think about important things but too busy worrying or complaining to use this for anything influential
Family: I have a large family living in my house in which mine is the only income. This includes my elderly mother, two sisters aged 11 and 12, and my 8 year old brother. My father died 7 years ago, he had pneumonia.
b) What if s the present situation?
Super objective: To convince Masha to marry me
Scene objective: To advance my relationship with Masha without jeopardising my professional relationship with her. If I get this wrong I will lose my job, meaning I will not be able to provide for my family
Tactics: Use my positive attributes to win her heart - intelligence, intellectual humour, empathy, ability to listen etc.
c) Where am I?
It is late Spring, the snow has melted but it is still cold outside and the windows are frosted in the morning. At dusk, there is still the warmth of the sun left over but coats are required to watch the show. Electricity was barely discover and certainly not commonplace in Russia in the late 19th century, so fires were the only way to keep the house warm. There is a fire burning in the room we have walked into.
d) Costume
My costume consists of some smart navy trousers, a warm winter jacket and a shirt and tie, and some tan shoes with a slight heel.
3. Explore the circumstances of that came before
I have just entered Arkadina’s house to wait for Konstantin’s show to start. Masha and I have just returned from a walk we took after class to discuss the inner workings of Tolstoy’s ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’. I am passionate about the book, it is one of my favourite recent works, and Masha finally seems to be engaging with it, although this may just be the effects of Masha’s sniff habit. We are early, however we do not know this as the whole performance has an air of disorganisation about it. I am in a good mood, as I have begun to engage properly with Masha, however I am now nervous as she has begun to stop responding to my attempts at conversation and it seems as if she wants me to leave. My first line is an attempt to restart the rapport we had just built up on the walk.
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