Rowan Brunt TERM 1ACTING

Characterisation Checklist‘The Story of the Miracles at Cookies Table’ by Wesley Enoch.

Read the Play and Research PlaywrightCookies Table written by Wesley Enoch was conceived in conjunction with Griffin Theatre Company and HotHouse Theatre. Originally performed in 2007, Cookies Table is a combination of three stories from three different generations in an Aboriginal family and the conflicts around the family table. Faith the devout, strict figurehead, Annie the rebellious worldly mother and Nathan the professional reserved son. The story deals with many issues as Nathan and Annie try to figure out their relationship while battling their own demons along the way.

Wesley Enoch is an Australian Playwright and Artistic Director. Originally Wesley studied a Bachelor of Arts (Drama) at Queensland University of technology, where he both acted and directed in many productions. He has worked with companies such as Queensland Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Co, Company B Belvoir St, as well as many Indigenous Companies around Queensland.Wesley’s work explores Australian Aboriginal and Islander culture and often can reflect political and social issues. Many well known plays and productions include: ‘Black Medea’, ‘7 Stages of Grieving’, ‘Cookies Table’, ‘The Sapphires’, ‘Stolen’ and ‘ Black Diggers’. Wesley continues to work with Queensland Theatre Company as Artistic Director.

Demonstrates a written understanding of characterizationNathan sees himself as the ideal young professional. He built a life for himself with only the future in mind. This was all influenced by Faiths want for him to create a new and better life for himself. This was her way of correcting Annie ‘failure’ that Faith feels responsible fore. Annie in turn struggles to accept Nathan as her own mother had a stronger connection to him then her. Nathan needs Annie for selfish reasons. He has shaped his future career and physically but he is still missing his roots, this is why he needs Annie. She is the key to understanding where he needs to go.Nathan has a constant tone of stern togetherness. This is partially to the Christian upbringing and the political world in which he works. He is further reserved and puts a façade as to not let his personal interrupts his career path.

Demonstrates a written awareness of ‘given circumstance’Who: Nathan, Aboriginal Male, 35 What: Nathan and Annie are having a conversation regarding the men on the island and Nathan trying to sway Annie to speak about his father. They are speaking over a cup of tea at Cookies Table.When: It is late Wednesday afternoon around 6pm, Nathan left the wake and has been waiting for late comer Annie after a 10am funeral. It is around February/March when it’s warm and wet in 2007.

Rowan Brunt TERM 1ACTING

Where: The kitchen of Faiths home, sitting around Cookies table. The table is located in the middle of the kitchen, like a island.Why: Nathan and Annie have just attended Faiths funeral. Nathan has come home to take the table from Faiths home as he wants it as a reminder of his past and give him direction for his future. His direction through the scene is to undermine Annie and find out more from Annie

Knowledge and awareness of characters prime objective within the sceneNathan’s prime objective is to get information of Annie regarding his father and family life. This is also shaded by his objective to not reveal to much of his own personal life to Annie.

Knowledge and awareness of characters super objective within the playNathan’s super objective is to find out about his father, as to fill the hole Faith has left in his heritage. This is also supplemented by the physical symbol of the table, which he believes is a indicator of his past and future.

Knowledge and awareness of characters actions in achieving their prime objective within the sceneNathan is constantly provoking Annie through the scene to achieve his objective. This scene is predominately driven by Nathan’s objective which he does with ease with his background in politics. Here are some examples of actions that Nathan does that help with his play of power within the scene:

Nathan puts down Annie’s cup on the table instead of taking it to her as away to draw her back to him.

Nathan taking the seat creating a ‘seat of power’. He is looking up at her in a condescending way, his composure highlights her frantic and erratic personality. Sitting he can’t give to much away with his body language.

The use of the ‘–‘ after ‘Get over it’ is a way of Nathan shifting the conversation in his intended direction. He is using Annie’s lashing out, at his lack of respect, as a way to re focus.

Nathan brings up family members in the hope that it will lead to a conversation regarding his father.

2nd sound of thunder Nathan and Annie share in the joke of Faiths power at the top of family. He uses this shared moment to drive Annie into the story telling about the men of the island. As a child would mother would sarcastically encourage a child, Nathan lets Annie think she is superior.

When Annie suddenly gains the upper hand Nathan shifts to short speech as to seem dismissive. This is his intentions but Annie is enjoying seeing him squirm. Nathan walks away from Annie as this happens as he can see that she is cottoning on to his secret and doesn’t want to reveal anything.

Once his sexuality is revealed Nathan changes his argument to the offensive. He tries to play at Annie’s game by reminding her that she in facts ‘doesn’t know him’. Once the offensive doesn’t work either he becomes quite dry and even slightly sarcastic,

Rowan Brunt TERM 1ACTING

Demonstrates an understanding of their characters relationship with others characters within the play statusNathan and Annie are constantly struggling for power throughout their scene. In the traditional sense as Nathan is Annie’s child he would be of lower status, but due to his education and upbringing he acts as though he is always in the seat of power.

Display and understanding of what is expected of the character kinaestheticallyThis is a breakdown of Nathan:

A very straight posture. Shoulders pulled back. Tension held in shoulders and neck which would be from constant work at a computer and staring at a computer screen.

Elbows held slightly away from sides. This would be from working out and with a focus on his biceps. Also shows a stronger façade, confidence needed for a career in politics.

Chin slightly raised at all times. Nathan believes that in some ways he is better then Annie, he only lowers when he is trying coax answers out of Annie. As if to indicate he is bring himself to her level.

Tension held in jaw, as if he is biting his tongue when Annie speaks out of turn.

Constant fidget of hands, thought this is usually underneath the table out of sight. This can usually be playing with his phone or rubbing fingers together.

Lower body from hips down are quite disengaged. His feet are always squarely placed in line with his hips, quite neutral. Though he does tap his feet as a bad habit when he is trying to distract himself.

Nathan uses his hands to articulate his speech. This also acts that his hands come to his face often.

Candidate can explicitly describe the atmosphere of the sceneThe scene could be described as a constant battle for power. Nathan acts as he is better then Annie because of his education where Annie claims power from life experience. The following words describe the atmosphere of the scene and how it changes from Nathans perspective:

Nathan enters ‘ I haven’t heard that one’: reminiscent with undertones of sarcasm

‘I’m thirty five’ ‘Annie!- You ever thought’: tension raises as Annie defends and Nathan attempts to convince

‘Yes, son’ ‘He’s never been a man’: Annie vents and Nathan prods at answers. It’s a released feeling.

‘Oh Jesus Christ’ Sound of thunder: Annie mocks Nathan for his bad language, very sibling taunting.

‘ Where did they go’ ‘Fucken father figure’: Annie recalls as Nathan guides Annie in the director he wants. This is first time in the scene they bond.

‘What was he like’ ‘My sons a queero’: Nathan is retreating as Annie prods at his personal life. To Nathan this is very confronting and tense.

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‘Could you stop that’ ‘Annie!’- Annie has won the argument and holds power in the remainder of the scene. Nathan feeling beaten trys to take short shots at Annie with no success.

Identifies the key aspects of theatrical conventions The scene has the 2 chairs and the one table. There is also use of 2 mugs of tea that Nathan enters the scene with. In Nathans pocket there is a mobile phone which he uses within the scene.