IPP Update (#8)

Description: I've finally completed my brainstorming aspect of my IPP performance! It will be in the Topanga Mall food court with an alumni who has had acting experience. He will act as my "manager" as we get into an argument about my working rights. Among the spectators, I will have one of my friends record what is going on as if she is a bystander walking past and recording a scene unfolding in front of her. Another friend will be planted and ask spectators about the conflict going on and try to get some opinions or a reflection about the issue from them. Initially, we will be having a quick dinner that gradually turns ugly as he tells me that as a female, it "fits" more for me to do the mopping, cleaning, and restocking while a guyfriend who supposedly also works at the same place is always the face of the store.
Analysis: I think that the performance will receive some wild looks for 2 different reasons:
1. We're causing a public commotion.

Public Commotion caused by a rude Kanye West

People come to the mall expecting a nice day shopping and looking around, not to hear arguments. Though people don't admit to it, I know that many eavesdrop on conversations happening around them which gives me hope that others will overhear our conversation. Also, the tables at the Topanga Mall food court are so closely packed together that it is inevitable the people at least directly adjacent to us will hear what we have to say.

2. Demographic wise, I am a short, Asian, and young female arguing with a tall, Caucasian, and older male. That, off the bat, I know will look a bit fishy. Even if the spectators don't know what we are arguing about, they may grow suspicious at the conflict from our physical appearances.

Reflection: Planning this performance, I talked with several teachers, other students in my theatre class and asked for feedback on my idea. Slowly, the idea developed until it reached where it is now. I really had a difficult time starting out. I chipped at it one by one though and I think I have a pretty solid performance planned. I first picked the setting. Where the performance is being held definitely sets the ambiance of the performance and where I am can affect how the people around me react. For example, if I had chosen to do this in an upscale restaurant, we might have gotten thrown out pretty fast or the manager of the restaurant definitely would have rushed over in a jiffy because he wants good service in the restaurant. Then after the setting came the actual reason for my being upset and how the argument grows. I think, during the time I'm mad at my "manager", I might take the risk and turn to others around us and directly ask something along the lines of "Can you believe he just said that?!" or "Oh, my, goodness. Would you ever work for a man like him??" And this way, I  can get feedback from the spectators. Finally, one thing I am vehemently against is revealing the fact that the performance is a piece of theatre. I feel that once people find out that it was a theatre performance, they will undermine the meaning behind the piece. I'm afraid that people will think I pulled it as a stunt to see reactions, which is nowhere near my goal. Sure, I want to see how the public reacts, but the primary goal is to get them thinking about the issue and creating social change. Unless violence ensues or the security threatens us, I will try to stay away from putting the fourth wall back up.

Augosto Boal, without whom this wouldn't be possible and to whom I owe my respects and ability to combine my passions.