For Educators and Families

BIRD BRAIN STUDY GUIDE For Educators and Families

THEMES

Welcome to Carousel Theatre’s production of BIRD BRAIN and its companion Study Guide for Educators and Families! We are very excited to bring you this magical fairytale, by award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen. This delightful play is perfect for Vancouver and lower Mainland students because it is filled with so many possibilities: to laugh, to learn, and to share. Bird Brain is an adaptation by one of Canada’s premier playwrights of a delightful German children’s book, Vogelkopf. This lovely tale about being different will make your heart sing. Not only does it entertain and enchant but it challenges students to explore themes of critical thinking, consequences of action, nature conservation and independence as they cheer the story on.

Compassion



Empathy



Courage



Friendship



Confidence



Independence



Diversity



Critical Thinking



Reasoning



Consequences of Actions Nature Conservation



TABLE OF CONTENTS (Page) 1. Themes 2. Synopsis

We hope you enjoy this Study Guide and as always, if you have any suggestions, we would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 604.669.3410 or email us at [email protected]



3. About The Writers 3. Character Breakdown

Gaelan Beatty as Bird Brain. Photo by Tim Matheson

4. Interview with

the Set Designer Classroom Activities

5. 5. 5. 6.

Family Performances: February 12 - 27, 2011 School Matinees: February 11 - 25, 2011 By VERN THIESSEN

Based on the story, Vogelkopf, by ALBERT WENDT

All Students Pre-School - Grade 1 Grades 2 – 3+

7.

Make a Bird Feeder!

8.

Theatre Etiquette

8.

Theatre Terms

9. Production Credits 9. Photo Shoot Fun! 10. About Carousel Theatre 10. Sponsors 10. Contact Us! 

Page 1

1

The Synopsis A woodcutter is on his way to Hat Street to sell some wood when he finds a nest of birds crying out to him for help. The birds ask if the woodcutter would please keep them safe and warm under his hat. The woodcutter resists – it is the law in the land to take your hat off whenever you meet someone. The birds’ beautiful singing softens the woodcutter’s heart, he changes his mind, and places the birds safely under his hat. When the woodcutter arrives on Hat Street to sell his wood but is unable to doff his hat to the Queen’s Under Secretary, he finds himself in trouble. The woodcutter explains that he cannot remove his hat but the Under Secretary is not sympathetic. The Under Secretary calls the woodcutter, “Bird Brain” and banishes him from Hat Street until he can pay a fine of One Hundred Thousand Duckets!

The Under Secretary

Bird Brain goes home to his wife who is unhappy to learn that he has not brought home any money. When Bird Brain refuses to remove his hat at the dinner table, his wife becomes angry. Bird Brain tells her about the birds but she doesn’t believe him and insists that he take his hat off or sleep outside! Bird Brain has no choice but to leave and he goes looking for a new home. Meanwhile, the Queen informs the Under Secretary that she has decided that the Palace will hold a Festival for Fools and she would like to invite the infamous Bird Brain. The Queen orders the Under Secretary to return with Bird Brain or else…! The Under Secretary finds Bird Brain in the forest and invites him to the Queen’s Festival for Fools. It takes some convincing, but Bird Brain agrees to attend. At the festival, Bird Brain meets many fools and dances with a Beautiful Fool in particular. Soon, it is revealed that the Beautiful Fool is, in fact, the Queen. On a palace tour, the Under Secretary reminds the Queen that it is the law that everyone must remove their hat in front of her majesty! Sadly, Bird Brain refuses to remove his hat for the Queen and he is sentenced to death. On the day of his execution, the Queen tells Bird Brain that she has an idea - if Bird Brain were the King, he’d never have to remove his hat because the King doesn’t have to take his hat off for anyone! The Queen asks Bird Brain to marry her and reveals that she has a secret too – she’s been hiding a nest of birds underneath her crown! They happily get married. However, the Under Secretary is not happy and hatches a plot to get rid of Bird Brain. Before he can carry out his plan, the Under Secretary hears the beautiful singing of Bird Brain’s birds and his heart melts. The Under Secretary apologizes and the new King and the Queen promote him to the job of Bird Secretary of All the Land! - By Karen Gilodo, Bird Brain Study Guide, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Toronto, ON Page 2

The Queen

Bird Brain, newly crowned!

Fred the Fool at The Festival for Fools

ALL COSTUME DESIGNS BY YULIA SHTERN

About The Writers Albert Wendt, Author of Vogelkopf Albert Wendt was born in 1948, is fairy tale writer, author and writer of radio and puppet shows. He lives apart from the literary transmission in a small village, close to Leipzig, in a large family with lots of chickens, geese and pigeons. His works have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Vern Thiessen, Playwright Vern Thiessen is one of Canada's most produced playwrights. He has written for stage, radio and television. His stage plays have been seen across Canada, the US and Europe, including Shakespeare's Will, Apple, Einstein's Gift and Vimy. Thiessen is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play, The City of Edmonton Arts Achievement Award, the University of Alberta Alumni Award for Excellence, The Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition, and the Governor General's Literary Award, Canada's highest honour for playwriting. He has also been shortlisted for the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. Thiessen received his BA from the University of Winnipeg and an MFA from the University of Alberta. He has served as Playwright in Residence at Workshop West Theatre (where he founded the Playwrights Garage program), and the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. He currently divides his time between Edmonton, AB and New York City.

Character Breakdown Storytellers

Our narrators- they tell the story, add commentary and move the narrative along. You never know when they might pop up to change the scene or give a bit of important information.

The Birds

A nest of baby birds who are cold, hungry and alone until they convince Bird Brain to save them by putting them under his hat.

The Man/Bird Brain

Our protagonist – a compassionate, caring and empathetic man who looks out for others – big or small, man or beast.

Wife

Bird Brain`s wife. She cares more about following the rules, making money and being `normal` than about her husband.

The Under Secretary

A man who is second-in-command to the Queen. He is obsessed with the rules and laws of the kingdom and wants nothing but to uphold them.

The Queen

A kind and gentle woman who has recently taken control of her Kingdom after the death of her husband. She is compassionate and caring and has great empathy for the fools in the land. But she has a tiny secret hidden away...

The Fools

People at the Festival of Fools who have their own special conditions. There is something about each of them that makes them very unique, interesting and special. (Beautiful Fool – the Queen in disguise, Fred – swings all the time, The Fortune Teller – has a special interest in faces and is able to tell a lot about a person by their face, Wordsmith – very interested in and skilled with words.) Page 3

An Interview with the Heidi Wilkinson, Set & Props Designer for Bird Brain What is the job of the Set Designer? The job of the set designer is to collaborate with the director and come up with a set that supports the action that the director envisions for her/his actors. The designer then uses his/her imagination and does a lot of research to come up with some design ideas…once the director has approved the designs, the designer makes a model, does colour swatches (for the costume designer/lighting designer/scenic painter), creates working drawings (for the carpenters to build the set), and designs the props, sending the whole production process into action. The designer will also do a design presentation for the actors/stage management to show them what they will be performing on, attend weekly production meetings and rehearsals, and sit in the theatre during tech week to ensure that the installation and completion of the set is as per the artistic vision. What is the general concept for the Bird Brain set? How did you come up with this concept? When Carole Higgins, the director for Bird Brain, first hired me to design the show, she told me that she wanted to create an atmosphere that felt a bit ‘Brothers Grimm’ and a bit European fairytale in flavour. It was also very important to her to have as simple a set and as much open space as possible. Taking these concepts and requests into consideration, I went off and read the script and pulled out the needed locations and the overall feel of the story…it’s a bit dark and cold for much of the play (both seasonally and emotionally through some of the characters). The set is very simple in design and a bit stark, but there are some magical elements that warm up the environment as Bird Brain goes on his personal journey. The play takes place in many different locations – how is that worked into your set design? Because we wanted to keep the set as open as possible, locations are suggested rather than completely transformed into. For example, we go from the forest into Bird Brain’s house – his house is suggested by a firepit unit with a pot of soup on it and a small bench that he sits on. Hat Street is just an old-fashioned street lamp and a sign. The palace is implied by a throne and a partial turreted castle tower that looks a bit like a bird house. All of these elements are supported by specific lighting effects, costumes, and sound effects that, when put together, create the desired location without taking up too much space on the stage. What sorts of coulours can we expect to see on stage? I love colour and in many of my set designs, I use a lot of it! However, Bird Brain is one of the darker shows that we’ve done at Carousel and we needed to reflect that in the colour palette. The play takes place in winter so the forest is in cool dark browns and crisp blues so that it feels a bit chilly. Those similar colours are brought in to Bird Brain’s house – while that particular scene takes place indoor, his wife’s reception to his personal changes are also very chilly. The scenes with the queen are warmed up with golds and reds and then I got to have fun with some hints of bright colour for the Festival of Fools. Is there anything else you’d like us to know about the set? I found a lot of inspirations from many different sources for this show – that made it fun. I have 2 children so we looked through a lot of old fairytale books together. My kids are always a huge inspiration because it gives me the previewed opportunity to see how children will respond to design ideas that I have. The flowers and fruit inspirations in the Festival of Fools came from 2 sources: a fabric sample that Yulia showed us as well as a crazy carpet that I saw in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas of all places! And the moon…I love the sun/moon. I’ve had the image that inspired that on my computer for about 3 years and love how whimsical it is.

Page 4

Every design is a collabration with everyone involved – the director, the other designers – and this one was (and continues to be) especially fun. Carole, whom I always love to work with, has put together a great design team. In a lot of ways, the set will act as a showcase for Yulia’s gorgeous costumes…I can’t wait to see them! John, the lighting designer, has been a close friend of mine for years and this is the first show that we’ve worked on together where we’re both designing aspects of the same production…we’ve had fun scheming about all the magical places we can light up! And Jeff inspires all of us with his amazing soundscapes – he takes everyone on such a journey. I’m so excited to see it all come together and hope our audiences love it.

Classroom Activities

(Please feel free to use activities from other sections, tailored to your group’s needs)

All Students: 1. Please read and discuss the section in this Study Guide about Theatre Etiquette. 2. Encourage your students to look at different aspects of the production. Assign a group to each of the following, and have a discussion following the performance: Lights, Sound, Costumes, Set.

Pre-School/Kindergarten to Grade 1 1. Fairytales Read aloud to the group one or more fairytales (Rapunzel, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin etc.)

2. Theatre vs. Film Discuss with the group the difference between a stage play and a movie. What might they see when they come to the theatre? (Actors on stage, costumes, dancing, fun lights, and silly sounds…etc)

3. Preparing for the theatre To prepare your group of youngsters for their visit, have a chat about: a) quietly watching the show (and not talking to neighbours) b) clapping and laughing with the group (it’s okay to have fun!)

4. Protect the Animals a) Have you ever cared for an animal? b) Have you ever helped protect an animal? c) Draw a picture of the animal you cared for or protected. Be sure to show the situation in the picture. d) If students choose to they can tell the story of the animal to the class.

5. Rules Discuss a) b) c)

the concept of ‘rules’ by asking questions and facilitating a class discussion. What does the word “rule” mean? What are some rules we have in our class room? In the school yard? Have you ever broken a rule? What happened as a result?

Page 5

Classroom Activities

(Please feel free to use activities from other sections, tailored to your group’s needs)

Grades 2 – 3+ 1. Greetings! Greetings play a very important role in Bird Brain. 1. Brainstorm a list of verbal and non-verbal greetings. Record answers on a large piece of paper. 2. Ask students how greetings differ depending on who is encountered (i.e. what is the etiquette when greeting someone of considerable status such as a queen, president, prime minister, teacher or friend). 3. Walk around the room greeting each other with some of the greetings identified in the brainstorming session. Greet each other using only one greeting (i.e.everyone shakes hands) 4. Explore how different factors change the dynamic of the greeting. As students greet each other, call from the sidelines:  “Greet each other by waving and as if you are in a hurry.”  “Greet each other by bowing as if you are happy.”  “Greet each other by tipping your hat as if you are angry.”  “Greet each other by smiling as if you are in slow motion.” 5. Mix up the status of the group:  Write out cards that each have a number on them from 1-10.  Without looking, have each student pick a card. Each number represents a status in society. 10 is the highest and 1 is the lowest.  Have the students walk around the room embodying their status.  Ask the students to go back to greeting each other but keep their status in mind as they do so. 6. Ask the     

students: How did How did How did How did How did

it feel to greet each other in the same way? it feel to greet each other in opposite ways? assigning a status change the way you greeted others it feel to greet someone of higher status it feel to greet someone of lower status

2. From Fairytale to Stage Bird Brain is a play based on a story called Vogelkopf. Vern Thiessen adapted the story by Albert Wendt for the stage. 1. Together as a class read the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. 2. Identify who the characters are in the story. 3. Discuss the basic plot of the story. 4. Together create a short play based on this fairy tale. You can either write it out first or Improvise it together on your feet with teacher as narrator. You can even take turns having students play the narrator with everyone else acting out what they say. Just like in the play with the Storytellers! 3. Sing for the Birds In Bird Brain, Bird Brain sings a song to the birds to thank them for making him so happy. 1. Who is your life makes you happy? Why? 2. Have each students write out a short song for that person. 3. If anyone wants to they can sing their song in front of the class! 4. Traditions vs. Rules 1. Discuss the difference between traditions and rules with your class. 2. What does the word “rule” mean? What are some rules we have in our class room? In the school yard? At home? 3. What does the word “tradition” mean? What are some traditions that students observe? 4. What are the differences between rules and traditions? Page 6

Classroom Activities

(Please feel free to use activities from other sections, tailored to your group’s needs)

Make your very own Bird Brain Bird feeder! Bird watching is fun for kids of all ages and can be done in the school yard. Borrow a bird watching guide from the library and see how many different types of birds your students can find. How to attract birds to your school yard? Feed them, of course! The easiest bird feeder is to simply spread suet onto a tree just above where a small branch juts out. Birds will perch on the branch and enjoy the suet. You can also build a simple bird feeder out of recycled household materials. Here are some ideas for homemade bird feeders: ORANGE BIRD FEEDER Cut the top off of an orange and scoop out the insides, leaving the white pith as a lining. Using a pencil or pen poke three or four holes near the top open end, equidistant from one another, and thread through separate pieces of string. Gather the strings together in the center and tie them together. Fill the orange with bird seed. Tie another length of string around the knot of strings and loop it around a branch. PINECONE BIRD FEEDER Tie a string to the top of a pinecone. Spread peanut butter all over a pinecone and roll it onto a pile of birdseed. Hang from a tree branch. TOILET PAPER ROLL BIRD FEEDER Poke holes in the top of a toilet paper roll and thread string through. Brush honey or peanut butter onto the roll using a paintbrush or plastic knife. Roll in birdseed and hang on a tree branch

Page 7

Theatre Etiquette 

Food, drinks, candy and gum are not permitted in the theatre. If your class has packed lunches, please ensure that they stay inside backpacks until your group has left the theatre.



Please remind your students that the rest of the audience, and the actors, can hear them if they talk during the performance, even if they whisper. Excessive movement is also distracting.



Remind your students not to approach or touch the stage, sets or props before, after or during the show.



Please encourage your students to use the washroom facilities prior to being seated. There is no intermission during our student matinees. Individuals who need to leave the theatre will be re-seated at a convenient moment during the performance.



If anyone in your group needs to leave the theatre during the performance, we ask that you do so through the exit door on house right, mid-way up the stairs. Students are not permitted to leave the theatre unless accompanied by an adult.



Throwing of objects or use of laser pointers during the performance is not permitted. Carousel Theatre reserves the right to stop a performance if such behaviour occurs, and ask the offending party to leave.



Please note that photography and videotaping (or other video or audio recording) of this production is prohibited.



Absolutely no cell phones, PDAs, iPods or video gaming systems, will be tolerated in the theatre (they must be off, and out of sight) – students, parents, and teachers included.



If you are planning a day trip to Granville Island to see the performance, we please ask that your class visit the Kids Market after the show. Also, please call the administration at the Kids Market to let them know you will be bringing your class (they appreciate the notice, if possible). The number is (604) 689-8447.



We encourage our audiences to respond to our performances; laughter is welcomed when appropriate and applause at the end of a performance is the best feedback of all. If you really like the performance, a way you can show the actors is by standing up and clapping (called a ‘standing ovation’). Standing ovations are used when you think the performance was extra special and deserving.



Enjoy the performance!

Theatre Terms Actor…………………..

A performer who tells a story to the audience by playing a character.

Composer……………..

A composer is a person who writes music. They will collaborate with a lyricist to create a new song.

Director…………….….

The person responsible for guiding the actors, designers, and crew according to his or her artistic vision. The director works with the actors and the design team to create the world of the play.

Lyricist…………………

A lyricist is a writer who specializes in song lyrics (words to a song). They will collaborate with a composer to create a new song.

Stage Manager……….

The person responsible for making sure all of the technical aspects of a show run smoothly. In a theatre, the Stage Manager sits in the lighting booth, behind the audience, and “calls the show”. This means that they give cues throughout the performance to the lighting operator, the sound technician, and to the Assistant Stage Manager.

Blocking……….……….

This is the director’s planning of the actor’s movements on stage.

Technical Rehearsal…..

Also called “Tech”, this rehearsal is specifically to establish and run through lighting and sound cues. The technical rehearsal gives the technicians a chance to program the sound and lights with actors, and it gives the actors a feel for the show with sound and lights.

Dress Rehearsal………

The full running of the production before the show opens to the public.

Page 8

Production Credits Production Team Director……………...………… Stage Manager……………..... Apprentice Stage Manager…. Set Design…………….…..….. Costume Design……….….….. Sound Design…………………. Lighting Design…………….….

Carole Higgins Colleen Totten Krysia Leskard Heidi Wilkinson Yulia Shtern Jeff Tymoschuk John Webber

Technical Director…………...……. Al Frisk Head of Wardrobe………………. Heather Westergard Publicist…………………………….. Cynnamon Schreinert

Cast (in alphabetical order) STORY TELLER 1: The Man (later Bird Brain.) …………..... STORY TELLER 2: The Birds and the Queen…………...…. STORY TELLER 3: The Birds, the Under Secretary, Fools ….

Gaelan Beatty Naomi Wright Josue Laboucane

Carousel Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, engages professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Photo Shoot Fun! All photos by Tim Matheson

A Photo Shoot That Drives Us a Bit Birdy... For every Carousel Theatre production, there is a very fun Carousel Theatre photo shoot. We hire a professional photographer, bring a whole bunch of props and costumes, add in some helping hands (usually the director and costume designer), chuck in some tunes and snacks- and spend an afternoon trying to capture the perfect image that will help us showcase our next production. Elements used in this photo shoot:  Actor Gaelan Beatty – he’s playing Bird Brain!  Costumes by Yulia Shtern  Props by Heidi Wilkinson (those lovely birds were purchased at a Michael’s Craft Store by Director Carole Higgins because the ones that will be in the show will be bigger so they can be seen from the stage!)  Photographer Tim and his studio  Helping hands from Yulia, Carole and Head of Wardrobe Heather Westergard

Page 9

About Carousel Theatre Carousel Theatre for Young People, now in its 37th season, has produced 138 plays for young people. Unique in the theatre ecology of our community, Carousel is the only professional theatre company in BC that stages a mainstage season of theatre especially for young people and families. Our programming offers a wide choice of exciting theatrical experiences for family audiences. Each season more than 45 000 young people and their families benefit from Carousel Theatre’s unique programming, which includes a mainstage season of Literary Classics at the Waterfront Theatre, a summer Shakespeare Teen Program and a yearround Theatre School for young people ages 3 to 17 years. Carousel Theatre is a cultural leader in our community. In 2010, the company (and our artists) was honoured with the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Outstanding Production- Theatre for Young Audiences for our acclaimed production of A Year with Frog and Toad. Carousel is a member of PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres), the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, Alliance for Arts & Culture and the Vancouver Theatre for Young Audiences Society. Carousel Theatre has been creating theatre for young audiences for 36 years and has introduced theatre to hundreds of thousands of young people. We inspire and develop new generations of artists and theatre patrons.

Our Sponsors Carousel Theatre would like to thank the following organizations for their support of Bird Brain:

This project was made possible in part through financial support by radio stations 103.5 QM/FM, The Beat 94.5 and TEAM Radio.

Contact Us! 1411 Cartwright Street Vancouver, BC V6H 3R7 TEL BOX OFFICE FAX WEB

604.669.3410 604.685.6217 604.669.3817 www.carouseltheatre.ca

Artistic & Managing Director, Carole Higgins The Study Guide for Educators and Families was written by Chelsea Haberlin and Jessie van Rijn. For more information on this production, or other Carousel Theatre inquiries, please contact: 604.669.3410 or [email protected]

Page 10