SCORED INVENTION (PERFROMERS: KATIE GHERASIM, SOFI BADZIO AND DIANA DE LEYSSAC)
“Scored Inventions” derives from the curiosity of exploring intimacy, understanding, and learning from those you share space with day to day. In the original draft of “Scored Inventions”, my curiosity was creating specialized performances of private spaces within a home I share with others. (My roommate’s and specifically their induvial rooms).
To begin this process, I interviewed two of my roommates: Diana de Leyssac (she/her) and Sofi Badizo (They/them). It was during the interviews that the project changed as my curiosity grew inspired by their inmate and honest answers. Sofi stated when being asked on their view of a quality friendship that you “Fully see a person”, and additionally later within the interview began asking me questions such as, “Do you have trust in your future”. Sofi’s question caught me off guard, but I honestly answered, and there was a moment of empathy and laughter within our discomfort for the future. Ultimately as I further reflected, I found a point of optimism of the unknown. As Sofi stated, “I’m trying to be” (more trusting in my future).
The interviews inspired my exploration into the question to “fully see a person”, and that one performer to one audience member would not achieve the intimacy I wanted within the time frame to present the piece. Rather we would both preform together. To me it was necessary for the quality of relations within the piece to allow for meaningful connection through conversation and active listening, sharing meaningful energy, and to give room for patience to learn from the other performers. Ultimately, through their interviews I wanted to cultivate specialized defined Scores, for us to perform together. These would construct a “Pocket-of-Peace” based on their interviews, but also amplify quality time through moments of amusement.
Through specific scores performers are guided through actions and choreography within moving through the space within the piece. Though being shaped by a defined structure, the scores allow for a multitude of improvised moments, as performers create visual art, dance, memories, laughter, and benevolence through the “performance.” The structure hopes to yield positive relations while still allowing for surprise to allow for the performers to alive and engaged within the piece.
At its core “Scored Inventions” is the daily social form of friends spending quality time together. I ultimately hope that the introduction of theatre structure and language within our home will cause myself to be a more preceptive listener, while also being more intentional with how I participate in other people’s time. Through the theater structure within a common social form, I find that there has been a greater attention in fostering quality time with another person; and though we wouldn’t continue to perform scores every time we hangout I hope qualities of listening, and fostering attention for others can continue more prominently in my day to day within our house, and our lives.
FRONT
BACK
On fridge for all roomates to see.
Sofi’s and Katies Score:
Description: Katie wears a pink dress. Sofi wears what they feel most comfortable in. Katie will only enter the room if holding a snack for Sofi.
Act One:
Setting Sofi’s Bed (bedframe).
1. Sofi and Katie lay next to each other in Sofi’s bed. Sofi selects any songs of their choosing to play for the duration of this portion of blocking. For a duration of 10 minutes Katie and Sofi will lay in bed in silence. Katie and Sofi position their bodies in the most comfortable manner, while keeping their eyes open.
2. Katie and Sofi may readjust in Sofi's bed. For Sofi asked Katie any question(s) that Katie had asked them in the interview. Katie must answer in detail completely and honestly to Sofi.
3. (They may go into discussion regarding the above acts if required).
4. For 10 minutes without interruption, Sofi may tell Katie anything. Katie actively listens and may not interject or interrupt.
5. (They may go into discussion regarding the above acts if required).
6. For 10 minutes Sofi and Katie go through Sofi’s Instagram reels and choose their favorites.
Act Two:
Setting: Sofi’s bedroom.
1. Sofi is alone within their bedroom. They selected any music they may like and began to dance. Katie stands in the hallway, and will enter once Sofi decides to invite them in.
2. Katie and Sofi (With more energy than required) dance together for the duration of two-three complete songs.
Act Three:
Setting: Sofi’s bedroom floor.
1. Through the selected printed Fairy color pages, Sofi, and Katie each select two- three images.
2. Through the duration that is needed they color the selected images.
End of Score.
Sofi's colour page the did during the Score.
Diana’s and Katies Score:
Description:
Act One (Katie’s Performance):
Setting: Diana’s and Katie’s Kitchen
1. Katie in the kitchen begins to prepare a meal of her choice, however the meal must have a strong fruit element, (preferably mangos if possible).
2. Katie gathers plates, utensils and boils water for tea.
Act One (Diana’s Performance):
Setting: Within Diana’s Room.
1. Diana alone within her room may choose moments, actions, and gestures that allow her to feel grounded and unwound from a day spent at School. Diana’s actions will take the duration of Katie’s preparations.
Act Two:
Setting: Diana’s bedroom. There is a picnic blanket spread out on the floor.
1. Sitting across from one another Katie and Diana eat the meal that had previously been prepared.
2. Katie pours hot water into Diana’s tea mug before her own. Katie serves Diana’s plate before her own.
3. During the duration of the meal Katie will read a prewritten scripted Note to Diana, explaining her Gratitude. Katie must look up from the Note three times to Diana during the reading.
4. Diana exits the kitchen after her meal is eaten, Katie exits after she has washed the dishes.
Act Three:
Setting: Diana’s bed.
1. They position themselves in a comfortable manner sitting across from one another on Diana’s bed.
2. For 5 minutes they complete a quick write of a story on the themes of Anastaisa Shaska’s choosing.
3. Katie and Diana then switch stories and within an undesignated timeframe, they will create a short comic strip based on the first drafted short stories.
4. Katie and Diana will do a live reading of their comic strips to one another after their work is completed.
Act Four:
Setting: Diana’s bedroom.
1. Using Katie’s phone, Diana and Katie will prank call Kai Macdonell. They may take a few minutes before to discuss their plan. They will make the call. They will repeat until satisfied.
End of Score.
Diana's comic she made during the Score.
1. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
2. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
3. Take Three minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.
4. What is your most treasured memory?
5. What do you value most in a friendship? What does friendship mean to you?
6. Make three true "we" statements each. For instance, "We are both in this room feeling..."
7. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
8. What feeds your soul?
9. What is one of your favorite projects you have worked on?
10. Your favorite film (I know you hate this question).
11. Favorite colour?
12. Favorite season?
13. What makes you laugh?
14. What is an event/experience this year that has most deeply shaped you?
15. What’s something have to do each day/ week you don’t like?
16. When do you feel most loved?
17. When do you feel most like yourself.
18. What are three things you love about yourself?
19. What is your pocket of peace in your day-to-day life.
20. What is your favorite place in the world? What is your favorite space within your room?
21. What do you love about your room? What are some objects you most love/ and why?
22. A scent from your childhood that brings you back into a memory?