"The Gardener's Wife": Completed French Scenes

It was time to sharpen the pencil as it was apparent that the French Scenes for "The Gardener's Wife" needed to be finished before having a successful practice of telling the story.

It was not enough to read a story over and over again to understand its essence. By reflecting on the environment, character feelings, and what made the plot move forward, the whole story became real.

Despite the pondering, I never wrote out what exactly I would say. I did not want the story to become frozen to certain words. I wanted a flow that could change after each telling.

Here are the complete French Scenes for this Colombian story--
***Please note that the Gardener's Wife will simply be known as Wife. I have also included the first 4 scenes from a previous post so that all 15 scenes could be seen here.

Scene 1:
Enter Wife
Exit Husband

Environment--

• Inside house looking out to garden
• Fall time for Colombia (or late summer)
• Beautiful day--sun, blue sky, hear birds and breeze

Character/Feelings--

• Wife--longing, wishful, hopeful, happy/sad, bewildered at husband's view
• Husband--happy, befuddled at the answer that his wife wants of him, preoccupied with work

***Both have feelings of love and playfulness

Moving Plot Forward--

• Establish that the Wife and Husband are childless

Scene 2:
Enter Thoughts about the 3 Sisters
Exit with Triple Weddings

Environment--

• Garden--flowers will trigger memories about the village gossip
• Same day as Scene 1--still beautiful day
• Eventually memories transport from Garden to the Castle and Castle Grounds for weddings

Character/Feelings--

• Wife--reflecting on comical "story", eye to detail, honored
• All Sisters--joking, playful, dreamy, hungry
  
• 1st Sister--(oldest)--leader and turns jealous and resentful
• 2nd Sister--(middle)--follows the oldest Sister but likes the 3rd Sister's answer best
• 3rd Sister--(youngest)--has bigger vision and spoiled

Moving Plot Forward--

• Explains vengeance of two older Sisters towards the youngest (leads to babies switched)
• Emphasize indifference of the King

Scene 3:
Enter Pregnant 3rd Sister
Exit 1st Baby Boy

Environment--

• Castle and Castle Grounds with buzz by subjects of 1st born and turns to gasp/silence as discover the dog
  
• 10 months later
• Midwife Room
• River

Character/Feelings--

• 3rd Sister (pregnant)--loud, in pain, sleep deprived
• 1st Sister (leader of scheme)--even more jealous, conniving, vengeful, grumpy
• 2nd Sister (follower of scheme)--same as 1st Sister except nervous, worried to get caught
• King--unconcerned, indifferent
• 1st Baby Boy--quiet otherwise people would not believe the dog was born in its place

Moving Plot Forward--

• Strange reactions for Queen and King of baby "dog", though Queen feels like something is missing later on
• Baby will arrive to the Wife and Husband so the audience will know to whom the Baby belongs

Scene 4:
Enter Wife and Husband
Exit Wife with 1st Baby Boy into Home

Environment--

• Outside at Garden near River
• Beautiful day

Character/Feelings--

• Wife--grieving, longing, despair, hopeless (another 10 months childless), then turns to surprise, curious, joy, tenderness, love, celebration, praising, thankful, wonder
• Husband--happy, confused, worries more of where Baby comes from, otherwise same as the Wife
• 1st Baby Boy--loved, content, though ill from being tossed on the water, tired when hears lullaby until completely asleep

Moving Plot Forward--

• 1st Baby Boy has Home

Scene 5:
Enter Pregnant 3rd Sister
Exit 2nd Baby Boy

Environment--

• Castle and Castle Grounds with buzz by subjects of 2nd born and turns to quieter than 1st gasp as discover the cat as starting to get used to the idea
  
• 10 months later
• Midwife Room
• River

Character/Feelings--

• 3rd Sister--(pregnant)--loud, in pain, sleep deprived
• 1st Sister--(leader of scheme)--even more jealous, conniving, vengeful, grumpy
• 2nd Sister--(follower of scheme)--same as 1st Sister except nervous, worried to get caught
• King--unconcerned, indifferent
  
• 2nd Baby Boy--quiet (otherwise people wouldn't believe the cat was born)

Moving Plot Forward--

• Strange reactions for Queen and King of baby "cat", though Queen feels like something is missing later on
• Baby will arrive to the Wife and Husband so the audience will know to whom the Baby belongs

Scene 6:
Enter Wife and Husband
Exit Wife with 2nd Baby Boy into Home

Environment--

• Outside at Garden near River
• Beautiful day

Character/Feelings--

• Wife--happy yet grieving and longing for another child, as if someone is missing, baby needs a playmate, then turns to surprise, curious, joy, tenderness, love, celebration, praising, thankful, no longer wonders where baby came from--it is a blessing
• Husband--happy, confused, worries even more of where Baby comes from, otherwise same as the Wife
• 2nd Baby Boy--loved, content, though ill from being tossed on the water, tired when hears lullaby until completely asleep

Moving Plot Forward--

• 2nd Baby Boy has Home

Scene 7:
Enter Pregnant 3rd Sister
Exit Baby Girl

Environment--

• Castle and Castle Grounds with buzz by subjects of 2nd born and turns to rolling of eyes and is "same-o-same-o" as discover the stick
  
• 10 months later
• Midwife Room
• River

Character/Feelings--

• 3rd Sister--(pregnant)--loud, in pain, sleep deprived
• 1st Sister--(leader of scheme)--even more jealous, conniving, vengeful, grumpy
• 2nd Sister--(follower of scheme)--same as 1st Sister except nervous, worried to get caught
• King--unconcerned, indifferent, almost amused
  
• Baby Girl--quiet (otherwise people wouldn't believe the stick was born)

Moving Plot Forward--

• Strange reactions for Queen and King of baby "stick", though Queen feels like something is missing later on
• Baby Girl will arrive to the Wife and Husband and so the audience will know to whom the Baby belongs

Scene 8:
Enter Wife and Husband
Exit Wife with Baby Girl into Home

Environment--

• Outside at Garden near River
• Beautiful day

Character/Feelings--

• Wife--happy yet grieving and longing for another child, as if someone is missing, then turns to surprise, curious, joy, tenderness, love, celebration, praising, thankful, no longer wonders where baby came from--it is a blessing
• Husband--happy, confused, worries even more of where Baby comes from, otherwise same as the Wife
• Baby Girl--loved, content, though ill from being tossed on the water, tired when hears lullaby until completely asleep

Moving Plot Forward--

• Baby Girl has Home

Scene 9:
Enter Queen into Garden
Exit Queen to Castle and Wife/Boy to Home

Environment--

• Garden
• Beautiful day

Character/Feelings--

• Queen--empty, lonely, silent--much like the grieving/pleading song of the Wife (something is missing and stirs inside when she sees the Boy, but she mistakes it and asks for three things for the Garden)
  
• 1st Boy--afraid at first when sees the Queen (royalty), then calms when Wife comes
• Wife--senses that she just met the birth mother, though does not voice it

Moving Plot Forward--

• Quest is given for the 1st Boy, which will soon go to all the Children

Scene 10:
Enter 1st Boy into World for Quest and Hermit
Exit 1st Boy as transformed being

Environment--

• Jungles
• Mule for transportation

Character/Feelings--

• 1st Boy--honored to go on quest, surprised by Hermit, saddened by insults, never knew his real mother, conflicted because he loves Wife as mother, grieved so Insulting Voice overcomes him
• Hermit--senses insecurity, gives warning
• Bird/Tree/Water--quiet
• Wife--worried as sees glass of water turns half blood
  

Moving Plot Forward--

• 1st Boy fails Quest and 2nd Boy must go

Scene 11:
Enter 2nd Boy into World for Quest and Hermit
Exit 2nd Boy as transformed being

Environment--

• Jungles
• Mule for transportation

Character/Feelings--

• 2nd Boy--honored like his brother to go on quest, though wonders why he always has to be 2nd, surprised by Hermit, frustrated and angry by the insults and shouts back (insults bird, tree, water, and voice), Insulting Voice overcomes him
• Hermit--senses anger, gives warning
• Bird/Tree/Water--quiet
• Wife--worried as sees glass of water turns all blood
  

Moving Plot Forward--

• 2nd Boy fails Quest and Girl must go

Scene 12:
Enter Girl into World for Quest and Hermit
Exit Hermit

Environment--

• Jungles
• Mule for transportation

Character/Feelings--

• Girl--humbled to go and find brothers and fulfill Quest
• Hermit--senses quiet confidence, encourages it, kinder to the Girl, knows she will succeed
• Bird--shouts "Hail the Hero comes forth"
• Tree-dancing
• Water--jumping and leaping
• 1st and 2nd Boys--revived through Girl's breath from crystal balls to humans again, relieved, ashamed (given names Bama'n and Pa'rvis)
  

Moving Plot Forward--

• Quest fulfilled through Girl
• Boys are revived
• Able to return and present items to Queen

Scene 14:
Enter Queen, King, and Two Sisters to Wife/Husband's Home
Exit Two Sisters for punishment

Environment--

• Garden
• Inside Home
• Beautiful day

Character/Feelings--

• Queen--senses there is something more to this meeting
• King--impressed by the pearls in the squash, money talks more to him
• 1st Sister--surprised that the King and Queen did not figure out the baby switch before
• 2nd Sister--regrets following the 1st Sister than the 3rd Sister, knows with that decision comes the consequences
• Wife--senses there is something more to this meeting
• Husband--nervous to be host for the King
• 1st Boy--insecurity melts when knows he is of noble blood
• 2nd Boy--temper melts when knows who he is and must act with dignity
• Girl--same as she ever was as had strength from Wife (the one who raised her)
• Bird--wants justice for the Two Sisters and blessings to come on the family of the Wife
  

Moving Plot Forward--

• Scheme of Two Sisters discovered
• Queen (birth mother) reunited with Children
• Wife/Husband/Children invited to live in Castle
• Mother who brought them into the world together with Mother who taught them how to live in the world

Scene 15:
Enter Wife as Grandma
Exit with Grandchildren and Lullaby

Environment--

• Within Castle
• Goes for walks with Grandchildren to the Garden

Character/Feelings--

• Wife/Grandma--content, sings lullaby for Grandchildren
• Grandchildren--beaming with their Grandmother

Moving Plot Forward--

• Mother who once had no Children now has many

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

"The Changeling": French Scenes technique

It was time to develop the French Scenes for "The Changeling", as this technique guided me in the telling of the stories "The Gardener's Wife" and "Forsaken Brother".

Joanna Huffaker, my story buddy, was ready to delve into this adventure.

Basic concept of French Scenes (review):
French Scenes are main events of the story that begin with one or more key characters enter the scene and ends when one or more key characters exit the scene. Between entrances and exits are developments to the story whether in understanding the environment, revealing character, and forwarding the plot.

French Scenes tend to be divided into 5 parts though I could have as many as 32+ parts for a complicated story.

Here are the French Scenes for this Irish story--
Scene 1:
Enter Mrs. Sullivan with Baby
Exit Neighbors

Environment--

• Church--quiet, solemn, whispers, playing of hymns
• Market--buzz, vying for attention for different wares
• Bridge--over turbulent waters
• Green grass, blue skies, a couple clouds, sun
• Occasional livestock--cows and sheep

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--proud mama, bubbling, anxious to show baby, animated, high-spirited
• Baby--calm, happy, quiet, mild, serene (at this time he has bright-blue eyes, smooth skin, and tiny/delicate hands)
• 1st Neighbor found at Church--congratulatory towards Mrs. Sullivan then turns to worry
• 2nd Neighbor found at Market--annoyed and preoccupied
• 3rd Neighbor found at Bridge--spiteful, jealous, harsh

Moving Plot Forward--

• Bragging of Baby
• Attracts attention of Fairies
• Introduces Neighbors

Scene 2:
Enter Neighbors (Verbal Abuse--3 times)
Exit Neighbors

Environment--

• Church--quiet, solemn, whispers, playing of hymns
• Market--buzz, vying for attention for different wares
• Bridge--over turbulent waters

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--untroubled, unflappable, imperturbable which then turns to astonishment
• 1st Neighbor found at Church--worry, concern, troubled, sincere
• 2nd Neighbor found at Market--distracted, preoccupied, bothered, irritable
  
• 3rd Neighbor found at Bridge--spiteful, catty, ill-natured, grumpy, sulky, bitter

Moving Plot Forward--

• Neighbors give warnings
• Mrs. Sullivan does not listen
• Verbal Abuse emphasized

Scene 3:
Enter Changeling
Exit Mrs. Sullivan

Environment--

• Home--thatched roof, mostly made of white stone, rural, small windows, wooden table and chairs, bits of straw on the floor

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--alarmed, senses something, attempts to be calm and collected (which is a different personality for her)
• Changeling--loud, obnoxious, messy, impish, wails (at this time he has dull and lifeless eyes, wrinkled skin, and hands like talons)
• Home--eerie, feels cooler, too quiet and contrasts with the Changeling

Moving Plot Forward--

• Switch of the Baby for the Changeling is made by the Fairies
• Mrs. Sullivan needs to get the Baby back

Scene 4:
Enter Neighbors (Physical Abuse--3 times)
Exit Neighbors

Environment--

• Church--quiet, solemn, whispers, playing of hymns
• Market--buzz, vying for attention for different wares
• Bridge--over turbulent waters

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--urgency, wild-eyed, horrified when hears answers from Neighbors
• 1st Neighbor found at Church--sincere, slightly offended to be ignored the first time (suggests Changeling put out in elements/snow)
• 2nd Neighbor found at Market--exasperated, gives more time to Mrs. Sullivan so not bothered again (suggests to burn nose of Changeling)
  
• 3rd Neighbor found at Bridge--rough, on edge, rude, sarcastic, has "I told you so" attitude but pleased with Mrs. Sullivan's bad fortune, smirks (suggests roast Changeling alive on griddle)

Moving Plot Forward--

• Solutions revealed from Neighbors but denied by Mrs. Sullivan

Scene 5:
Enter Ellen Grey
Exit Mrs. Sullivan

Environment--

• Ellen Grey's Home--obscure location, herbs and remedies hang all over the home, things creatively placed about inside, many worn blankets

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--desperate, intimidated, leery, surprised, taken-aback, then becomes apprehensive and doubtful by choice presented by Ellen Grey but it may be the only option left
• Ellen Grey--amused for she has seen these reactions before, sharp and witty despite her looks, mysterious
  

Moving Plot Forward--

• Solution revealed from Ellen Grey that is more accepted by Mrs. Sullivan

Scene 6:
Enter Mrs. Sullivan
Exit Changeling

Environment--

• Home--thatched roof, mostly made of white stone, rural, small windows, wooden table and chairs, bits of straw on the floor

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--determined but uneasy, purposeful
• Changeling--curious, amused, talkative, creepy
  

Moving Plot Forward--

• Changeling reveals age so must return Baby

Scene 7:
Enter Baby
Exit Mrs. Sullivan with Baby

Environment--

• Home--thatched roof, mostly made of white stone, rural, small windows, wooden table and chairs, bits of straw on the floor

Character/Feelings--

• Mrs. Sullivan--relieved, happy, tender in showing her love in a quiet way (no longer bragging)
• Baby--calm, happy, quiet, mild, serene (at this time he has bright-blue eyes, smooth skin, and tiny/delicate hands)

Moving Plot Forward--

• Baby returned

It always feels good to work this process out!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Soundscapes: How a Guitar can Howl like a Wolf

This was the first practice of the "Forsaken Brother" story with guitarist Joshua Payne, and my nerves were on end.

I usually have butterflies in the stomach when I perform, but I had more than usual today.

I would not be alone as Julie Barnson, my story buddy, would also be in the room. That was comforting as she is a long-time storytelling friend. Joshua is still learning about the storytelling world so there is more pressure to be as exceptional as possible.

Luckily, the meeting was called a "practice" so perfection was not required. In fact, this was the place to make mistakes.

While Joshua set up his guitar, I reviewed the French scenes and shared which areas were key for certain sounds from him.

The wolf howls were important to the plot and the wind threaded its way throughout the story.

I was amazed when Joshua demonstrated how his guitar could how like a wolf. He turned some knobs and the eerie sound escaped his instrument.

I had always envisioned having music to enhance the "Forsaken Brother" story, but what I heard surpassed my imaginations.

It was evident that Joshua had done his research before coming to the meeting. He had listened to other stories that merged music with words such as the classic "Peter and the Wolf". Though what we would do was vastly different that than piece, there were techniques that could be drawn from it such as the power of silence or how to not overpower the speaker.

So with less confidence than usual, I told the "Forsaken Brother" story. I attempted to stop after each French scene as Joshua and I decided that each scene could have a different soundscape. My mp3 recorder/microphone caught these moments at the same time of Joshua's recorder.

With all the pauses and word-tumblings, it took 27 minutes to tell! I predicted that the polished story would be between 15-20 minutes. My pacing was slow and words were drawn out so I knew I was on track. Of course, the story must go as long as it must go.

After telling the whole story, Joshua spoke some musical lingo and terminology that was unfamiliar to me.

Here is what we decided after the first time through the story:

• Story would begin and end with the same soundscape though the beginning would be in the major chord while the ending would be in the minor chord
• Pause or silence during the chanting would heighten the mood
• A final howl from the guitar would follow after my last words
• Time may be given for pure music during seasonal changes in the story

I look forward to more practices to see what develops.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

"Economy of Language": From Teller's View

Sometimes people ask me to summarize a story. Often, the summary is longer than the story itself.

At one point, Don Doyle challenged me to take a 55-minute story and tell it as a 5-minute story. He knew that whatever I shared in that condensed time would demonstrate what was most important to me.

I made a couple attempts to do as Don asked. I was over in time each time though every practice brought me closer to the 5-minute goal.

Such an exercise is needed for any story that I share for "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", though perhaps the 5-minute goal could change to 3-minute or 1-minute challenges based on the average telling length of the story.

Elizabeth Ellis encouraged the "economy of language" for the storyteller while I was at East Tennessee State University working on my Masters in Storytelling. She continued that there were "millions upon millions of choices" for a storyteller to make into how a story is presented.

Is there a stronger--and perhaps shorter--way to tell the story or to form images in the heads of your listeners?

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller