Phebe

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In the Globe Theatre Company's production of As You Like It, Phebe was played by Belinda Davison.

About Belinda Davison

Belinda Davidson trained at LAMDA. She has worked extensively in theatre, including roles in plays such as Othello, and the Taming Of the Shrew. Television work includes The Knock, Casualty and Love Hurts.

Click on the numbered links to follow Belinda's journey as she creates and plays the character of Phebe in the Globe Theatre.

Belinda Davison - Introduction

The rehearsals for As You Like It took place in a converted warehouse in O’Meara Street, about 5 minutes walk from the Globe theatre itself. The rehearsal room is very large and has an outline of the Globe stage marked out in tape on the floor; there are also 2 pillars in the room. These arrangements help the actors to prepare for working on the Globe stage. The actors will not rehearse on the Globe stage until the technical rehearsal, although some classes are held on the stage.

Each day, the actors received their ‘call’, the time s/he is expected to report for rehearsal. During the rehearsal period an actor’s day will vary considerably, each actor may rehearse scenes, attend a class (voice, text and movement) or have a costume fitting with the wardrobe department. A typical day might begin at 10.00am and finish at 6.30pm – sometimes there are also evening calls.

During the rehearsal period (particularly at the beginning) each actor will research his/her character. To help the actors the assistant director will find relevant books, pictures etc. and bring these to rehearsal. Extracts from books and pictures are often stuck onto the rehearsal room walls. Actors will also experiment with using props in rehearsal; these will be rough versions of the final prop and will help them to build the prop into the scene. Similarly some form of rehearsal costume will be worn e.g. long skirts for the women, this will help actors to get used to moving, sitting etc. in their costume. In particular actors will use the actual shoes they will wear in performance during rehearsal. This is to wear the shoes ‘in’, as they are made using Elizabethan techniques and there is no specified ‘left’ and ‘right’ foot. Many actors also feel that wearing the correct shoes helps them to ‘get into’ character.

The companies have 6 weeks of rehearsal before the technical and dress rehearsals and this is the period covered by these comments and activities. Generally the beginning of this period is spent improvising around the text and in development of character; towards the end of these 6 weeks actors will rehearse scenes in detail and run parts of the play. The exact method of working in rehearsal is established and shaped by the director.

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Belinda Davidson - Character Notes 1

These comments are the actor’s thoughts or ideas about the part as s/he goes through the rehearsal process – they are simply their own interpretation and frequently change as the rehearsal process progresses.

This is Belinda’s second season at the Globe and she is looking forward to performing at the theatre again this year. At the beginning of the rehearsal period for any play Belinda goes through the text and writes down everything that is said about her character and everything that the character says about herself. When doing this for As You Like It, she particularly noticed how many times Phebe is described as proud. Belinda is also trying to build up a picture of the physical world in which Phebe and Silvius live. What would life be like for them in the Forest of Arden? – What would they do?

To research the role Belinda is reading Shakespeare’s source for As You Like It, Rosalynd. Phebe plays a much bigger part in this story and Belinda is finding these extra details very helpful for her understanding of Phebe’s character.

Belinda feels it is important for Phebe to like Silvius at the end of the play and be happy with the prospect of marrying him. She would therefore like to find a journey for Phebe in the play at the end of which she is a different character than she was at the beginning. When the play begins, Belinda feels that Phebe and Silvius have reached a stalemate; Silvus has been pursuing her for a long time. Both need Rosalind’s intervention to move on and to resolve their conflict. Belinda feels that, at the beginning of the play, Phebe needs Silvius to feed her vanity, but doesn’t need his love.

There is the possibility at this stage that some of Phebe’s lines might be cut. The director would like to cut some lines from Phebe’s speech in Act 3 Scene 5:

"That eyes, that are the frail’st and softest things,

Who shut their coward gates on atomies,

Should be call’d tyrants, butchers, murderers."

Belinda however would like to keep these lines and she must find ways of convincing the director that they are important to the speech.

Belinda has been thinking about Phebe’s costume and would like her to be dressed individually - possibly overdressed for the forest. Phebe would like to fly from Silvius and her life in the forest, and as a result of this, acts in a manner way above her position in society. Although Phebe is a very hard character, Belinda feels there is something likeable and recognisable about her. She has been thinking of possible contemporary comparisons with Phebe, ladies such as Madonna and Paula Yates; driven people who are perceived to be, to a certain extent, misfits in society.

Activities

1. Adjectives

One way Belinda worked on her character was to write a list of adjectives which she felt described Phebe....

Either: From what you know about Phebe write your own list of adjectives to describe her.

Or: Choose a character you have played in Drama, or know well from a book and write a list of adjectives which describe him/her.

2. Contemporary Comparisons?

Belinda felt that Paula Yates or Madonna reminded her of Phebe as their behaviour is individualistic and they are both driven by ambition.

Who do you think of is a modern equivalent of Phebe? Make sure you give reasons to support your choice.

3. What is said about Phebe?

One exercise Belinda used early in rehearsal was to write down everything that is said about Phebe and everything that Phebe says about herself.

Try this exercise for yourself – make 2 lists, one for Phebe’s own comments and one for those of other characters. When you have finished compare each list, what are the differences and similarities?

4. Dividing the text.

To help her understand Phebe’s motivation at each moment Belinda divides the text into sections – each time Phebe’s motivation/aim changes she begins a new section. Belinda then gives each section a title.

Try this exercise for yourself, you could look at any part in the play or focus on the end of Act3 Scene 5, from Rosalind’s exit to the end of the scene.

5. Cuts

The director of the play would like to cut some of Phebe’s lines in Act 3 Scene 5:

"That eyes, that are the frail’st and softest things,

Who shut their coward gates on atomies,

Should be call’d tyrants, butchers, murderers."

Belinda however would like to keep these lines and she must find ways of convincing the director that they are important to the speech.

Imagine you are Belinda, write down what you would say to the director when you ask her not to cut the lines. You will have to persuade her that they add something to the play. (You could also try improvising this dialogue with a partner).

Alternatively Imagine you are the director of the play. How would you respond to Belinda’s request?

6. Using Shakespeare’s source

Belinda has found that Shakespeare’s source for As You Like It, Rosalynd provides her with lots more detail about Phebe’s character. She is using this information to inform her performance.

Look at Montanus’ Sonnet, what do we find out about Phebe in the poem?

Write your own poem about Phebe and send it to Belinda, it might give her some ideas which she can use in her performance.

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Belinda Davidson - Character Notes 2

These comments are the actor’s thoughts or ideas about the part as s/he goes through the rehearsal process – they are simply their own interpretation and frequently change as the rehearsal process progresses.

Belinda is now concentrating on trying to assimilate all of her thoughts so far and to ensure that she is creating a ‘real’ person in the character of Phebe. She has decided that the first scene in which Phebe and Silvius appear is a lovers tiff and that they have had this conversation many times before. In rehearsal Belinda and the actor who plays Silvius experimented with him chasing her before the scene began so that the dialogue which takes place becomes Phebe’s last desperate attempt to rid herself of Silvius’ attentions.

Belinda is finding her experience on the Globe stage last season useful as she knows already what will work for her in terms of use of the space; she is also aware of possible reactions of the audience.

One technique Belinda uses to help her explore the dramatic potential in each scene is to divide the text into sections, each section representing the duration of one thought. When Phebe’s thoughts or motivation changes Belinda marks this as a new section of text. She then gives each section of text a title so that she has a clear idea of how Phebe’s thoughts or motivation changes during the course of one scene.

Belinda feels that Phebe is isolated from everybody else in the Forest of Arden. She especially feels that Phebe would think that Audrey was beneath her friendship, Silvius is her only companion. When Phebe sees Ganymede she senses something set apart from the forest in ‘him’ and feels he could be a means of escape and social advancement.

Belinda has been thinking about what Phebe would wear for the wedding scene and feels that she would make a very special effort – in preparation for her marriage to Ganymede. This will make her disappointment more poignant.

At this point in the rehearsal process the cast went on a residential weekend to an Elizabethan manor house where they improvised the scenes that were not in the play. This was useful for Belinda as it allowed her to establish Phebe’s relationship with the other characters in the play – Belinda was able to improvise scenes with characters that otherwise Phebe does not see until the wedding scene. This work will help her to interact with those characters in that scene during performance.

Activities

1. What happens off stage?

Actors work to understand their character as a whole, not just what s/he does and says on stage. To help them actors use an exercise in which they decide what happens to their character in between the scenes in which s/he is featured.

What do you think would happen if Phebe met Audrey in the forest? (Belinda feels that Phebe might ‘look down’ on Audrey). You could improvise this scene in groups, or write down your ideas in a script format.

2. Dividing the text.

To help her understand Phebe’s motivation at each moment Belinda divides the text into sections – each time Phebe’s motivation/aim changes she begins a new section. Belinda then gives each section a title.

Try this exercise for yourself, you could look at any part in the play or focus on the end of Act3 Scene 5, from Rosalind’s exit to the end of the scene.

3. Wedding Dress

Belinda feels that Phebe would try to wear something special and distinctive to her wedding.

Draw and/or describe Phebe’s wedding dress. Remember she is a poor shepherdess and would have to make her own dress or borrow from someone else.

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Belinda Davidson - Character Notes 3

These comments are the actor’s thoughts or ideas about the part as s/he goes through the rehearsal process – they are simply their own interpretation and frequently change as the rehearsal process progresses.

After Phebe has met Rosalind she enters on a new stage of her relationship with Silvius – he is useful to her as a messenger and this at least prevents them from quarreling – they enter the new stage of a partnership together, although at that moment it is on unequal terms. Belinda is now experimenting with a Kentish accent for Phebe (all characters native to Arden are using a Kent dialect), she feels however that Phebe would be trying to imitate the accent of the court in and effort to set herself apart from characters such as Audrey.

Belinda is now concentrating on owning the lines for herself –forgetting Shakespeare wrote them and ensuring that she is absolutely clear about what Phebe is saying and why she is saying it.

Working with costume is a huge help, especially the corset as this effects the way Belinda moves as Phebe.

Belinda wishes to develop the moment when she falls in love with Ganymede, she feels this is at the line:

"Sweet youth, I pray you chide a year together.

I had rather hear you chide than this man woo."

(Act 3 Scene5)

Belinda is exploring the different ways in which she can show Phebe’s feelings to the audience

The final scenes still present the biggest challenge for Belinda – should Phebe be happy or distressed at events – she is after all tricked into agreeing to marry Silvius. Belinda feels that this is the moment when Phebe grows up, she is distraught at Rosalind’s revelation yet Silvius is still there for her – Belinda would like to find a way of playing this moment which conveys these ideas.

Activities

1. Falling in love

Belinda has decided that Phebe realises she has fallen in love with Ganymede

during the lines:

"Sweet youth, I pray you chide a year together.

I had rather hear you chide than this man woo."

(Act 3 Scene5)

She is now exploring ways of communicating this to the audience.

How do you think Belinda should show the audience that Phebe has fallen in love with Ganymede? Try to think of how Belinda might speak the above lines and how she might use body language to communicate Phebe’s feelings.

2. The final scene

Belinda’s main concern is how to play the final scene of the play. It is possible to say that Phebe is tricked into marrying Silvius. Why does Phebe keep her promise? Is she happy to marry Silvius or does she only do so out of a feeling of duty and desperation?

How do you think Belinda should play this scene? Write her detailed instructions about how Phebe should behave and the way in which Belinda should deliver her lines. Make sure you give reasons for your suggestions.

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Belinda Davidson - Character Notes 4

These comments are the actor’s thoughts or ideas about the part as s/he goes through the rehearsal process – they are simply their own interpretation and frequently change as the rehearsal process progresses.

Before each performance Belinda likes to make sure she is properly warmed up and prepared; to do this he has a routine of physical and vocal exercises which include Yoga and voice work. Phebe does not appear in the play until Act 3 Scene 5, therefore Belinda has a long time to wait between her warm up and her first appearance as Phebe. The wrestling match for As You Like It takes place in the yard and Belinda, with other cast members, goes into the yard to control the groundlings and to help clear areas for the wrestling to take place. Belinda is not in costume as Phebe at this point but wears her own clothes. This gives her an excellent opportunity to get the feel of the audience and a sense of the mood and pace of that particular performance.

After the wrestling match Belinda goes to her dressing room and begins to get into costume, she likes to leave this until the last possible moment as she feels that once she is in costume she is ready to go on stage. First Belinda’s hair is styled then a dresser helps her into her costume. Belinda hardly wears any make up for the role of Phebe, only mascara, so by the interval she is ready. At this point she goes to the top of the tiring house and runs through her lines and starts to think about her concentration point for that day. Belinda has a different concentration point for each performance, this can be based on an idea, or a tiny aspect of her character. Previous concentration points have included: ‘Phebe tries to prove that she is educated’, ‘Phebe wants to leave the forest to live in the city’ or ‘Phebe feels irritated by everything Silvius says or does’. Identifying a single point of concentration for each show is one of the ways in which Belinda works to keep her performance fresh and focused.

The company have now gone into rehearsal for their second play of the season A Mad World, My Masters by Thomas Middleton. This means that Belinda has either rehearsals during the day and a performance in the evening, or a performance in the afternoon and rehearsal in the evening. Belinda was in the Globe company last year, so she is used to this way of working. In A Mad world, My Masters Belinda plays the Courtesan, this character shares some similarities with Phebe as both wish to rise above the confines of their current situation. Both characters are also intelligent and quick thinkers who use and manipulate men.

Phebe’s reaction to the realization that she has promised to marry Silvius changes from performance to performance, depending on how the scene before has gone and the mood established during the show. Sometimes Belinda plays Phebe’s feelings as those of compassion towards Silvius; while at other performances Phebe is angry that she has been tricked into marrying him.

Belinda now feels much more relaxed in the role of Phebe and is finding she is able to play with the reactions of the audience and with each moment as it happens on stage.

Activities

1. Concentration points

Belinda picks a different point of concentration for each performance. This can be an idea that is central to Phebe’s character or a very obscure point! She also invents stories around each concentration point.

Read Belinda’s performance page on the use of different concentration points to provide a focus for each performance.

Invent some concentration points for Phebe and send them to Belinda so that she can use them during performances.

If you wish you could also write the story behind your idea to give Belinda some background information.

2. Warm up

Belinda likes to make sure that she warms up physically and vocally before she begins a performance. Do you have any games or warm up exercises you could suggest that Belinda might use in her routine?

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Belinda Davidson - Character Notes 5

These comments are the actor’s thoughts or ideas about the part as s/he goes through the rehearsal process – they are simply their own interpretation and frequently change as the rehearsal process progresses.

At this point, just over half way through the run of the play, As You Like It was given a 3 week break from performance. This allowed the Red Company the opportunity to rehearse full time their second play of the season, A Mad World My Masters and to open that production with a week of performances before the play went into repertory with As You Like It. Belinda and the rest of the company have been busy with rehearsal, technical rehearsal and previews and have not been thinking about As You Like It during this period. Therefore returning to the play is quite challenging.

The company were called to rehearsal before the show for a line run of the play (for which the actors just say their lines, without movement) and a speed run (for which the actors include their moves but as fast as possible). Belinda found this very useful as it helped her to hear the words of the play again and to be reminded of the way in which the scenes fit together.

Belinda is very pleased to be doing As You Like It again. Although she has a wonderful role in A Mad World, My Masters, the play seems one-dimensional to her when compared with As You Like It. She feels that Shakespeare’s storyline, unlike Middleton’s, has a beginning, a middle and an end; it flows much more easily. Belinda also enjoys the richer language and greater depth of characterisation in As You Like It. However, she feels that her preference for As You Like It may also be due to the rehearsal process for A Mad World, My Masters. For the second play, the blocking was very exact and the actors’ movements very physical. Although this looks wonderful on stage, it is perhaps not as stimulating for the actors as they try to develop their characters.

Belinda has also faced another challenge, as Maggie Wells, who plays Audrey, was injured during a rehearsal for A Mad World My Masters and was unable to perform. This means that Belinda has needed to adjust the way she plays her scenes with Audrey in order to respond to a different actress’s interpretation of the role.

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