Actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, along with violinist Robert McDuffie and pianist Anne Epperson, made a permanent mark in my soul in her show, Never Give Up, on Sunday, October 18th, 2015. At first, she seemed calm and relaxed, drinking tea and talking slowly during her interviews. Soon, her voice started to change from monotone to dramatic. Additionally, she had intended stutters written out to truly capture her interviews like in reality. I felt at peace, then astonished as her voice varied.
The violin and piano music wonderfully accompanied Smith, settling the right mood for her performance. The music would move along with her pace – slow or fast, quiet or loud. I found that the music was a great divider for every separate subject matter that she brought up in her speech – from the introduction, setting a peaceful mood, to the climax, more energetic and dramatic, and finally to the end, slowing down again. Separating the show into three different parts definitely put more emphasis on the tone of every part of Smith’s performance. …show more content…
Smith’s dramatization was most evident in the tension in her voice that boiled up, getting louder, and the accelerating speed as she told the story about the students during the Civil Rights Movement who all either experienced or knew someone – whether a family member, friend, or simply a stranger – who got shot dead. She indicated that poverty and impartiality were clearly linked together through her outraged tone of voice and her stance – standing up when she wanted to emphasize a significant point. Unfortunately, low-income people who could not afford college were unable to advance in their studies, even if they were smart
The violin and piano music wonderfully accompanied Smith, settling the right mood for her performance. The music would move along with her pace – slow or fast, quiet or loud. I found that the music was a great divider for every separate subject matter that she brought up in her speech – from the introduction, setting a peaceful mood, to the climax, more energetic and dramatic, and finally to the end, slowing down again. Separating the show into three different parts definitely put more emphasis on the tone of every part of Smith’s performance. …show more content…
Smith’s dramatization was most evident in the tension in her voice that boiled up, getting louder, and the accelerating speed as she told the story about the students during the Civil Rights Movement who all either experienced or knew someone – whether a family member, friend, or simply a stranger – who got shot dead. She indicated that poverty and impartiality were clearly linked together through her outraged tone of voice and her stance – standing up when she wanted to emphasize a significant point. Unfortunately, low-income people who could not afford college were unable to advance in their studies, even if they were smart