If Leeches Ate Peaches - one-shot radio drama/podcast
kstegercello for The Other Annabelle
Our Annabelle finds Annabelle No-Last-Name inside her book, speaking to her from 200 years ago – in exactly the same situation, inside a Victorian Asylum in London. She is often referred to as The Other Annabelle. She is younger than our Annabelle, about 18 – exactly the same age our Annabelle left London for California.
Annabelle No-Last-Name is much less of a pessimist than our Annabelle, finding their magical connection more hopeful and fun than a potential sign of madness. She knows she isn’t insane, having been put in the Asylum for attacking her would-be assaulter. She believes strongly in justice and hope, and is the reason Basil managed to find our Annabelle – she said she was lonely, so he found her a friend.
She could be described as a bit of a Luna Lovegood – she finds delight in odd things, and has a gentle, whimsical tone when she speaks. Nonetheless, she can be loud and clear when she needs to be. Various sections of the story are told as narrated monologues by her, and so she also has somewhat of a storyteller's nature to her.
Voice notes:
Pitch – medium
Accent – British – NOT Cockney, but either some form of RP/Southern English or Irish
(curious, then delighted) It's a lot brighter than any light I've ever seen - it's not gas is it? (Beat) Fluorescent! What a word!
(low, sad) Rosemary, for remembrance, says Ophelia.
(with a quiet intensity, hushed and quick) The stripes upon the walls round me appeared to be moving. Diary – Annabelle – I mean this just as I say it! I swear upon what little I hold dear that the stripes were writhing slowly upon the surface. They say the house is alive… They say your eyes adjust… It didn't take long for me. Some believe that the spirits of the girls who used to sleep here are trapped inside the walls, but I don't know. I think it is alive… The asylum, I mean. Every part of it.
Really lovely stuff, and great work on the accents! As far as feedback goes, with both I think you need to watch your vowels only the tiniest bit more - with an RP accent, particularly 'a' and 'o' sounds are usually quite pure and soft, but sometimes you tend to lilt them a little bit to a North American slant. I noticed this most when you say Annabelle's name - you sort of say 'Arn-uh-belle' when usually it'd be 'AH-nuh-belle,' but overall it was really really solid. I only nitpick because I've had this RP accent all my life so I sorta have an ear for it haha x I loved your takes with the Irish, there's a great intensity that seems to come from it a bit more than your RP, which I think this role really really needs. She's very sweet and whimsical, but definitely has moments that are more creepy and intense - which you did wonderfully in your very last take of line 3. I think this accent has a bit of a lilt toward Scottish at times, but the hybrid is actually really charming - it made me smile! As just a bit of critique, I think you can afford to speed up your delivery sometimes - you have a lovely quiet intensity, but don't be scared to let words/thoughts come out faster, and have more impetus, because I think it'll really boost the energy and life your performance can have :)
Congratulations Kayla! What a display of talent, I really enjoyed listening to this!
Thank you Chara, that means a lot!!