Thursday, March 20, 2008

Acting--A Personal Take

I am not a trained actor. I have never studied the Method. I have never huddled with the rest of a class and played theater games.

Usually there is something in the script that gives me a clue about the character. Sometimes, I know her just from reading some lines. Sometimes it's in the stage directions. Sometimes it's nowhere at all except in my mind, but there is always something, somewhere, that tells me who the person is.

I usually get a voice, first. An accent or an eccentricity of speech. Sometimes it's a gesture or habit such as rubbing thumb and fingers together, which I found myself doing while playing Aunt Martha in "Arsenic and Old Lace." If nothing comes to me, I just wing it and wait for a clue from the director.

I was told, early in my acting years, that every character has a secret. The actor determines what it is, and does not have to tell anyone. It could be anything from sublime to ridiculous. Once, I played a nun, and imagined that her secret was that she wanted to wear sexy lingerie. Of course, that was for a comic character. A serious one must have a serious secret.

Once I have a line, a walk, a gesture; something that tells me who the character is, the rest pretty much takes care of itself. If I have any one of those things the others will happen without my even being aware of it. There have been times I've been asked how I came up with a dialect, and I have not realized I had one.

I don't see any big mystery to it. I just figuratively put on the character's drawers, and go with the flow. It starts a few seconds before I go on stage, and ends when I'm out of sight of the audience.

I have, occasionally, retained speech habits of certain characters, or facial expressions, but it's usually because I like them.

The one thing that is necessary for me, is to always be totally loyal to my character. I can tell when it's there--somebody will say something negative about her, and I will bristle defensively. Defending her. Because I understand her and the critic does not.

I love acting. It's not so much pretending to be somebody else, it's letting out facets of my own personality that need to see the light of day every once in a while. Even the ugly bits.

3 comments:

  1. You sound as passionate about acting as I am about singing.
    My confidence though only shows behind the microphone! lol My friends say I become someone else! lol I saw myself once on a video..lol they were right!
    I hope you get the part you want,and that you have a great time too!
    Lots of luck hun!

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  2. I WISH I could sing. One of the biggest disappointments of my life was that I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

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  3. Some actors have characteristics that they cannot hide. I love Anthony Hopkins, he has mannerisms that are unique to him. When he tilts his head, lifts his chin and takes a breath, I say to myself "there it is".

    George Clooney has that "Diana" thing going on with his eyes.

    I'd love to come and see you on Stage, Ronni. It is on my "things to do" list.

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