I was enlightened today in rehearsing a scene with both experienced high school actors and one fresh to the game of high school acting. I was so focused on getting my seniors to step down from all of their worry, pushing, and self-focus. These seniors were busting their butt to rise to some imaginary standard in their brain. They had worked SO hard since the last rehearsal – – perhaps even too hard. They were chasing product at the expense of process. I spent some of the time in rehearsals talking them off the proverbial cliff that they were willing to jump off if only it would give them a “good scene.” At times these two seniors were doing such a thorough job of judging everything out of their mouth – that ultimately not much was coming out of their mouth. They were trying to put me out of work. They were trying to be their own director. That never works! How can one be spontaneous in the moment and still have enough wherewithal to critique it. Leave actors to acting – and let directing go to directors! There is a reason you have two different voices in the room.
Eventually we got some real moments happening. Sometimes it is as if you have to work the stress to the point that one is simply too exhausted to push a scene and too enervated to focus on yourself. Once overwhelmed and overplayed and overthought – then it just becomes question of talking and listening and F.A.I.T.H.
BUT THEN, that young actor making his debut on our high school stage – that young actor who has yet to complete his first year of acting – – an actor who has sat most of the rehearsal watching his senior counterparts – gets up there for his short scene with half a dozen lines and completely knocks the ball out of the court. He just was! He just talked! He just did it! and he was done. Effortless, painless and took the breath away from everyone.
I only hope that the four years of training that he has ahead isn’t going to move him away from natural into talented. We have enough talented; we would like to keep some natural. Note to self – for the next four years, “do no harm.”
4 comments on “Do No Harm”
That is so brave for you to share almost all your experience with acting and teaching here in your blog. I think you will help many people by sharing your thoughts. I’ve found your blog just a few days ago but I can’t stop reading it – you have a huge talent to share important memories in such interesting way.
This was completely different than what I expected you to say! I guess our inner desire to be good, to exceed the expectations other have from us, to impress everyone. Have to admit I got chills down my spine when as I was reading how the “newbie” managed to deliver a great performance, well done, professor!
Great post! It must just feel so good to see things come together like this. When all of a sudden things seem to click and you are ready for some acting.
I’m sure it’s easy for these kids to judge themselves harshly because I think most people do this most of the time – regardless of what they’re doing.
I’m sure they want to be “good”…but you’re right – they can’t play the two roles at once.
They also can’t step outside of themselves to witness how their performances are coming across from a neutral perspective.
I’ve never thought of the difference between talented and natural, but that’s quite thought-provoking. I guess the idea, eventually, is to achieve the perfect balance.