![BlueSquiggle[1]](http://www.theatreclassaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BlueSquiggle1.jpg)
There are times when I think that the student that gets the most out of my class is me. Our work in Meisner has now taken us to the idea of “really doing.” The concept is a simple one, but, oh so easy to overlook when doing a play. The idea is that when you are folding the laundry, writing the letter, or cleaning the dishes on stage you really DO the laundry, WRITE the letter or CLEAN the dishes. In other words, you take the risk, and it is a big one, to put every bit of your attention on the task. Then when the phone rings or the knock on the door happens, you are genuinely surprised. It is very tempting for the actor to “sorta” write the letter. I mean, after all, don’t you really just have to squiggle a few lines on the page waiting for the big scene to happen with your partner that is waiting on the other side of the fake stage door stage right? I mean no one is ever going to really read this fake letter. Wouldn’t it be better for you to be armed and ready to go on to the next moment – because you KNOW that nothing of merit is happening in THIS moment. But this is where the FAKE begins. If you can’t be in THIS moment with THIS task of letter writing then you have no chance of being in the NEXT. And, if you think the audience can’t tell the difference – then you are WRONG. The audience is mighty smart and can smell a fake a mile away!
It is going to be scary – what if no one comes in? What if you forget all of your lines? What if you lose track of time? What if? What if? It is this very, “What if?” that makes theatre so dangerous. The next moment may never come. Wow! What then?
I have started to include this very risky task in rehearsal. From now on if you are in one of my plays and the story has you sitting down to write a love letter – then during rehearsal, I am going to ask to actually SEE the love letter once it is written. No more squiggles for me.
5 comments on “No More Squiggles”
Oh, I love this!! Absolutely, you need that authenticity in order to give an honest performance. I’ll never forget being in a production of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and serving soup and bread to the family and actually having to do the work of pouring and serving it. The whole thing would have been ridiculous if we weren’t actually doing it!
I was in high school when I saw my first live performance of South Pacific, and I’ll never forget my amazement at the shower scene in which Nellie sings “I’m Going to Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair.” In this particular production, done by a community college, the actress actually got into a shower and washed her hair with real water running out of the shower head onstage. I was knocked out. I’d always loved play-acting, but that might have been the moment I fell completely in love with theater. We’ve got to be willing to “be” the people we’re portraying.
🙂
This is an interesting blog, I just kind of stumbled onto your site – but started reading and am intrigued. I’m not a theatre person nor have I ever been in a play, so this backstage stuff is new to me. It seems like you’re on to something though. How better to be convincing than to really do the activity scripted. Of course I assume you still have to act, I often find myself folding laundry while feeding the dog and brushing my daughter’s hair all at the same time, and you wouldn’t want to do all that on stage. Or maybe you would, I guess if the character was a young Mom, that might be something you could incorporate into the scene, which would then make it more real. Hmmm, I’m starting to think like a drama student. Speaking of – this might be a good blog for other drama teachers and drama classes to read. You seem to have some good ideas here.
I like this idea so much! When I was a teenager, I used to play at some shows (and actually we were pretty good in my country) and my teacher always said the same thing – you need to believe in what you are doing or no one will believe you and you will look like a clown. 🙂
I sincerely wish that anyone in a teaching position could read your blog.
What you’re saying here reminds me of what Eckhart Tolle teaches about being present.
We live in a society where multi-tasking is not only encouraged but necessary to earn a livelihood. I feel this robs us of the experience of the experience itself – if that makes sense.
Just the other night when I was brushing my teeth, I thought “Oh, I could also do such and such while I do this”. I caught it and thought “no, I’m here now. I’ll finish this, and I’ll take care of the rest when I’m done – one task at a time.”
I immediately felt the anxiety melt away. What was the hurry to complete everything? Just the idea of being deliberate and careful with even the most minute tasks counts. We do so many things at once – and it took witnessing that anxiety I felt over wanting to be in several different places to allow me to realize that this level of stress becomes normal for us – and we don’t even know it. It becomes a health hazard for many of us as well.
When we are present, the “real” us comes to the surface. This is a part of us that most don’t get to experience because we’re so busy “doing”.
The funny thing is – when are are truly “being”, then what we do is real and authentic. When we only focus on performing, then yes, we’re fake – and others can certainly spot it, even if it’s intuitive.
I see what you mean. Sometimes it might be easy act a task that you are not 100% committed to, but that is going to be seen by the others that are watching. You make some real good points on your blog here. Thanks for sharing!