I have been recently coaching a talented actor with a wonderful charismatic presence. He chose a good piece, got it all prepared, stood in front and delivered. Nothing happened. All I could detect was an elocution from a standing statue. Nothing was happening below the neck. All was symmetrical; all was grounded; all was clear but NOTHING was pulling me into the piece. I had though that perhaps a line reading of one phrase or a theatre trick or game of some kind could unbolt this actor and a little of his native charisma to shine through. What to do?
Having spent a great deal of time with the actor in other productions, I knew that he was full of quickness (as we all are), carried himself, and move through space in a very unique way. Usually I find myself coaching these actors to be aware of these personal nervous habits and ways of “leaking energy” and eradicate them – – but not today.
I thought if I took this boy back to his native body – to the asymmetry and gestures that fill his day, he would become more present to me. He would loose the thought that for acting he must become some rigid pedistol of speech and become a more organic honest self. I am sure that he felt that he needed to “take something on” to be a good actor – – but far from putting something on, this actor needed to “take away” so that what was organic and simple and real could shine through.
Did all of these quirks work for the character? No – certainly not all. But when I allowed him to work the words THROUGH his quirks, he felt at home; he felt familiar; he felt comfortable, and a relaxed, charismatic young man was AVAILABLE to both the monologue and to the character. The take home message for me: Don’t scare away all of the quirky behavior of the actor; it may be the first and best way for your actor to arrive.