The Performer Lecture #6

Lying? Pretending?

Inate ability, training, practice.

Acting is “impersonating before an audience”

In the beginning: Acting style was grandiose, exaggerated (no mikes)

Acting style dictated by the type of theatre space

Actors job: 1. Acquire physical, vocal, mental skills

  1. Physical - rhythm
  2. Vocal - “toyboat” “Tts”
  3. Mental - Improvs

Vocal:

  1. Audible (hear)Create role:
  1. projection Physical
  2. different qualitiesEmotional
  1. Intelligibility (understand)Sociological
  1. articulate
  2. pronunciate
  3. right inflection
  1. Memorization

Two Acting Methods

I. Constantin Stanislavski THE METHOD (early 20th century)

  1. Memory recall
  2. Relaxed
  3. Every action has a purpose
  4. Ultimate goal of character
  5. Ensemble

II. Technical Method

Vocabulary: Upstage

Open up, turn out, share a scene, give stage, dress the stage, plant yourself,

counter, cheat, do business,

2
  • apron
    That portion of the stage immediately in front of the front row audience. .
aside
A line or speech which is delivered directly to the audience, with the impression that the other actors can not hear it.
blackout
To totally turn off all lights, as in the beginning or end of performance.
  • blocking
    Movement of actors in the stage area.
bring up
To increase the level of lighting in the scene area.
  • business
    The action which the actor does on stage.
  • call board
    A bulletin board on which is posted all information for cast and crew.
  • cross
    To move from one stage location to another.
  • cue
    What indicates to someone that an action is required: for cast, that lines or action begins, for crew, that something is to be done, i.e. lighting, sound direction.
curtain call
cast returns to stage to accept audience's applause.
flat
A background divider made with a wooden frame covered with canvas, used for walls, background, etc.
follow spot
A large wattage light located in rear of auditorium, used to follow movements of an actor on stage.
  • gelatin or gel
    A colored plastic in front of spotlight to provide color to the scene.
  • grip
    A stage hand.
  • house lights
    The lighting for the auditorium.
mask
To obscure a person from the audience
  • offstage
    All areas not in the acting area.
  • open up
    The actor(s) turn toward the audience.
places
The command to actors to get into position to begin scene.
The setting out of the various episodes of a drama.
  • plug
    To push or overemphasize a line or word to create additional audience impact.
  • project
    To speak in such a way that the voice will reach the entire audience.
  • prompt
    To provide a line to an actor who has forgotten a line.
  • prompter
    One who provides a line to an actor who has forgotten a line.
  • prompt book
    A book in which the script, complete with all cues for cast and crew, is located.
  • props
    All inanimate objects on the stage except for scenery, i.e. furniture, lamps.
  • scrim
    A fine weave gauze type material through which action can be seen with lighting behind scrim, but action can not be seen with front lighting.
  • set
    The scenery and background in playing area.
  • sight lines
    From the sides of the auditorium, the maximum width from which action on stage can be seen.
  • stage manager
    The director's right hand man, responsible for running the entire performance, on and off stage.
  • tempo
    The speed at which a scene is played.
  • upstage
    That portion of the stage furthest from the audience.
  • walk through
    A rehearsal in which actors walk through their stage movements.
  • wings
    The off stage area at the side of the acting area. [1]

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