Step 6 - Emporia State University
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Transcript Step 6 - Emporia State University
REHEARSING
Intensifying and Polishing
the Action
Objectives
Lead
actors to enliven their performances
by exploring “choices”
Identify and remedy indicating
Explain the benefits of side coaching
Polish the action
Describe some specific rehearsal goals for
final runthroughs
What happens after blocking?
As
rehearsals progress the director is
spending more time intensifying the play’s
action
From the actor’s viewpoint, this is moving
from the general to the specific
The final phase of polishing follows the
intensifying rehearsals
Intensifying the action
Lead
the actors to the fullest
wants/needs/desires…
What does the character
want?
This is the question that you ask at the early
rehearsals…and the answers often come
throughout the rehearsal period.
Use the body to intensify…
During these rehearsals, the
director has to multitask
The actor and objectives
Objectives need to be stated as active
verbs.
The actor must always play
something
Objectives must be playable
It contains three parts:
A want/need
The object of that need
The response
For example:
“I want to make Jane marry me.”
Make sure your actors know what they are
playing for.
COACHING ACTORS
Work
with your actors to bring out their
best performances
You have these TWO responsibilities during
the rehearsal period
1.
2.
Understand the script as a journey between
human characters
Work with the actors to intensify and make
more vivid the actions of their characters
Avoid weak verbs
Inform
Jane of Bill’s lies is weak
Poison Jane against Bill is strong
Make
Bill bow is weak
Force Bill to kiss my boots is strong
Remember…you
are staging action...that
means strong verbs!!
Lead the actor to be more
specific
Avoid
“being” verbs
An actor may say “I am sad” which may
be true but implies no action
Adjectives are descriptors
They are what the
audience observes in a
character’s
behavior…an actor is
perceived as charming,
when making
“charming” choices in
his or her actions. You
must guide the actor to
find a verb, an actable
verb that helps him or
her appear charming.
CHOICES
They must be specific, clear and serve the
play…
GIVING NOTES
NOTES
after rehearsal should encourage
actors to intensify the action
AND…your notes must be specific
SOME NOTES are easily correctible (notes
about props, sightlines, etc.)
Use the note period efficiently...for
example, give tech notes separately from
acting notes
INDICATING
Guide actors away from demonstrating
and telegraphing…it is untruthful.
Some corrections to suggest
What
is happening?
What are you playing?
What are your objectives?
What tactics are you using?
What stands in your way?
Why are you here?
WORK TOWARDS “Less is more!”
Polishing the Action
RUNTHROUGH
GOALS FOR ACTORS
Continuity
Connections
Clarity
Entrances/exits
Confidence
Polishing the Action
GOALS
FOR THE DIRECTOR
Storytelling
Characters/relationships
Climaxes
Shape
Transitions
Business
Make use of written
and specific notes
TECHNICAL AND DRESS
REHEARSALS
Be
prepared
This is the time for the
production crew
Preparation with
actors should be
completed
CURTAIN CALLS
The
last memory of the audience
An acknowledgment
of audience applause
Prepare the bow
Make sure there is a clear
break between bow and
end of show