Drama, Monday, Period 2 [05/18]

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"Welcome back. This week, we're introducing ourselves, and examining a little more behind the theory of acting: Method vs. Classical." Sophie sipped her coffee. "If you're unfamiliar with the terms, allow me to explain. Method actors follow the theories of Stanislavski and his adherents, that an actor can only truly act when they understand the psychology and sense-memory of a character, and draw on their own experience in order to portray their actions. Classical training focuses more on what is thought of as the externals: the movement, voice, verse-speaking, combat, theatre history, and understanding of the text. One, it's thought, emphasizes the internal, the other the external. We introduced ourselves last week 'in character'-- please do so today out of character, as yourselves, and also one more thing--"

"Voice." Sophie smiled, and said in a perfect Mid-western American accent. "Not just speaking so the people in the back rows can hear you, got it? But cadences and rhythms, timing and approach." In a heavily Serbian-accented voice, she continued, "People, they believe what zey hear, yes? Zey do not notice it so much. But! An impression, yes, it makes one." She switched back to her own BBC-and-RADA-approved British accent. "Emotion isn't the only thing that gets expressed and judged. So does your intelligence, your education, your geographical background, your likely motivations. Today we're going to play with this, using the Expert Translation game." She smiled, then pointed. "And you will introduce yourself first, and your take on what your voice says about you."

[ocd on its way is up!]

Comments

Re: Introduce yourself

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

"I'll be 16 in June."

Re: Introduce yourself

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

She would have guessed twelve, perhaps, but with Robin being a felt frog, she supposed that was an impossible call to get right. "Everyone's voices deepen with age, partly with use, but also abuse; cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, shouting, and just time take their toll. And age being equated with a certain degree of respect-- or consideration-- does mean that people treat us differently based upon this cue."

Re: Introduce yourself

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

Robin attempted to lower his voice, and wound up sounding a bit like Floyd. "Like this?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"Precisely," Sophie said, unable to help a smile. "Lower voices are more adult. Higher are regarded as feminine, as I pointed out to Parker. These are embedded assumptions that you can work with when you take on a role."

Re: Introduce yourself

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

Robin had in fact been wondering if and when his voice would change like some of the kids he'd known. "So it would help people take me seriously if my voice was deeper?" he guessed. He'd always thought it was his size that was the problem.

Re: Introduce yourself

[magdaofslovenia.livejournal.com]

"It might help adjust some people's perceptions of you," Sophie said cautiously. "At least at first meeting."

Re: Introduce yourself

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

It was probably too late to try that with Geoffry, as he'd already seen him audition a few times. But he made a note to try it next time he met someone.