Hi everyone, I'm new to this board and I love it.

          I have recently been cast in the play "Over the Tavern". I will be playing Georgie Pazinski, who has down's syndrome (by the way I'm a 13 year old boy). This will be by far my greatest acting challenge so far. I'm worried about many different aspects of it. For one I'm not entirely sure how to do this part. I don't know any people with down's, I plan to voulenteer at a school for disable students but if anybody knows a website that has anykind of info on Down's syndrome that would be great ( I havent been able to find any good websites my self). I understand that the director will help me to develope the charcter but this is my first time working with this director and I want to make a good first impression. I have also been reading the script and alot of the my lines are-- "nnn"-- can anybody give me any advise on how to deliver this line that would be great.

Thanks in Advance

Hi,

   Congrats on getting this role and cudos for being brave enough to take on the challlenge.  I'm mom to 2 sons who have autism and thought autism isn't anything like Downs I know the frustrations and joys of dealing with a handicapped child.  Here's a website I found about a movie starring a boy with downs.  Hopefully it will help;

http://www.duo.agprods.com/

     I recently saw a production of 'Kiss The Moon, Kiss The Sun' by Norm Foster.  It's about an man in his thirties who because of an  accident at birth has the mental age of a child of about ten.  Though the actor played the frustration of the character well enough he didn't capture the innocence or the joy that he should have had as a child of his mental age.  So that's what, imo, was missing from the portrayal of the charcater.  Find out from your director what 'mental age' the character is really at.  Then find those aspects of a child that age to incorporate into the character.  Of course, do nothing without asking the director first. 

When we did The Boys Next Door, our director took us to visit a group home for the developmentally disabled.  Call your local agency; they will be happy to help, because they have a vested interest in seeing truthful (and not stereotyped or mocking) portrayals of their clientel.  Offer free tickets to the staff and clients.  You'll meet some great people, have a wonderful time, and possibly have your eyes opened some. 

As to the delivery of the -nnn- lines, I don't know the play, but this could be one of two things:

1. Georgie could be wanting to say something else, but he can't find the words.  In this case, develop a silent script for your use so that you can play the meaning of what he says.  Kind of like a gibberish improv, if you've ever done those.
2. It could be his verbal tic.  In BND, Norman says "Oh boy!" all the time.  I worked on a way of saying it that was distinctive and the same every time.

Like Joan, I had a cousin with Down syndrome.  She was cared for at home, by her stepmother, until her death at nearly sixty.  That's not relevant to you, except to give me a reason to ask you to do the best you can, for Diane, for Joan's cousin, and everyone in their situation.  Okay?

Wow... Let me add my congrats on landing the role of Georgie.. I love that part... As a matter of fact,  I am about to go into my second weekend of our run of "Tavern" where I play Chet. Our Georgie is wonderful.  I am also a special education teacher and have had many down's children in my class...  I don't know if the director has led you to down's as your focus or if that is your choice..  I would recomend that you explore the possiblity of using more of an autistic model.. It really fits more into some of some of Georgie's scripted charactrer and it also does not require a particular "Look" associated with a Down's individual....

Again, Georgie is a great part, have fun with it... I know our Georgie has.

My advise is to play it straight... Georgie is fun loving, (in his own world way).. He loves the fact that "sh*t" draws such a huge reaction from those around him and it amuses him to no end.. But the most important thing is to be Georgie (whoever that is for you and your director) 100% of the time.. Georgie spends a lot of time just being there.. so he has to really concentate on whatever he is doing for buisness or on whatever is happening around him.. Of course that is the same for any actor, but with georgie's limited lines and huge stage time, it is extra important...

Mostly HAVE FUN with it.. It is a Great part..