Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: How to do an 'Old Man' or 'Old Woman' voice?

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Nyria
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Topic: How to do an 'Old Man' or 'Old Woman' voice?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:19pm

Any tips on teaching actors to do an 'old' voice?

We are doing Willy Wonka so I don't mind if they are overdone and silly.

I know how to do an cartoony 'granny' voice but I am not sure how to teach it.

All my actors sound like they are tryomg to squeeze out a poop right now (sorry - that's gross, but that's what they sound like ;))

Thanks =) Nyria

NYRIA

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KEB54
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Posted: 12/18/08 at 5:33pm

Obviously the voice is only part of it. You're going to want to have the make up, grey hair-wig-bald cap, costume, and physicality (slightly stooped, shakey, walking slower, squinting to see better, harder to sit and get up, etc), and voice. All of that will help to portray the character's age. All will reenforce one another. Often a prop will help, a cane for instance.

As far as voice specifically, well you might have them speak a little louder and slower. But remember it is just part of the whole package. Don't have them try to change their voice so much they can't be understood or loose expression. You're already asking the audience to suspend belief and they will willingly do so. You just have to hint at it, not make it totally believeable.

KEB

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TonyDi
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Posted: 12/22/08 at 7:36am

This has always bothered me because I suppose, every old age acting thing I've ever seen has always be soooooo cliche' as to be laughable for the most part. Always the stooped, the lame, the squeeky voiced, stuff that just doesn't work. MY suggestion and it's something I do a LOT when either I have to play old or direct someone who does, is to OBSERVE the elderly who ARE the age that someone has to play to get a "general" feel for how they move, sound and act themselves for real. I think what I've found more often than not, is that they simply move slower, talk slower, and do everything with a little more precision and caution than younger people. EVen Dustin Hoffman who when he did Little Big Man - who was supposed to be 120 years old - said he went into a room by himself and screamed for 15 minutes until he became horse. Then that produced the voice of Jack Crabbe - the character he portrayed. BUT that was a bit much I don't care what you think of him - and I HIGHLY respect his work. His process is just a bit over the top - but hey, whatever it takes right?

Just try NOT to get too cliche' with it. I once saw a performance of Moon Over Buffalo and the older lady who plays Charlotte's mother, bounced around bobbing her butt up and down, and shuffling along like a cartoon character and it totally ruined that character for me - who is just an older, crusty lady but certainly not that goofy acting. Less is more, slower is better and don't TRY to make it something more than it is. OBSERVE and see what they really look, move and sound like and you'll see it's not all that so many people try to make them out to be when elderly.

Just some thoughts.

TonyDi

"Almost famous"

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BeJa
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Posted: 12/22/08 at 12:09pm

I am an "older" person (71). And no, I don't leap tall buildings in a single bound any more. Nor do I walk bent over or slower or with a cane or even talk slower. Yes, I have some wrinkles and gray hair.

If you observe older people, you will see some who walk slower, talk slower etc, just as you do with younger people. Those older ones who talked fast when they were young, still talk fast. And I have never noticed a difference in our tone quality, such as raspy.

For the most part, older people who are in good or fair health, do not noticeably act too differently from 45-50 year olds...or is that what is called "older" now?

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Nanette
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Posted: 12/22/08 at 2:40pm

A professional once gave me a tip ... Imagine the character as an animal.

In our last show, my young actress played a 93 year, 6 month, and 12 day-old character. After studying her character's description and lines, she came up with the idea that her old lady was a goat. Once she had that down, she was able to move into developing her character. She wasn't exactly spry, but not bent over and aged. Her voice was "rough" (raspy?), but also loud and bossy as only her character would be. She WANTED her character to have a cane; not so much to aid in walking, but as something with which to extend her character ... she pointed threatening with it, shook it at her offenders, etc.

I don't know if this will help, but it certainly did my young actress.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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Ray Faiola
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Posted: 12/29/08 at 10:52am

Okay, a couple of things. A man's voice more often than not will drop in register as he ages; a woman's voice will usually "thin out". Also, enunciation becomes less facile. And there is the physical possibility of having false teeth which might cause a slight speech impediment or discomfort in talking.

Whenever I do a "straight" older voice (as opposed to a comic or cartoon voice) I gradually bring myself closer and closer to the age being represented. Also, adding a feeling of "weight" to the mask helps. Almost as if the years are pulling at the facial muscles.

Also, head and neck movement is more limited with an aged character, or at least should feel somewhat constricted. It all depends on how old the character is supposed to be. But the physicalization and vocalization go hand in hand.

Ray Faiola
http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com

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midgetking111
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Posted: 1/17/09 at 9:55pm

I was in Willy Wonka. My advice is try to make your voice rough and scratchy.

Mystery of the Suffocated 7th Grader-Perry Paulson

Willy Wonka Junior-Grandpa George

Air Uganda-Swami Ramblenonada

James and the Giant Peach-James Trotter

Throughly Modern Millie-Bun Foo

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Nyria
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Posted: 1/30/09 at 2:37pm

Originally posted by Ray Faiola

Okay, a couple of things. A man's voice more often than not will drop in register as he ages; a woman's voice will usually "thin out". Also, enunciation becomes less facile.

Thanks for that - that's interesting - I think I'll do some research on what happens to the body as it ages =)

Thanks for your advice everyone, you have given me a lot to think about.

I think for this show I want to do it cliche and cartoonish (at least for the 3 'very old people' who have all slept in the same bed for 20 years) ;)

Grandpa Joe however will have more realism to him.

NYRIA

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Topic: How to do an 'Old Man' or 'Old Woman' voice?( Topic Closed)