Improve Pacing Tips
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2999
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 6:53pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Improve Pacing Tips
Posted By: dschock
Subject: Improve Pacing Tips
Date Posted: 2/27/08 at 2:51pm
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I am currently directing The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney, and have a couple of the scenes within the show that really need to have the pacing tightened up on and improved. I've tried giving the actors some notes as such and we've tried a couple speed throughs, but they still are dragging with no real improvement. Does anyone have any suggestions on things I could try to get them to pick it up and tighten it up (games/exercises and such)? This is the first show I've directed, so even the very basics would help at this point. Thanks all! ------------- Thanks!! Dan S |
Replies:
Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 2/27/08 at 3:32pm
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Hi Dan,
What a frustrating problem this to have because you can't always put your finger on why it is happening. If you can identify exactly what is causing them to slow down it is easier to address. Is it delivery? Picking up cues? Is their one person who brings the energy down? Is it the blocking?
Of have a couple of ideas: Have them stop thinking about the last word of the sentence as their cue, but pick a key word about five words back. That way they are ready for thier line. This really helps with tightening scenes up.
I have also put a time on the scene, and when they get faster I do everything but have a parade. Sometimes I pick a scene and we focus on it. I run it before we run anything else. We end the night with it. We do it a couple of times in a row everytime we do it in rehearsal.
I am also very specific with my language "Let's take 5 minutes off that scene." Sometimes "pick up the pace" doesn't mean as much.
I stay away from games and excersises for this problem. In my experience it doesn't translate. Use the work you have at hand.
Good luck
Linda
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Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 2/27/08 at 4:33pm
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I once had a director that would snap her fingers rapidly when the pacing slowed down. It was annoying enough that we sped up just to stop the snapping. So, I guess it worked ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:23pm
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There are all of the multitude of reasons things slow down. But it's been my experience most of it boils down to two things. One is the fact that the actor doesn't quite have all of the lines down. If they're not "totally" comfortable with lines, you can see it in their eyes, they start looking around and searching for the lines in their head. They don't want to say the wrong thing, so they slow down so their brain can catch up with their mouth. Seriously, I'm sure you've noticed that with some actors over the years, as they get their lines memorized, it tends to speed up. Secondly, some actors think they need to slow down in places to really "act", to really properly deliver their lines so it comes off correctly, so it "sounds good". With quick pacing, like comedies or farces, many people do not talk that fast in real life, so if feels uncomfortable to the actor. I've had a director tell me "It will feel strange becuase you don't talk like this, but just spped it up and talk faster". If actors actually would listen to themselves or see themselves they would realize how slow the pacing is and then it would sink in and make sense.
John ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 2/28/08 at 1:00pm
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I remember working with an actor whose trademark were these long, "dramatic" pauses he'd insert into his lines. Of course, it affected the pacing of every scene he was in and it drove other actors to distraction.
Finally, the director couldn't bear giving another note of "pick up the pace" or "lose the pauses" and during notes after rehearsal, he asked the actor "what's with those long pauses during your speeches? Are you having trouble remembering your lines?" The actor (who considered himself quite the professional) was very indignant and haughtily replied "No, I was ACTING." "Oh," said the director, "well in that case, act faster." ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 2/28/08 at 1:11pm
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Topper's got it, that's it in a nutshell.... act faster!
Good one.
John ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 2/29/08 at 7:12pm
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I find that Italian rehearsals help with this - because it stops the actors from being slow and pausing to 'act'.
To help speed up do an italian (super fast run) with all blocking too =) ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 3/01/08 at 7:59am
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We localy call thes a 'Suzanne' rehearsal. Which sounds just the same. It grew out of 'Fish' rehearsals, which were used as a bit of fun, to get the cast back on track & pace, especialy with farce.I don't like the "fish' thing, where the cast substitute a type of fish, when ever objects, like props, are mentioned in the script, which can back fire acidently during the show & has done.
'Suzannes' is a womans fashion house here, who's theme advertising song was "this goes with that & that goes with this. At Suzannes".
Meaning that the cast have to think of thier dialogue cue lines a few lines before, to ensure they can keep up with the speed of the delivery.
Anyhow thanks Nyria,I might use the 'Italian' desgination. In future hopefully without upsetting our ethnic decendant members? ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: Director1
Date Posted: 3/02/08 at 12:55am
| In my experience, pacing comes from the actors knowing the action and playing it fully. |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 3/03/08 at 8:59am
Love this response! I would only add, threaten to fire them.  ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: BeyondKen
Date Posted: 3/17/08 at 3:38pm
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Run a stopwatch during every rehearsal. I did that my last show, and the cast took it as a challenge, they were high-fiving whenever they beat their previous score.
------------- ~(τΏτ)~ |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:35pm
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In answer to PDAVIS69........I might have been annoying when I snapped my fingers but just look at what a fine actor you have become.
------------- "REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT" |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:19pm
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I wasn't talking about you. I'll give you a hint "Poopie, Poopie, Poopie. That scene was just poopie." ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |