mugging
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=4552
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 6:34pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: mugging
Posted By: SamD
Subject: mugging
Date Posted: 4/01/10 at 9:22am
| How do you stop your actors from "mugging"? I've directed several straight plays and have noticed that when I cast an actor that prefers musicals, they're always trying to "sell" their performance like they would a song, often looking out at the audience and trying to "connect". Frustrating as all get-out! |
Replies:
Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 4/01/10 at 2:30pm
|
You can start by gently reminding the actor every time they commit the offense that what they're doing is the wrong way, and what you expect to see instead. If they continue to ignore you, then you need to be more demanding. All you can do is stop them and correct them, time after time after time after time. Explain to the actor what they're doing, and why it's inappropriate in a straight play. Tell them it may "feel" wrong, but it "looks" just right. See if you can get the offending actor to sit in the audience while you have some other actor demonstrate why what they're doing is wrong. If you're lucky, the actor will see how stupid it looks. This reflects on your position and stature as a director, too. You must be relentless in pursuit of your expectations, and be prepared to drop the actor if they can't comply. You're better off with a moderately good actor doing things the right way, than with a slightly better actor doing things the wrong way. At least, that would be my take on the situation. |
Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 4/01/10 at 8:51pm
|
I resort to the good old 'Talking Stick' & allow the cast, as a whole, to get the piont of conflict message thru & settled.
------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: SamD
Date Posted: 4/01/10 at 9:56pm
| Showing by example may just be the answer. Lord knows the gentle reminders, light nagging, then finally physical threats didn't help. Next time... |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 4/02/10 at 11:02am
A good "slap upside the head" usually helps. Gentility rarely works and the "nuclear" first strike option when any hint of mugging occurs is usually enough of a deterent.   ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |