What is Acting?

Over the past 28 years I have performed in more than 400 live plays, musicals, pageants and concerts. I have directed over fifty full length productions and written half a dozen plays and countless sketches. Here is what I have boiled it down to: ACTING IS...Pretending on Purpose. That's right pretending. Now I know you just finished a book by the latest Hollywood Guru that said that acting is TRUTH. Ironic for a guy who teaches people to lie for a living to spend more time on the subject of truth than the average televangelist, don't you think.

Well, I'm not telling you he's wrong, but if I were I would be in famous company. In his book "On the technique of acting" Michael Chekhov, nephew of the famous Russian playwright Anton, argues that the imagination is the only tool strong enough to provide an actor with original and interesting character ideas. Now this was a guy who stood toe to toe with Stanislavsky, good ole Stan even called him his most famous student.

So, what do I mean when I say, acting is pretending is purpose? Well, you remember cops and robbers, or house, or cowboys and Indians? We all used some variation of role playing in our childhood. These game usually were selected by the bossiest kid on the playground and they would continue until no one could take anymore random rule changes and then we'd all go hang upside down on the monkey bars to relieve the stress. That was pure pretend! What we do in the theatre is a little more complicated.

We agree with a group of people that we will practice pretending to be someone we're not at scheduled times for a number of weeks. We build elaborate dress up clothes and buy special lamps to get just the right light. We find or create sounds and music, playhouses and special toys called props, to make sure it is all just right. Then we invite another, hopefully larger, group of people to watch us present our rehearsed pretending. Sounds kind of silly when I say it like that, doesn't it? Makes you wonder why all these Hollywood types take themselves so seriously, when in reality that is there job and they get millions for it. Why do they care if we "respect" them as artists as long as we pay our ten bucks a pop and keep sucking down movies?

Why do I do it, you may ask, I ask myself all the time. Here is the answer. I believe that the human imagination has a way of exploring the world around us that helps us better understand ourselves and others. I believe that people who are skilled in weaving these imaginations into stories and presenting them in a way that I find disarming and entertaining have a unique opportunity to make me see and admit things about myself and others that I might not if faced with "reality".

We as actors are basically story tellers. Hopefully we are selecting the kinds of stories that have the power to uplift and improve the human condition, show us who we are and remind us of who we want to be. That is why I do it. Over the coming weeks I am coming back to this dramorama project to plant some seeds and I will discuss in more detail the ideas behind my particular brand of pretend, I hope you will join me. Feel free to explore the sight and borrow anything you find here, it's all free. Drop a comment now and then to let us know how we're doing, and if you have an article idea send it to markrmorris2@sbcglobal.net.

How not to cry on cue!

How to cry on cue.
The title alone is enough to strike fear into the heart of many amateur actors and even more directors. the concept of real tears onstage is a controversial one to say the least. As a director I have often been faced with a baffled actor attempting to produce copious amounts of saline at the drop of a hat. My question is always why? Most scenes call for true emotion to be portrayed carefully which rarely includes breaking down in gales of tears.
Instead of all the mechanical tricks of the trade, the dry eyes, the hemorrhoid cream on the tissue, and the old vaudeville classic the cut onion, may I suggest another tack?
Play against the emotion. That's right, try with all your might to maintain your composure. Make a valiant effort to avoid breaking down in front of that nefarious character who is the source of your tears, or play it strong in the face of tragedy for your young children, be brave!
You see, in real life there are precious few opportunities to let it all hang out, and believe me no one wants to see you really lose it on stage, it makes us uncomfortable, which may be edgy, but it ain't good acting.In real life most situations that bring us to tears generally make us wish that we could hold them back, ergo play against the emotion.
You may find that if emotion is properly paced and the rise of the emotion is well directed to the necessary level, that real tears may be unnecessary, even uncalled for.
Film of course is the exception, but there is always glycerin or saline. Remember that acting is 90% mental and 10% physical. Give me an actor who handles emotion carefully and thoughtfully over gallons of fluid any day.