CHAPTER 8

EMOTING

ENSEMBLE ETHIC

FALL

GOING UP

ILLUSION OF THE FIRST TIME

INTERPLAY

STEP ON

SUPPORTING ROLES

OBJECTIVES

• To understand the importance if ensemble acting
• To develop the concentration, skill, trust, teamwork, and courtesy necessary for ensemble work
• To perform an improvised scene with several partners

PREVIEW: ENSEMBLE ACTING

• Acting demands believable interaction between characters.
• When actors speak, their words must seem new and interesting to the audience.
• To achieve the illusion of the first time, actions must seem spontaneous and fresh.
• Non-speaking characters must react as though you are hearing these words for the first time.
• Watch other characters carefully.

PREVIEW: THE ENSEMBLE ACTOR'S SAFETY NET

• Practicing purposeful interaction w/ fellow actors will develop trust and respect between performers.
• The close ties you develop with other characters will prevent you from "falling" out of character.
• You won't have time for your own private speculations or fears.
• The reality of the situation won't allow you to forget your lines.

PREPARE: CHOOSE YOUR SITUATION

• Group assignments (Hyatt)
• Choose a situation from the chart on p. 78

PREPARE: DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS

• Encourage everyone to contribute
• Respect each other's ideas
• Discussions and disagreements are expected, and often productive
• Getting angry or insulting others' opinions is counterproductive.

PREPARE: WORKING WITH THE GROUP

• Choose your situation
• Choose your parts
• Choose your objectives
• Work WITH the group!
• Use the ideas you have formed to begin the Activity Sheet

PREPARE: WORKING ALONE

• Create further detail about your character
• How does YOUR character feel about the others in the scene?
• How does YOUR character see himself/herself?
• What kind of person is your character?
• How might your character move, speak, gesture?

PREPARE: BACK WITH THE GROUP

• Work to decide the opening line of the scene.
• Create an improvisational "set," making sure to give each participant an equal share.
• Sketch the sequence of events (including dialogue for each character).
• Decide as a group how the scene will develop and what the outcome will be.
• PRACTICE! (No, really. Practice. Like, SEVERAL times)

PRESENT: PERFORM YOUR ENSEMBLE SCENE

• Choose one person to introduce
• State the location, the characters, and the situation
• Introduce who will be playing what character

KEEPING ON TRACK

• Don't forget that this is an improvisational scene.
• State the Relationship: return focus to the matter at hand
• Use a Gesture or Action: reinforce relationships between characters
• Pause: gather your thoughts