Stage Movement Blog Posts.

Movement for Actors 119-152

Personal Response:

First of all I already feel myself agreeing with the reading.  I feel that it is very important for actors to be taking movement classes and dance classes.  Movement is just as much of an important tool for an actor to sharpen as everything else.  I do not think people realize that the actor is an athlete as well.  I think that it would be very useful to learn period dance techniques.  So many of the plays that are redone and will continue to be performed are those famous period plays; i.e. Shakespeare, Moliere, Lorca, etc.  One of the things I enjoyed the most was the fact that the Potter mentioned that if the actors are uncomfortable the audience will be as well.  I like this because most audience members feed off of what an actor gives and vice versa, and an actor should be able to make that connection with the audience in order for them to have a great experience.  I like the dance exercises, but I somewhat feel like I’m from a Jane Austin book.  I also found it interesting that Potter said to use Shakespeare.  I think that for beginning actors I do not see how they would be able to handle the language personally, but it does allow the body to feel the words and authenticate some gestures.

 

Professional Response:

Potter is an extremely knowledgeable theatre goer.  I would say that I agree with many of her points; particularly those establishing the importance of teaching actors how to move and let the words roll off their tongue.  I hope that more and more schools will put more attention in acting programs and expand to movement and period styles.

 

 

 

Movement for Actors 27-35

Personal Response:

Whenever I used to think of the word still I imagined just watching the most slowly paced, boring play in the world.  Now that I have been engaging in theatre and learning more about it I have realized that still does not mean boring, and that it was the actors who just were not living in the moment truthfully.  I cannot believe I didn’t know what a tableaux was…

 

Professional Response:

I can honestly say now that I enjoy silent moments.  There are moments that appear on stage where the characters are not moving or speaking can be even more fascinating than if they were.  There are numerous of possibilities in displaying human emotion and communication with just a stance or position.  It forces actors to realize there are more options out there just waiting for them to grasp at it.

 

The Rivals

Personal Response:

I feel like I have no idea what is going on.  I think I need to just make myself focus and reread the play.  There are so many relationships going on in this play.  I think that it is interesting that many period plays, such as this, have mainly to do with numerous love triangles between people.  I guess it just goes to show that people never really change, although time may.

 

Professional Response:

Plays such as The Rival would be more understood through acting it out rather than reading it.  The language of the play requires to be spoken out loud.  It helps tell the mood and status of each character very well.

 

 

 

The Price is Right

Personal Response:

The funny thing about the “The Price is Right” is that I would have never thought anything of the models being there to show off the new merchandise.  It was only until I became aware of how those women were being used where I noticed how ridiculous it was.  Well after watching an episode from the 1971, I believe, it was worse than I had remembered.  All of the girls were wearing the exact same outfit, and moved as if they were made out of plastic.

 

Professional Response:

I find it interesting that the models being used for this TV show were put in a position where they almost seemed to be included in the showcase.  It makes me feel better to know that women are free to not have to resort to just being someone to look at.  As a society we are continuing to grow.  In connection with the style of movement I can see how it would directly correlate with our period scenes.  The movement is very deliberate and yet elegant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costume Ideas

Personal Response:

My costume ideas seem to be a little over the top.  The first thing that came to my mind was this ridiculous red navy-like jacket with a long tail.  Then I pictured myself wearing gray tights with raised black boots.  I carried a saber on my left hip and I had the biggest puffy sleeves hanging out of the arms of my jacket.  But then I also pictured a feather hat and a Shakespearean turtleneck.  I don’t know why, but anything remotely renaissance-y, period piece automatically moves me to Elizabethan.

 

Professional Response:

I think that due to what I actually have access to my costume will be limited to what I had thought of.  I have decided that I am going to wear tight black pants with them rolled to my knees, with the longest socks that I have to go over my knees.  This is not really a replacement for tights, but it will have to do.  I will wear a white-buttoned up shirt because it will keep my neck in place and I will throw on a robe and tie for the jacket.  I would just have to come up with shoes.