Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/17 22:07I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but I have a really... well, awkward stage presence. I can act pretty well voice-wise, and I can get the emotions across in song, but as far as moving around onstage and conveying things through facial expressions... I'm lost.
The only advice I've been able to find is "do what feels natural" and "think about how you'd react in that situation". Unfortunately, I'm also a very awkward kind of person in real life, and even when I think about it, I don't know how not to be. I also never outwardly show emotion, meaning that I honestly don't know how to get them across.
It's not that I never have feelings at all- I do, I just don't show them. It's not like I'm holding back or anything, I just naturally keep things to myself. This normally isn't a problem, but onstage it just looks ridiculous. And it looks equally ridiculous if I try to make up a "sad," "scared," "overjoyed," etc. face.
It's even worse when I have to cry onstage, which I do at several points during BatB. I don't cry in real life. Or, very, very rarely. I don't want to do over-the-top fake sobs, but it doesn't feel right just sitting there either.
Help? I'm so lost...- Caitlin / Cait -
Favorites Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2008), The Apostle Philip in Jesus Christ Superstar! (2007), Jupiter in Cymbeline (2006), Narrator in Joseph... (2005)
Now Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Annie
User Supporting Player
Posts: 260
Karma: 6
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/17 23:38Is this a problem that you think you have or has your director said something about this to you? I ask because it's possible that you are showing the right emotions, but don't realize it.
You could always practice your lines in front of the mirror. Be careful about over thinking which emotion to convey. Sometimes that can make it awkward or unnatural looking. You don't want to appear as though you are trying to do anything. I've noticed that when I don't think about what I am saying or doing people seem to believe it more.~Annie Currently: Soloist for Night of Jazz fundraiser Recently: Miss Thorn (Ruthless! the Musical), Emma Carew (Jekyll & Hyde)
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Christine_wannabe
User Supporting Player
Posts: 212
Karma: 3
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/18 00:18Try looking online for a video of BatB, see how the actress who plays Belle acts. Do not totally copy her though, use it for inspiration. To get more in character try creating a "back story" of your character, what would SHE feel? Practicing in the mirror also helps. Again don't do what others do completly, make the character your own. Hope this helps. Favorite Shows: POTO, Wicked, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, BATB, Music Man and more!
Currently in: R&H's Cinderella as a Stepsister!
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
CwEinDallas
User Chorus Member
Posts: 51
Karma: 7
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/18 00:29when i was in college i had the same problem, my directors called it "getting stuck in my head" it's a really tough problem to solve, because the thing is to not think about it. ever try to NOT think about something? LOL. it helps to do a little 'moment before' each time you enter (mentally run through a moment that would have occured in the world of theplay just off stage so you're thinking as the character. when you listen to the other actors' lines, really listen. don't just listen to your cue, listen like it's the first time you've ever heard them say that. by putting your focus on what they are saying you shift it off of what you are doing and how it looks to the audience. just make it more natural, if the director says "go hang up your coat" don't show me that you;re hanging up the coat "hey look everyone, it's a coat and i'm hanging it by golly!" just hang it up.
acting is 'living truthfully in imaginary circumstances."
hope that helps, this is a really tough problem to get around, like i said. I got all the way through my BA before i just began to get it. if you can get it now you will be soo far ahead of the game. put your focus on your scene partners and it will just flow out of you.Chris
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
clingtowords
User Supporting Player
Posts: 102
Karma: 2
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/18 09:17Are you off book yet? If you aren't, that might be part of the problem. I know I have a hard time juggling everything acting-wise (lines, blocking, emotion) when I am not completely off book. Work your hardest to get off book, and also like Christine_wannabe said, create a back story or history for your character. I do this for my characters and it helps me tremendously. Yes, you know the story for the character at this particular time in the play. But what happened to them before this? It gives you a clearer picture of your character, their motives and why their objectives are they way they are. Most of all, be confident in your abilities because you have to believe in yourself before you can believe in your character.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
acting is 'living truthfully in imaginary circumstances."
.
Beautifully said! I completely agree, and I actually think that'll be going on my wall of quotes.Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
I think it helps to hang out with people who relate to your character. I play a mentally challenged girl in my next show, and going into special education classes and just talking to the people helps me. Who in your life- at school, etc- reminds you of Belle? This can help you to create a basis for your character.
Creating a history is helpful, too. I write two pages about each character in bio form, creating stories and reasons why they say things a certain way.
I took a character development class over the summer, and we related characters to animals and did improv in character- it was tremendously helpful.
break legs!-Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Post edited by: triplethreat, at: 2008/01/19 15:24
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
carrot cait
User Chorus Member
Posts: 61
Karma: 1
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/23 15:30Sorry it's taken me so long to reply! I've been insanely busy with not only the play but the dreaded Finals Week as well. Actually, I should be focusing my energy into not failing physics and precalculus right now, but I can push that back a bit.
Annie- No, our director hasn’t said anything to me directly, but I can tell that she reworks things with me much more than she does with other people, and I always feels like she has to explain the blocking much more to me than anyone else- everyone else seems to intuitively get it right off the bat, while it takes a lot longer for me to get it the way she wants. Of course, this might just be me being paranoid about it, but I don’t know… I guess I feel like she’s been relying on me to be a competent actress, and didn’t realize that blocking didn’t come with the package. I don’t think I have a problem getting the emotion across in the words, but I honestly don’t know what to do with myself as far as stage placement, movement, etc.
Christine- Any idea where I could find a video? The only ones on YouTube are of songs, as far as I can tell… which is helpful, but I’d rather see some actual scenes. Any ideas?
Chris- Ick… I’m terrible at not thinking about things. I mean, I know it’s normal to be preoccupied with movement and such on stage, but I think about it all the time in everyday life as well. Thanks though; what you’re saying does make sense, it’s just that it probably won’t be very easy to do.
clingtowords- I agree that being off book will help, and I’m not totally there yet. What I’ve been doing is being on-book the first time we do each scene and getting off book for the second time, but we haven’t really been rehearsing for long enough for me to see if that helps (we’ve really only done each scene once). Confidence is a tough thing, but I’m working on it.
Bruce- That is a great quote. I know Chris posted it and not you, but I felt like I should reply to everyone, haha.
Ali- That probably is helpful. Perhaps I’ll go write a backstory…
Mezzo- Thanks for the link… I just wish I was the type of person who cried in real life! It’s so frustrating, but I think it will be easier as we all get more into character and as the show gets closer.- Caitlin / Cait -
Favorites Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2008), The Apostle Philip in Jesus Christ Superstar! (2007), Jupiter in Cymbeline (2006), Narrator in Joseph... (2005)
Now Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
brucecriesxout
User Supporting Player
Posts: 284
Karma: 7
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/23 15:34Duh you should reply to me because I'm awesome hahaName: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
bwaybound77
User Supporting Player
Posts: 277
Karma: 0
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/23 18:08I totally know what you mean. I've been known to overthink basically anything and especially with some roles (that aren't comedic). I think roles like Belle are harder in a way.
Anyway, just wrap yourself in the character. Don't think how she should feel or start to express an emotion. I'm not an emoitonal person either, but don't focus on how you are delivering as much as how you are truly feeling it.
Sorry if that didn't help or make sense. But I understand ya!
BTW, have fun with Belle! That's awesome!Name: Devyn
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Devyn- Haha, thanks. I do know what you're trying to say, I think, although I can't really put it into words either. It is harder than it sounds, though... I mean, I've found that in almost everything, the best way to improve is to just relax, which seems like it would be easy to do but, unfortunately, isn't. Like today, I finally got the music minus one and I went through Home and A Change in Me zillions of times (trying to get at least one of them down by Sunday, haha) and I kept getting so frustrated at the way it was going, but I did the absolute best when I just stood there with my eyes closed, not moving and not thinking about anything at all, just letting it happen.
I just wish I could do that more often... Especially during rehearsals, when it seems like she's getting frustrated with me and only me. Especially when I'm with Cogsworth, who's just a freshman but is absolutely amazing.- Caitlin / Cait -
Favorites Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2008), The Apostle Philip in Jesus Christ Superstar! (2007), Jupiter in Cymbeline (2006), Narrator in Joseph... (2005)
Now Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
bwaybound77
User Supporting Player
Posts: 277
Karma: 0
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/23 21:43carrot cait wrote: I just wish I could do that more often... Especially during rehearsals, when it seems like she's getting frustrated with me and only me.
Oh, yes! I feel that sometimes where it seems that anything I do gets them frusterated and everyone else is perfect. I guess I need to work on my confidence a little more Name: Devyn
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
carrot cait
User Chorus Member
Posts: 61
Karma: 1
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/26 21:58^Haha, we probably all do... Most of us, anyhow. It seems so easy to just say "Oh, be confident in yourself and you'll do wonderful!" but it's incredibly difficult to have the mindset that you're good enough but still be open to criticism so you'll improve.- Caitlin / Cait -
Favorites Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2008), The Apostle Philip in Jesus Christ Superstar! (2007), Jupiter in Cymbeline (2006), Narrator in Joseph... (2005)
Now Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
BrigantineMagnolia
User Chorus Member
Posts: 24
Karma: 0
Re:Awkward stage presence? - 2008/01/27 22:25I feel your pain!!!!!!!!! I feel that way a lot of times too. Hey, don't get too paranoid, you wouldn't have been cast as Belle if the director didn't have some confidence in you. Maybe he/she is just refusing to settle for mediocrity, knowing they can push you into excellence. You might not be doing a BAD job, but maybe they know it could be better.
I know I never really feel like I'm in character until the songs are learned, we're off book, and doing full act runs, if not full runs. and nothing ever seems to completely 'click' in my head until costumes get thrown in the mix. Nothing (well, like interpretation, anways!) has to be set in stone, that's the beauty of live theater! If a part of a song or a line didn't come out like you thought it should, you have the next rehearsal or performance to fix it!
Re: crying. I personally am a crybaby, I cry at everything, not even just sadness! Happiness, something moving/beautiful, etc. I find too that, for instance, if I am relating a story to someone and it has something in it about "and I cried!" or "I almost cried!" and I sort of make the face I do like if I were to get all emotional, the tears actually start to form in my eyes! I'm not sure if that makes sense or not... but maybe practice making 'faces' in the mirror, like people you see on TV or in movies, how their faces contort when they are really upset or crying. Like someone else mentioned (either here or in the crying thread) probably people won't actually be able to tell if there are tears on your face, or in your eyes. but sometimes you can tell when people's eyes are moist onstage, as they seem to have extra "glitter". But some facial contortions and other actions that go ALONG with crying, like dabbing at your eyes (like when people get really watery eyes but try to dab it away before it falls into an actualy tear), a sniffle or two (since crying makes your nose run), a strained/froggy/higher voice (to imitate how your throat closes up when you get "all choked up") can all be tools to illustrate the emotion.
and finally, check out this person's youtube videos of BATB. They are the best one's I've found. It's a theater in... Utah, maybe? I forget. But the Belle is AWESOME. Maybe you can get some ideas. http://www.youtube.com/user/ookete"...If you want to clip your- Ear lobes- You may want to dye your- Hangnails- Dab a little on your- Husband's Face- Won't he be surprised?..." "Sounds While Selling", She Loves Me
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
