A thought on acting that occurred to me

[breakinglight11]

In both theater and larping, I would like to be thought of as a workhorse actor. By this I mean the kind of actor that you can trust with a difficult, particular, or demanding part to get into it, make something of it, and give it their all. I want people casting me to think "I can trust Phoebe with this part." Most recently I was going for that in Romeo and Juliet, and while I don't think the relationship I was aiming for was quite established, I do feel like I got my part based on my efforts to cultivate that attitude. Paris needed an actor who was going to keep the role sympathetic, would keep from taking too much of the spotlight, and (if female) be willing to play the character as a man. That meant I had to be willing to support other actors more than own the stage myself, and I definitely couldn't have hangups about subverting my femininity for the role. That's just one example, but it's a pretty good one. I don't want people worrying that I'll revert to my default acting settings if they give me a part that's outside my typical range. I don't want people thinking that there's something I "can't" do onstage. I want them to feel like if they have a part with something challenging to it that they need to trust to someone who'll get the job done, they can turn to me. This goes for larps as well as plays. Though I worry sometimes by saying this I'm asking to get stuck with thin characters, I do want GMs thinking that I will be able to handle the parts they're worried won't play well unless a strong enough larper to move them is cast in those roles.

As a director and a GM, I know I've commented plenty of times about people who can do this but can't do that, about people who can be counted on to do something in particular even if it's not what is being asked, about players' and actors' limitations and bad habits. I want to be the actor and larper who is seen to have neither. Even if I may not be the best, I want to be seen as one who will take the demands of the role that is given and find the way to get them done.

Comments

[special-malted.livejournal.com]

I've been toying with thoughts in the same vein as this, too. Especially since Caesar was cast, what with the Antony gender-bend, it's put me in mind of this sort of thing.

As an objective observer, though, I have yet to see you fail to do this, even when nearly unrealistic things are asked of you (Midsummer comes to mind).

Charlotte

[(Anonymous)]

I, too, strive to be that all-competent actor. It bothers me greatly that I have had so few means of attaining meaningful feedback during my acting career, which is one of the reasons why I'm so pleased to play Selene under your direction and to be in an acting class this semester. I've never been in an acting class before, and it has been a long time since I was cast as a character that merited much feedback. Although I would like to think I don't make a big deal of it, I was frustrated with my castings for the past college productions I've been involved in because I felt that the directors didn't see that capability in me. They didn't trust me to grow into a role and commit to it. To be fresh and real. At first, I felt that it was only fair, being so new to the scene and no one having seen me perform before. But it was beginning to be tiresome. I do not claim to be terribly good at Shakespeare, but I wasn't getting the roles or feedback I needed to know how to get better. I just had to watch and learn as best I could. Anyway, the point of all this is: Thanks so much for seeing the capability that I've known to be within me but which I had feared would never been seen by those casting their plays. I really appreciate the opportunity you are giving me to show what I can do onstage and all the feedback that you have given me thus far. Also, I respect you very deeply as a fine actress and director, so I really would love to hear any feedback, critique, comment, or errant thought that comes to your mind about my acting. I am neither offended nor injured easily, so please let me know if you glimpse any short-comings in my acting I should work on. Even if they are in areas unrelated to your play. :)
Goodness, I should have said this to you in person. It's rather too long for a comment! :P
P.S.- I agree with Steph. You are a phenomenally competent, compelling actress.