As our current theme for our classes is Stanislavski and naturalism, today we started out with exercises doing with given circumstances, which is information about setting or character, ergo the situation the actor can work on whilst creating the scene and character. Given circumstances can be found e.g. from research(about the play, playwright, set time etc), script(how the character talks/reacts, stage directions, how other characters talk/react, subtext) or the director.
The first exercise we did started out with us walking in neutral around the space. We were then given different kind of situations to be in, starting out with us being in a church. It wasn't said, what we were doing there, but started out by just saying that we were in a church. We had to think about, how we would walk and act in the church, if we would actually be in one. My initial reaction to this was some sort of fear. Taking in consideration the situation I was at the time with my personal life, I automatically connected the church-scenario with death and judgement. I showed this in my movement by trying to walk slowly, yet keeping a certain cautiousness and stiffness in it as well.
Then, bit by bit we were given more information about the situation, we were at a wedding. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted of my shoulders, and my movement changed into more relaxed and calm than before. It was now that I could imagine the beauty of the architecture, with all the mosaic pictures, and the music echoing up the towers. This really showed, that even the littlest information can change how we personally view certain situations, showing the importance of research about the given circumstance.
After the church the scenario, the situation was changed into a busy city street. Everyone rushing around, going on about with their own business, some even running. Somewhere, where there is a lot of people around, I could feel the pressure to look presentable, but still try get on with my business as fast as possible. I was imagining myself going to an important job interview or an audition, somewhere where I was supposed to impress people with my shining personality, and so I would have to be ready to present my best features. Then we were given more inside to the situation; it was our mother that we were all going to meet with. For some, this situation turned out be even a bit comical, as you saw people actually slowing down to annoy their mothers even further. My movement changed in the fact, that before I still tried to keep some of my dignity by not rushing around too much, but trying to keep my focus, but as the scenario changed, my running around changed into something a bit more chaotic, not being sure where I was actually heading to, just trying to get there as fast as possible.
Another aspect of naturalism that we touched upon was exploring the magical 'What if'. What if, is basically imagining yourself in the given circumstance or situation, asking the question "What if I was in this characters place? What would I do? How would I react?". This largely to help with conveying a naturalistic response and range of emotions. It helps to transfer the characters aim into the actor's.
The second exercise was much more to do with Stanislavski's 'what if'. The scene was that the whole class was at a cottage celebrating the new years eve together. At this point, nothing else was revealed to us yet. People started to get on with different things, some starting to drink and sing songs together, and some gathered around the fireplace to warm up and play games. Difficulty in this was, that we were not given any characters, but the idea was to react as yourself. Things started to stir-up a bit when it was announced on the radio, that a mad man from a near by prison has escaped. For me this situation seemed unbelievable, so I reacted I would probably react in real life, by denying the whole situation and staying optimistic "Nothing is going to happen, it is unlikely that a murderer will come to a cottage full of people". Some people started panicking or getting frustrated. As the power went out, the panicking just grew bigger and by the time the loud bangs came to be, there was no reasonable person in the cottage. Okay, perhaps there a couple who tried to make sense of it, or do something to help, but all the help was muffled by the helpless cries of scared people. I even tried get people notice that one of us was missing, but it was very soon forgotten about.
I am not sure if this truly was how people would react, if they were actually in this situation. Of course, because we did not have actual alcohol to affect our way of thinking, some things might have gone completely different.
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