Rid Yourself of Speech Modifiers!
I won’t lie to you; this is a topic that drives me crazy. Speech modifiers are about the most annoying things in the world when they’re coming from actors. When I say “Speech Modifiers” I don’t mean adjectives and adverbs, I’m not even talking about any particular words, I’m talking about particular usages. Those vague comparative words such as: just, almost, like should go unused. The word “like” should never be used comparatively by an actor, because this is a business where there is no room for the vague or the unsure.
Be Bold! Be Specific! Be Constant!
I say it all the time and this ties in to being specific. I can’t tell you how many times I hear actors describe the emotional state of a character using the words: just, like, almost, sort of, little, slightly. These are useless phrases that serve only to slow you down and get in your way. Saying that your character is “just happy” is a hideous answer to any question. You should never be just anything. Never trivialize how you feel. Never say it’s “like” you feel a certain way. “I feel like I’m happy,” is not an acceptable response. “I am happy,” is better. “I’m so happy I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” is even closer. You’re either happy or you not. The middle ground doesn’t exist in the theatre.
The point of removing speech modifiers is to get you to a point in your work where you can be specific without effort and without having to be reminded. Onstage you should never be almost anything. You should be. You’re never almost mad. You are mad, damn it! And not just slightly mad. REALLY MAD!
How common is it for an actor to answer questions like this:
Director: “How do you feel about that?”
Actor: “It’s a little annoying”
A little annoying? Why in the world did the audience come to see you get “a little” annoyed? The theatre is NOT real life and we did not come here to see an average day in the life of your character. We came to the theatre to see an extraordinary day in the life of your character and how they will handle it. Know now that there is never a time on stage when you are a little annoyed, unless it is a stepping stone to you becoming seriously pissed off. If this isn’t the happiest, saddest or angriest you’re character has ever been, then why does the audience care? The heart of drama is conflict that puts ordinary people into extraordinary situations. Think about it. How big is the difference between being a little annoyed and being furious? The difference is everything! How vague is a little annoyed? How clear is furious? The difference, my friends, is all the difference.
Start listening for these words in everyday life and you’ll see how prevalent they are. After you’ve begun to notice them, start eliminating them from your everyday conversations and observe the difference. It’s hard to do, I admit. There are very few people who have truly eliminated these words, but just by trying you can begin to get a feel for how clear and specific you must be in your choices onstage. As I said, this isn’t a business for the vague or the unsure. Have the confidence enough to make bold and specific choices. And never forget:
Sin Boldly!
Filed Under Articles, Personal Development, The Body
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I think I’ve heard this before. Oh yeah! Did Dr. Rankin pay or something?
She first pointed it out to me. Now it drives me up the wall the more I hear it.