Straight Acting Essay

Improved Essays
Creating an effective performance of stage combat or straight acting involves a great deal of preparation and thought. There are many elements that come together to create the show and as a performer there are several things that can be done to make the rehearsals leading up to it an effective use of time. Preparing physically and mentally for every rehearsal, spending some time discovering the character’s world, and being open to discussions and changes throughout the process. These are some of the things an actor can do to ease the stress of those around them and they can also aid the team in creating a worthwhile production. When one is in a show or working in an acting class, it is always a good idea to come warm, ready to work, and prepared. The body is an important part of acting; it is not all about the face and voice. Body language says a lot about a character so have a stretch and do a little yoga or whatever else to get the muscles, joints, and other parts ready for anything the director or teacher might have prepared for the rehearsal. This also allows one to be ready to accept any physical work when requested. Be mentally ready is just as important as being physically ready. Review lines, blocking, and other aspects of the scenes outside of the rehearsal or class so the focus can be on the characters development or, in the case of stage combat, the technique. Being prepared is beneficial to the performer and the director as there can be less worry about the lines and more focus on making the performance believable. One of the most important aspects of a scene is how human and/ or realistic the characters seem to the audience. …show more content…
It can be difficult to find those moments, when there is a deadline, but the most important thing in this situation is to not become frustrated. Figure out what parts are not coming as easily and look for a deeper meaning or the purpose behind it that makes it so vital to the show. Also take a bit of time to let the character listen and discover every step of the show as if it were happening for the first time. This can be an integral part of stage combat. If the fight looks rehearsed and there is no intention behind it then the audience will have a hard time believing that the scene is real. That being said, once objectives, discoveries, and other elements have become part of the scene be careful not to make them noticeable and if the director does not like the choice be open to change. Once everything has started to settle in it can be difficult to accept change, but as a performer this is something that happens all the time. A part of the scene might look or sound good in rehearsal, but be terrible on stage. Hopefully, there won’t be a major change, but even if there is be the problem solver not the complainer. For stage combat this might mean there has been a change in the size or weight in the weaponry, so maybe there just needs to be some extra time to practice and get used to them. Whatever the change, there is always a solution, but there is never an appropriate time to complain. IF there is something dangerous or confusing about the change talk to the director or the stage manager about the issue and

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