After learning for 4 years that there is no such thing as "becoming the character" in acting, today, I became a puppet. What? Does that contradict everything? I think so, but not really...
It's sort of like an out of body experience. A little like meditation. Or free association. The difference is you don't think. Which is liberating, relieving, and a little scary. The notion that you can think like someone else and believe you are someone else is still false. However the limits of the imagination have been proven to stretch much further than originally thought. That's a wonderful thing when considering acting. If you're imagination can extend so far as to be able to give life to an inanimate object, doing the same for a character in a script should be quite possible. The problem of "Well, I've never been in that situation" or "How can I relate to that?" disappear. We can rely on our imaginations much more than we do.
The idea of putting a mask on is interesting. What is a mask? It is something to hide behind. It takes away your identity and replaces it with something else. There is no reason to fear because you don't have to take the responsibility (it's like the de-individuation principle in Psychology). That's the true gift the puppets give. Lack of fear. If you say or do something that's bad, inappropriate, stupid, or weird you can simply blame the puppet.
Each puppet possessed certain characteristics that none of us seemed to be able to control. Pieces of newspaper, paper mache, and paint had personalities. That got me thinking about the importance of costume. If simple materials can communicate such dynamic characteristics, than a costume that accurately represents your character is vital - and almost impossible to perform without. My friends and I always marvel at the fact that when we're wearing a flattering leotard and our hair is neat in a beautiful bun, we can suddenly do perfect triple pirouettes and our extension is 15 degrees higher. Well, it's because we're dressed the part. Acting is no different.
Yes yes yes!
ReplyDeleteThe puppets, the mask, the bun and leotard - these are protective devices. They're totemic. Are they giving you permission? Absolving you of mistakes you might make?
You might notice that part of you was watching "you as puppet," and saw all the bizarre and crass things you as puppet were doing, but you didn't stop you. You let yourself go.....
where's the secret here?