1. Relating to Things: External Stimuli Advanced Drama Fall 2003

2. What is acting? The foundation of effective acting is the ability to accomplish a specific objective by carrying out a sequence of actions that is logical and believable within the given circumstances. The actor’s ultimate purpose is not to perform the action but to reveal its significance.

3. Relating to objects and to other actors Stanislavski said “You must learn to transfigure an object from something which is coldly reasoned or intellectual in quality into something which is warmly felt.” (An Actor’s Handbook) The same object can invoke a variety of responses depending on the character and the circumstances.

4. Relating to costume and scenery The costume must take on the nature of the character. It must be treated as if it were personally selected by the character. Scenery is mere decoration unless used by an actor.

5. The actor’s responsibility His job is to make clear everything he does and why he is doing it. An actor can make something clear to the audience only if he has made it clear to himself. Do not be trapped into producing incongruous and illogical comedy, novelty, or sensationalism for its own sake rather than for the sake of illuminating the given circumstances.

6. Let’s try it Handle the article as if it were a baby. Do not only use sensory memory so you will handle it accurately but also establish a specific relationship. Handle it as if you were A new mother A doting grandfather An annoyed father An inexperienced babysitter A bachelor uncle

7. Try some more… Supply various circumstances to the baby’s condition. Handle it as if the baby were Sick Asleep Soiled Crying Dead Handle the article as if it were A cat A skunk A pumpkin A time bomb A valuable antique vase A bouquet of roses A fish you have just caught A tureen of hot soup

8. Object relationships Without saying what it is, one actor should decide on an identity for the nondescript article and establish a relation to it. Another actor should observe carefully so, when the object is passed to him, he can establish the same identity and relation. Then, he should change the identity and relation and pass the object on.

9. Definite and different relationships Pick up, carry and dispose of a dead dog as if It were your favorite pet You were a passing motorist who loves and cares for animals You were a road worker getting the animal off the pavement You were a child investigating the mangled dog out of curiosity Pick up a snake as if You were afraid but had to remove it from your porch It were a pet snake You were a caretaker in a zoo or circus You were a snake charmer Pick up the unconscious person as if She were a dearly loved friend You were a hospital orderly handling a patient You had drugged him in order to carry out some “dark” purpose