Acting: Preparation, Precision and Simplicity

     Simplicity and precision were the words that Tom Hescott underlined at our last acting class!

        I can really understand how important it is to be precise when you are on stage! For instance, when I first started studying monologues I noticed that many times I have a clear idea of the play, the character and of that specific moment, I am sure about the lines and the different rhythms of the text, the intentions and all the subtext involved, but when I get up to do it, things get complicated. It’s as if my voice and my body were disconnected; as if every small movement had an enormous meaning for the audience, so I find out how important it is to be directed and how our movement and voice work is precious. We can do a great homework and we can even be fabulous when doing the speech for camera, but on stage it’s hard to find a balance between this simplicity and the smart use of our whole body and voice, their right projection to be understood without overacting, without showing any effort.

     

   Simplicity… One of my favorite quotes comes from Frederick Chopin: "Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties”. Once, I was so frustrated after doing and audition and being rejected! I did everything I could: I knew the monologue in different tones, I studied the play and read it over and over again and even upside down (:)), I  knew everything about the character and I was really confident about the audition, I felt really prepared! But… I was rejected! When I was sharing this experience with a friend of mine, she taught me something that I am not going to forget, never!! 

She said: “Lilly, you put so much energy and effort on this audition and you feel that they didn't recognize your effort…and your frustration is understandable...but when you are auditioning, nobody wants to see your effort, nobody wants to see your preparation especially when you’re performing; when you are doing your speech, your scene or even singing, they just want to feel that acting is the easiest thing for you do to, it’s natural and they just want to be moved by that moment. If you have to cry and if the scene is very dramatic…they don’t want to see you doing any effort, or suffering to achieve the truth of the moment, it has to be simple and easy for both: the performer and the audience!"

    

      These are my thoughts of the day: preparation, preparation, preparation and more preparation…but not waiting to be recognized for that, people only want to see the quality of the results, nobody cares about my process and how much I suffered. At the end, it has to be easy and simple!!