Picking up from yesterday!
(And the 5 characters I chose)
- 4. “My Best Days Are Behind Me (And I’m Grumpy About It)”
Point of View: “Life was so much better in the good ol’ days”
Her physical things were a gravely, lower voice, a concave posture that led down to a stomach pushed out as far as I could get it, never standing straight, and walking slowly and heavily.
I came in smoking and then being like “ugh, oh right, can’t smoke indoors nowadays.” She basically lived in disappointment of the now.
What she bought: A baseball mitt for her grandson, who she loved. [Because, you know, even if you’re gonna hate things, you can’t hate everybody. How are you ever gonna act with a scene partner, then? Easier to hate outside forces/things rather than people you interact with (oftentimes, not always). Anyway!]
So, she got a baseball mitt, but you know was all gruff about how things were better when we pushed kids harder, and “everybody’s a winner” type games are boring, and that kind of thing. And the mitts used to be higher quality, and things used to be more affordable, all of that kind of stuff.
Her theme song was “Jack and Diane” (John Mellencamp).
The notes on her were that he was so happy I finally showed him something really different. I almost always play some version of flirtatious/falling in love, deliriously happy, or super people-pleasing perfectionist (see 3, 5, and 1 haha). But, finally I played a grump who wasn’t necessarily one note, or grumpy about everything [yay, her grandson!], but who had a very clear point of view on the world way different from mine and what I usually play, and who’s physically and voice were as far away from myself as I could get.
- 5. “Life Is A Musical!”
Point of View: Every day (and so much of what’s in them) is a beautiful miracle!
Her physical things were a sort of sing-song-y voice, and almost overly-dramatic dancer-y type way of moving. She was always just on the cusp of breaking into song.
And then. Oh goodness, I BURST in the door (you know, being all excited about life and stuff), and fell right on my butt. And at first, the class seemed a little on edge, wondering if I was okay. I immediately shook it off, and made some comment about being clumsy.
And then I just added clumsiness as part of it, and tried to play it off as best I could.
And the best part is, it worked!
My classmates weren’t sure. Even my teacher asked during my evaluation if that was a deliberate choice or not. So, yay for seemingly pulling it off.
What she bought: A thermal jacket. I mean, isn’t it just amazing how warm it can keep you? It can open up the entire world! I can go anywhere! And it’s pink! By golly! Oh, I think I’ll buy one of these light-up clip-ons for the zipper! Yay!
Her theme song “Singin’ In The Rain” (from the musical of the same name).
The notes on her were basically, way to roll with the clumsiness and do some reeeeal ‘improv’, in this sort of “pre-planned” exercise [even though it obviously wasn’t all pre-planned, as we didn’t know the store].
So, there you have it!
I passed! It’s glorious!
Advanced improv, here I come!