Staging Story by Robert Moss

Author:Robert Moss
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theatre Communications Group

THE OBSERVATION

Repeat the observation questions from the story module. Always.

What does each character want? What is their positive goal?

What do we know about these characters? What traits can you identify that are unique to this person and this story?

What tactics do they pursue that are unique to their psychological or physical condition?

TIP: GOLDEN TIME

The first few moments after “lights up” communicate an enormous amount of information. Bob and Wendy call these moments “golden time.” If you use golden time thoughtfully, character can begin cooking earlier in the story.

Try this: Begin with one person onstage.

When people are alone, we assume they are truest to themselves. They do not put on airs, they have no need to impress others, and they do not put on false characteristics. Choose a specific location and a specific behavior. Slow down. Take your time. Make this time a study of human behavior. Can you reveal intention? Obstacle? Tactics? Physical and psychological traits? Can you plant the seeds of the resolution now? It’s possible that golden time even begins to communicate larger thematic ideas (see: Theme, p. 54).

Then the second character arrives. The slob arrives in the neat-nik’s room. Tension. The bull arrives in the china shop. Conflict. Now you’re into the thick of story.

See if you can “hook” the audience into character during golden time.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.