Currently Getting Hurt On Stage...Any Suggestions?

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 2:36am

I'm playing Billy in a local production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and we're opening tomorrow, playing 8 shows in total.

Everything is great. I'm getting black and blues on my knees, but they don't hurt.

However, when I get dragged off by the actor playing one of the hospital aides he does such a great job with it that he's inflicting real injury on my left bicep.

Not only can I see the big pinkish-red blotches on my skin right where he grabs me, but I can ***feel the sting*** of it.

Is there any way anyone can recommend getting around this? I don't intend to hold back during the performances, but if it stings this much and we're only just about to begin to do this in front of full audiences I am concerned. However, the actor playing the aide is doing such a great job I don't want to ask him to make any adjustments.

I am wearing a short-sleeved shirt in this scene, out of necessity, so I can't wear a visible protectant there.

As I'm typing this I'm thinking perhaps no solution exists, but who knows if I don't ask? I imagine in a professional setting they might find a way around this easily.

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 9:17am

Tell the person who drags you off stage that he's hurting you and that you'd like to do a fight call before the show. Figure out a way to do it without getting hurt and practice it before the show.

Or tell your director and they will figure out a way to make it painless.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/4/10 at 10:11am

In addition to that, you can wear knee pads and some sort of padding where he grabs you... maybe use cotton and gauze wrapped around your arm.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 12:52pm

Also, a trick when being dragged on the stage is to grab onto the arm that is pulling you. I was in a show where one person was dragging another by her hair. What happened was he grabbed her hair loosely, and she grabbed onto his wrist and was pulled that way. You can play it off as you're grabbing the wrist because you're afraid that you're suddenly being pulled.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 5:14am

You need to do all the work. Move yourself, the guy shouldn't need to drag you that ferociously.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:50pm

^ I've put a little bit more of my back into it, as they say, and it has helped diminish the effects. :)

There are still marks, but no more stinging. It's my character's biggest moment and the set-up for the show's big climax, so I'd still rather get hurt than risk the chance of the audience seeing us obviously trying to do something to diminish injury. The director has directed me to break from his grasp three times and then be recaptured, so it's over the top drama. I feel lucky as hell that I got the part.

Thanks for all your help! :)

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 2:47am

Glad you found a solution...hope it went well for you.