Fake Crying — Page 2

Exactly, their needs to be a separation between yourself and your character. If you are doing 8 shows a week, and thinking about your dead father and how much you miss him to cry each time, you are going to turn yourself into one depressed person.

Trust me, I've used that exact example before I learned the "BE" the character method, and it helps soo much more.

you'd better listen to him, he's pre-med.

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*dies laughing*

Rather than actually crying, try to keep from crying. Keep going through the onset. Never stop and cry.

This little trick was related by Hume Cronyn in his memoir. Those watching you will have far more sympathy for your plight if you try to keep a stiff upper lip and all that.

And if I think of Mr. Bush for 4 more years I shall not weep. Vomit, yes, but no tears.

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I've been fortunate, in that, whenever I have needed to cry onstage it occured organically based upon experimentations during the the rehearsal process.

Never had a director say to me...."And at this moment, I need tears."

Usually I take some risks at rehearsals if they seem appropriate to the moment, and the tears come...and through emotional recall and repetition they eventually happen on cue.

But...sometimes you falter...and you have to technically produce them. My eyes water whenever I yawn, so I try to replicate that sensation while keeping my mouth closed.

But if you can't produce them emotionally or technically...don't try. It just looks awful.

Updated On: 12/21/04 at 05:10 PM

Ok thanks!