Pointers on comedic acting, please

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:01pm

I have a dilema. If I concentrate hard enough, I can cry on cue, so I do a lot of drama stuff. Everyone tells me crying is the hardest to do, but I dunno, for some reason I can't LAUGH. I can't laugh on cue, something really has to make me laugh. At first, I used my memory to look back on Robin Williams' Inside the Actors Studio interview to make me laugh, but now that's getting old.

So please, if you have any pointers on how to laugh that's not fake, I would really appreciate it.

[aces25]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:03pm

To be honest, crying on stage isn't hard because no director should do it.. It looks bad and doesn't impact the audience well... Having a character try not to cry and choke back tears is much more effective

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:06pm

But even choking back shouldn't be made obvious. I think the best performance is made when the audience is thinking, "Why did they do that?" and it makes the audience explore the thoughts of the character in their own way.


To laugh on cue? Oh, god..I don't know. I laugh a lot anyway, so it's not too hard for me...try to think of something funny? Just like some sort of event..

[jasobres]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:08pm

Usually, a very funny episode of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" makes me laugh. Even thinking about it makes me laugh. You should watch some episodes, it is the funniest show on the planet and full of great theater games.

So maybe, if you think about an episode, hopefully, you'll laugh on cue. Just don't laugh too hard and long.

Updated On: 6/28/05 at 05:08 PM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:13pm

Jasobres, that's EXACTLY my problem. I was doing this scene for an improv class with my friend, and he started making faces to make me laugh, and I couldn't stop. It was awful! Whose Line always does make me laugh, thanks!

P.s. about the crying thing. No worries, I don't sob on stage. I have never played a character that needed that. But when I did the Miracle Worker I had to scream and stuff with tears, or I had to sit there silently with silent tears. I think that's what you guys mean?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:24pm

Sorry to thread jack but can anyone sing well and cry at the same? I remember being so amazed at that chick in THE CIVIL WAR who cried her eyes out yet her voice didn't wobble at all.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:31pm

I've seen two actresses bring themselves to tears

Paige Davis in Chicago
Christina Applegate in Charity

But they weren't like bawling, you could just tell they were emotionally hurt, and their eyes filled with tears.

Both were VERY effective.
Updated On: 6/28/05 at 05:31 PM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:32pm

Wonderboy- I've never tried it. I'm sure I would suck, my voice would probably go completely FLAT.

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:54pm

Bernadette does it well on my friend's DVD singing "Not a Day Goes By."

[Aigoo]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 5:59pm

When you do cry...even one tear, do you think it's more effective to wipe it away or just let it dry out on your face? It seems really corny if you don't wipe it away, but it takes a lot of effect away if you do...

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:02pm

I don't tend to wipe it away unless the scene calls for it. The only problem is, if I don't wipe it away sometimes and the next scene is a happy one, then I'm stuck with blotched awful make-up. So yeah I usually wipe it away gently if there's a happy scene next.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:07pm

Michael Jackson crying at the end of "She's Out of My Life"

What a load of bull THAT is.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:18pm

Bwahahahahaha!