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Unit Three - Character
Module 1 - Ways Into the Work
Lesson 1 - Overcoming Personal Obstacles

Introduction
This lesson will encourage students to express sources of emotional response to create sense memory.

Note: This unit asks students to open up to each other in order to really explore a character. You are encouraged to lose yourself in a character. This involves taking risks, not always looking pretty, or proper, or cool.

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Warm Ups, Games and Exercises
(Not in the mood? Here is a selection of favorite exercises to refer to as needed throughout the unit on Character)

Activities

Activity 1 - Warm Up: "Mirrors"
You are familiar with this exercise from Unit 1. This variation calls for work with a partner, preferably someone new as a partner. Begin by playing soft music and stretch together, taking turns with leading. An observer should be unable to tell who is leading at any point. Next you move to a sitting position, facing one another with knees almost touching. You are to keep eye contact at all time. You are to mirror the emotions which play across the face. Keep it subtle and real - don't try to make it big. Once again, the observer should not be able to tell who is leading. Let the emotions change.

 
Discussion: How did you feel doing that exercise? Does anything make you uncomfortable with showing emotions? Which emotions are the easiest to share? How can an actor recall an emotion to use on stage and yet stay focused?

Try the warm up exercise again. This time try standing up, about a hand length apart. Work emotions again and be aware if there are any triggers which make students move either further away or closer together. Discuss.

On the next try you will told to"Freeze", at which point you must hold and remember what you were doing, and "Play", in which the partners must bring words to the exercise. What impulse is there in the moment? Begin a dialogue.

Talking Circle: Talk about Emotional Recall and Sense Memory as discussed in Unit 1 . We can draw on personal experiences to help us move into character. You may have to play a murderer one day - what could you draw on in your own experience to bring to the role? This means understanding the motivation or objectives (Wants) of the character. Use the Talking Circle to discuss which events work most effectively for Emotional Recall.

 

Note: Remember, you are not forced to participate, but invited. You may hold painful memories which you may not wish to share. You should feel safe and respected in your choice.

 

Activity 2 - A Moment in Silence:
Think of an emotion, and then begin being in that emotional moment. One at a time you are to sit, or stand, in front of the group in total silence while feeling that emotion. You must make eye contact with everyone at least once. If you begin to "perform" you will be asked to stop, focus and just continue in the moment. Discuss the experience.

Evaluation
Students are evaluated to see if they can complete the exercises with a commitment to the process (i.e.: laughing inappropriately).

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Emotional Recall:

This means actors draw upon their emotional memories to apply to situations as a character.

Alec McCowen speaks about preparing to play the fool in King Lear, but didn't know how to relate to the part. He then remembered when as a child it was his job to cheer up his dad when he came home from work. His dad would be tired and grouchy and Alec would cavort about and try to make him laugh. When he remembered this he could suddenly understand the fool.