GCSE Drama – Live Theatre Evaluation

Period acting These performances will re ect a certain period. Actors in a Restoration comedy , for example, may follow the acting styles of the 17th century, using handkerchiefs and fans for effects and carrying themselves with the typical posture of the era. Actors in a Shakespeare play may use appropriate vocal techniques when speaking the 16th-century verse. Actors in a melodrama or broad farce will use gestures and movements appropriate for the stereotypical period characters they are playing. Actors in period plays may be skilful in moving in the costumes from that period and handling the props correctly. Comic acting Comedy involves skills such as precise timing and exaggerated facial expressions in order to make an audience laugh. Comic actors are often gifted in vocal skills such as intonation and mimicry and physical skills such as pratfalls and double-takes . Dramatic acting Here, actors use skills such as emotional range and compelling characterisation in order to interest and involve the audience in the situation of the characters. Combination Many performances will use several styles of acting. The original production of Things I Know to Be True , for example, combined naturalistic, believable con ict between the family members with stylised movement sequences. A Taste of Honey typically combines naturalistic scenes with stylised interludes inspired by the music hall tradition. A modern production of a Shakespeare play might combine the period demands of verse- speaking with more contemporary, spontaneous-seeming interactions. Blood Brothers often combines the naturalistic acting of the main characters with more stylised performances from the ensemble. It also contrasts the comedy of the early scenes with the emotional high drama of the ending. Cassio gets drunk in Othello . TASK 1 1 Look at the production photographs on these pages and decide what type or types of acting are shown. 2 Choose one of the actors and describe them as much detail as you can. Consider, as appropriate: facial expressions gestures posture position on stage interaction with others any other distinctive features. 3 Look online for other production photographs and choose two to analyse for the performance styles. Tim McInnerny, Alison Steadman and Janine Duvitski in The Provok’d Wife. 13 CHAPTER 3 ANALYSING AND EVALUATING ACTING