The following is a list of exercises that will help to strengthen your acting troupe in the fundamentals of theater. We started, last month, with getting your people comfortable with each other. This month and next will be exercises to develop strong characters. Then ending, the month after that, with improvisation games!

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT GAMES

On of the best definitions of acting is this: "Believable behavior under imaginary circumstances." Obviously, the best way to obtain that is to have a fully developed character. A character who comes from the actor, whom the actors knows inside an out. An actor strives for (theater buzz word here) verisimilitude. A big word with a simple meaning- Verisimilitude: the quality of being lifelike. Sounds easy, but we know the truth! It takes a lot of work and talent. The following exercises will provide ways to help your people begin to shape their character with practical observations from life and themselves.

Animal to Person: Split your people up into small units, four to five at the most. Have one group perform the exercise while the others observe. Start a group, in a line, at one end of the stage. Have each one choose an animal to be. They begin by crossing the stage as that animal. Make it clear that they should be as detailed about the movement and sound the animal makes. When the reach the other side, have them return to the other side, but as they walk as their animal, by the time the reach the half way point they should begin to change the animal walk into a human type walk. For example, if one actor chose a bird they might flap their arms very big and make high pitched chirping sounds on their initial cross. The second time back their arms might not be so big, they might flick lightly from the elbows and the chirping might begin to form a high, pompous "humph" sound. Next, on the third cross, the group should continue the animal/human hybrid movement, and this time, when they reach half way, should mold that combined movement into a full human movement. Then, on the fourth and final cross, they should walk fully human. A distinct character should be evident, with elements of the animal. Going back to the bird example: the arms flicking from the elbows might tighten even more to include the wrists, which might filter down to the walk- quick steps mainly using the knees rather then the hips. Add on the high pitched "humph" and you might have a rich, upper class lady from the Renaissance!