In Defense of Mime

What do you think of when you hear the word "mime"? Some dude in the park offering a girl an invisible flower, only to be blown away by gale force winds into a small box where he becomes trapped? Sure, the stereotypes of Mime are well entrenched in our minds, but I say that mime is important and can be very valuable for an actor.

What are the main tools of an actor? We probably all answer: their body and voice. Well, how about their imagination? Of course! All actors need a good imagination. Mime streches and developes both your body and your imagination.

Mime needs precise body control. If a Mime is sloppy in the least bit then their illusion is ruined and they just become confusing. Mime will give you the tools you need to be able to master your body on stage and be able to use it in many ways to aid the developement of your character.

Mime also requires a vivid imagination! How can you convince someone that something is there - which isn't - if you can't imagine it yourself? I have been practicing mime for many years and when I mime an object I literally see it there and in some cases can actually feel it. Expand your imagination through mime and the easier it will be to behave believably under imaginary circumstances.

So give mime a try and even a few classes will benefit you. Who knows, you may end up wanting more!

After all, a Mime is a terrible thing to waste. (Sorry.)

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