ALASDAIR SATCHEL’S WEBLOG

Fresh faced … honest?

July 14 2008

The weekend has been and gone, we are all refreshed and fresh faced. Honest.

Many of the cast decided to stay in Tobermory to enjoy the delights on offer at the Macdonald Arms, the Mishnish and so on. Others dared to brave it off the island, and return to the larger cities of our dear green nation. Apparently they have something there called mobile phone reception…

Last night a few of us gathered round at my place to tuck in to a local venison chilli and watch “Everything Is Illuminated”. A rather good film, the screen is stolen by the older man who plays the grandfather in the piece. He's one of those amazing actors who you watch and entirely forget that they're acting.

This morning we went straight in to a line run, or a speed run – where you say your lines as fast as you can in sequence. It's a very good way of reinforcing the text and the order of the show in your mind.

The second time that we did a line run we threw a ball about as well. If you were speaking you had the right to hold the ball, if you weren't you didn't. I always like these kind of exercises as it opens up what you're doing as an actor. For instance, how you interact with the ball can tie in to what you're trying to do with your character in that section, in relation to another. So if your character is trying not to let another person talk you can try to keep the ball out of their hands while they struggle to wrestle it from your grip. It's a really good way to physically see the relationships that the characters have in another light.

All these things you do as you build up to a putting on a show. Only four days to go before we open. It’s all going to be fine. It’s all going to be fine. That’ll be my mantra for the week.

As long as you can see the whites of the other actor’s eyes you’ll be fine…

© Alasdair Satchel, 2008

Links

• Mull Theatre
• Right Lines