Fellow actors and actresses: What is a good way to make "stage kisses" (in plays) less awkward?

Question

I am in a musical right now called "Les Miserables" (perhaps some of you know it.) I have to kiss one of my fellow actors. He's a nice guy and all, but learning the blocking for the kiss will still be embarassing, even though I know it's just acting. Any suggestions or tips on stage kissing ettiquette?

Answer 1

I think the best way is through what is sometimes called 'abnegation of the self'.

The problem is that you're entangling your own ideas with your character's. YOU are embarassed. Your character presumably is not. When you're on stage, try to stop thinking about you. What you want and how you feel is not relevant. Try to imagine how your character feels and what your character wants. Make that imagination as real as you can, developing an alternate persona, if you will. You probably can't do that all the time. But try to be 'in the moment' and believe with all your heart that the kiss is exactly what you want right that second.

If you do it well enough, the kiss will not only NOT be embarassing (at least not until later when you think out-of-character what you've been doing) but will be something you really, really want and anticipate.

Best of all, you don't have to wait until you get to the stage to practice, you can practice your character's mind-set any time you like. You do things all the time, and how your character thinks of just about everything is undoubtedly slightly different than you. As you understand and practice appreciating those differences, it may be easier and easier to 'get into character', so to speak.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Years ago, I was performing a play entitled, The Owl and the Pussycat. It was theatre in the round and a very intimate setting. The scene called for me to sit on the male character's lap and give him a very long, slow, intimate kiss. Since there was audience on all sides and very close to us, there was no way to hide or fake a kiss.

The male actor would get so anxious that he would either forget his lines following the kiss or couldn't do the kiss at all. I solved it by inviting him to brunch to run lines and we practiced the kissing scene. Without the pressure and added eyes, we were comfortable enough with each other to realize it was what the characters were required to do, not what we would be doing on real life.

There are many ways to cleverly hide a kiss; however, if it's necessary and everyone involved is professional enough to know that the kiss is that of the characters not the people playing them, it goes much more smoothly.

Answer 3

G'day Shannon C,

Thank you for your question.

The best way is to get into the character that you are playing. Your character is kissing the other character to convey to the audience that they are in love. If you are fully in character, you shouldn't have any problems.

Silver had a good response to a similar question where he said to practice it without other people around then in front of the cast. That should help make you feel less awkward when you kiss him on stage.

You can also keep your lips closed but use your body and the way you tilt your heads to show that the characters are passionately in love. You can have it so that he faces the back wall, he dips you backwards and you bend back so that noone in the audience sees you kiss but they think that you have both kissed each other passionately.

I have attached sources for your reference.

Break a leg.

Answer 4

I believe the changed gender-neutral switch actually stemmed from Hollywood influence. It's become fairly universal today. Some female celebs don't mind being labeled 'actor', though the word historically means 'male'. It's really just a matter of individual preference. I myself am an actress, and label myself as such. There are some casting sites that list only 'Actor' as a title (not the actress option); naturally presuming the stated profession :)

Answer 5

Hang out with this person outside of the rehearsals so that you two can just get to know each other, then if it looks ok practice with a thumb in between your mouths, and as you get good at that then just kiss him during the show, tongues are not required.. its not akward think kissing your grandpa.