What exactly is "upstaging" another actor?

Question

I'm still figuring this one out, and I can't pinpoint an example.

Answer 1

You know that theater stages used to be raked, like a ramp going from low at the audience to high at the back? This gave us our stage directions, ie downstage is towards the audience and upstage towards the back.

Technically, "Upstaging" is standing behind an actor who is downstage, forcing them to turn their back to the audience to interact with you. These days, the term "upstaging" is also applied to stealing focus, ie picking your nose during Hamlet's soliloquy would be upstaging him.

Answer 2

There are times in a play when certain characters should have the focus of the audience. Usually this would be when they have a line - or some physical action - that's important for the audience to see.

If for instance - an actor is delivering a line and you walk in front of them. Or jump up and down. Or do anything to make the audience look at you instead of them - you would be upstaging that actor. (And actors do NOT like it when this happens to them)

The way a stage is laid out - upstage is in the back and downstage is in the front. It's called this because back during Shakespearian times - the stages were raked - with the back of the stage being about 3 or 4 feet higher than the front. A lot of the action of the play took place at the back of the stage where the actors were up higher. If you were standing behind someone - making yourself taller than them or making them turn upstage (with their back to the audience) to deliver a line to you - you were "upstaging" them.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Upstage Definition

Answer 4

Define Upstage

Answer 5

It's when someone on stage does soemthing to bring the audience's attention to him/her rather than the actor who should be speaking.

Animals have a way of upstaging actors by being animals and doing their business on stage when it's not expected.

Kids do the same things sometimes, as WC Fields said never act with children or animals.

Milton Berle was famous for upstaging other actors , as was Charlie McCarthy aka Edgar Bergen, Candace's father, when people appeared on his radio show.

Answer 6

You have probably heard the term "upstage" used when someone takes publicity or outdoes another's accomplishments. This reference comes from theater: the part of the stage nearest the audience is called downstage, the area towards the scenery farther from the audience is "upstage."
When two actors are engaged in a scene with each other, if they choose to interact, the actor that is "upstage" will be facing the actor and subsequently, the audience, because of his angle in regard to the other actor.
The actor downstage, unfortunately, to engage his counterpart upstage, must turn his face slightly away from the audience to look upstage.
As theater is about publicity and showbusiness, "face time" is something valued highly. When an actor forces his counterpart to turn away from the audience, he tends to gain attention, as the audience is more likely to watch the actor whose face is visible over the actor whose face is turned away from the audience...hence, being "upstaged."

Answer 7

For any number of reasons, primarily the Director's, it is OK sometimes to deliver a line upstage to another actor.

Answer 8

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What exactly is "upstaging" another actor?
I'm still figuring this one out, and I can't pinpoint an example.

Answer 9

It would be a "lesser" known actor or one with lower billing, doing things to out perform the higher marque actor. It may be intentional or unintentional. An example may be the movie "Fugitive" starring Harrison Ford. Tommy Lee Jones got lots of accolades for his performance, "upstaging" Harrison Ford.

Answer 10

the upstage is the back of the stage furthest from the audience. to move there means that other actors have to turn towards you (and turn their backs to the audience) therefore they don't see them and you're the only person people are focused on.