what is the best way to fake slap?

Question

i need to be fake slapped in a play. the person slapping me says it is best for him to brush his hand by me and other person on stage claps as he does so. i say it is best if he puts one hand near my cheek (the cheek away from the audience) and as he goes to slap me hit his hand instead. which of these is better, is tere any other better way?

Answer 1

I've done it a few ways and it always depends on the circumstance as to which works better. The most effective is your way... however I've found that it works best on your downstage cheek but you swing your face upstage so they don't see the fake slap and you swing your face back for the grab of the cheek and the reaction. Inevitably sometimes he will miss his own hand and hit you by mistake, but the audience will react and so will you! The technique is, the slapper grabs you by the chin, swings with the other hand, and slaps their other hand while you swing your face upstage. That's been the most effective in my opinion, but it also has the most likelihood of actual injury... it stings for a bit, but you get over it :-)

Another is for him to do almost the same thing without grabbing your chin and slapping his own hand, but you would slap your upstage thigh if possible or someone of stage and nearby would do it. It's the most fleshy sounding slap you can get.

His way can work too, but depending on where you sit in the audience, there could be a large number of people who will see his hand completely miss you. The fact that there is no contact right there, they will likely notice that. Then again, he may have excellent timing... practice each way and see what your techs think :-) They love a good slap and will be totaly honest about which one looks more hard core!

Good luck!

Answer 2

I was recently in the musical Into the Woods. I played the character of Florinda, one of Cinderella's evil stepsisters. In one scene, I had to slap the actress playing Cinderella. What we did is I brushed my hand against her cheek, and she quickly clapped her hands together as she brought her face up to the cheek I had supposedly "slapped". It worked very well. If that doesn't work, then I suggest the way you prefer...putting one hand up by his ear and slapping it with the other. Either way, hope it all works out for you!

Answer 3

Well, I was recently in a scene for competition and the girl I was doing the scene with and I both decided that nothing was better than a real slap. Of course, it hurts a little, but it's for the sake of the scene/play. If you're not willing to do this, then your suggestion would probably be best :]
Good luck!

Answer 4

I learned in a shakespeare theatre camp taught by professionals the best way to fake a slap is to have the peson slapping get there hand to where its close but not close enough to touch your face and have them do the nap (or sound) of the inside of their arm between their elbow and wrist. It looks amazing and totally real.

Answer 5

The technique for a stage slap is to use only your fingers when hitting your scene partner - meaning to avoid using the palm. The fingers bend back (mostly) harmlessly, and you have a realistic looking (and sounding) slap, and the actor has something to react to. Just don't miss, otherwise the slap-ee gets belted for real. (:

The sync slapping thing is...well, it's a little silly.

Answer 6

Nothing's better than the real thing. Sure it hurts, but only for a while, and the plus is that you get a more genuine reaction. Just don't overdo it and don't underdo it, you have to get it just right. But if you don't want to do that, I'd go with the first suggestion the person who's supposed to slap you gave.

Answer 7

I am a stuntman and have done many live shows. just let him slap you. he doesn't have to hit hard to get a good sound. If you don't want to get hit then you should clap your hands..... if you got cast in a professional show they would expect a real slap and would settle for nothing less. Of course I'm a stuntman and they expect me to get hurt :)

Answer 8

The best way, he swings and you clap your hands.

Answer 9

the real question is.. are his fake slaps realistic, and do his real slaps hurt?

Answer 10

let him slap you. the best way to fake it is to not fake it.