I was cast as Sarah Brown in a community theatre's production of Guys and Dolls. However, the person cast to play Sky Masterson, my love interest, is in his mid 30's with a wife and 2 year old child, while I am not even 18. How can I ease the awkwardness and tension in this unusual situation, especially since the director would like to have us actually kiss on stage? Help, PLEASE!
2007-05-22 11:58:18 · 7 answers · asked by rdiva_2007 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
Congratulations! OK, when you're acting you are Sarah Brown and he is Sky Masterson, not some old married guy with a kid. It probably freaks him out a bit to be with someone so young too, but he will be professional and jump into the role and so will you :-) The cool thing is, every night 'Sarah' starts off really not being into him and he has to win 'you' over.... Use your feelings as part of your transition on stage. When you do your scene work with him, hopefully the director will start off with the initial tense scenes and while working with this guy, you can get more familiar with him and maybe you won't be so uneasy about the whole thing.
Also, you being so young I'd just like to give you a word of caution and I don't mean any offense or to assume that you would do this - it's just advice. No matter what, be professional. You can really burn your bridges in such a small community as theatre if you start telling people that this guy's breath stinks, or you think he's creepy, or whatever... Now if there's anything inappropriate, that's different. You head straight to someone who matters! But as long as he does his job and you do yours, it's all good!
Now break a leg!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-05-22 12:26:01 · answer #1 · answered by Marianne D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations on being cast as Sarah!
First off, remember that it was not at all unusual for much older men to date and marry younger women at that time (though not for women to date younger men... Go Demi Moore!) So, it's not as much of a mismatch as you might think.
Second, remember that makeup, hair, and costumes can give you a few years (eye makeup, darker coloured lipstick, an "up" do, longer skirts and high heels can all give you a more mature look on stage). A nice good foundation, lighter lipcolor, and attitude can take a few years off him, so that your age difference might seem more like 5-7 years (instead of 12) to the audience.
Third, remember you are acting... you are not a pre-18 year-old in the play, you're "Sarah Brown". He's not the 30 year-old married father of a child, he's the charming gangster "Sky Masterson." You have to put some thought into who Sarah is and why she's attracted to him (because she is). Get into character, BE Sarah, not you... and you should be fine!
If you have trouble with using your character to ease the difficulty, just use straight-out fantasy. What famous actor or musician are you attracted to? What would it be like to meet them and find they're attracted to you? To kiss them? Take what you feel when you think about this and use it when you're playing a scene with your "Sky."
Break a Leg, I bet you'll be great!
2007-05-22 12:11:51 · answer #2 · answered by bumsteadowl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, this often happens at the high school, college, and community levels of theatre -- age inappropriate casting. In school, you have younger people who have to play older than they are and sometimes this looks awkward or very artificial. At the community theatre, your situation is also common. I was in a production of Cabarret with a 39 yr-old Sally Bowles! Her 19 yr old understudy was better but obnly got one or two shows. The best thing you can do is establish a good, honest working relationship with your Sky, do exactly what the role requires and the director asks of you, and then leave it on the stage. If you make this into too much more than it already is -- awkard, May-December casting -- it will show in your performance.
2007-05-22 16:12:30 · answer #3 · answered by actormyk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just imagine the character, not the actor. You are a bit lucky that the part is supposed to be on the shy side. Better get used to it however if you are going to be serious as an actor, half the guys you will kiss in your career will be gay anyway, so you just have to forget who it really is and just act it out. If that is the most of your worries, I'm sure it will be a great production.
2007-05-22 13:07:41 · answer #4 · answered by Erik H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's called acting for a reason, you have to act like you're really into whatever you're character is. You're gonna have to get into the part and see him as Sky Masterson, and not who he really is. If you can't, then give up the part to someone who can.
I vote Bumstead below me for Best Answer! :)
2007-05-22 12:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by Jadalina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think about it he's like your parent or grandparent. No one actually enjoys kissing there grandparents. And think about how u would feel if you were his wife. b 4 u know it the play will be over!
2007-05-23 12:20:07 · answer #6 · answered by Bassoon Babe 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Close your eyes and pretend your kissing the hottest guy you know :-)
2007-05-22 14:22:51 · answer #7 · answered by Prettyinpink 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋