What makes a good perfformance?

Question

me and my friend have a drama exam next month for our GCSE's.. what would make a good perfformance? we have a good script and two good actresses but the third actor doesn't really put much effort into it. we want to do good but how!?!

Answer 1

Everybody has a different way of working and getting to their character. Does the actor just "seem" to not be putting much effort into it or could they possibly have a different method than you which seems lazy or not good. Bottom line is you need to look at the end result as much as how they got there. Acting is not like math you don't have to show your work. In fact the less we see the work the better the performance usually.
However if you are talking about a lazy actor who is just not into the role and is unmotivated and unlikely to improve then you need to take action now. It is very difficult to motivate an unmotivated actor. If you have time to replace the third actor do it now. You will only regret waiting and hoping that they will get better and by the time you realize that they won't; not only will it be too late but you will be somewhat at the mercy of that actor and you will most likely get a sub-par result.
Break a leg.

Answer 2

Instead of ignoring the third actor, give him almost your full focus. React specifially to what he gives you, whatever it is, with your lines and reactions. When he knows that his actions are triggering yours, he will have more confidence and bring his performance up to yours. Acting is reacting.

Answer 3

In order to act, you need to believe your caricature so that you can make your audience believe your caricature. Maybe the third actor doesn't feel so confident about his/her caricature. Tell him/her to try to associate him/herself with the caricature, through an experience he or she once had in the past that can relate to this caricature.