How to act a nasty character?

Question

I have to play Major Ross in the second rehearsal of Our Country's good.
Ross is the superior officer and holds the power, he is evil but does not need to shout to get across his power. HE says; they jump. However i need to perfect my stage presence and, in particular, my voice for the lines. I'm struggling with how to get the audience to hate my character and to really get across the slimy evil of Ross. At one point he humiliates the convicts by making them act like dogs ("Wag your tail, Bryant, Bark!") and tries to get a timid convict to reveal the tattoo on her thingh ("where's your tattoo, brenham? Why don't you show us? I can't see it. Show us.")
Any tips on presence and how to portray evil (without shouting and too much physical abuse)?

Answer 1

Intimidation isn't just about shouting and hitting people. What would be more frightening is the look in someone's eye, and a quiet assured confidence in the voice that makes you believe "this person can hurt me without making an effort". Someone with power doesn't have to physically intimidate when they can do anything they want, anytime they want. To play such a character, remember you have absolute authority over their lives, and a simple word can change it according to your whim.

Answer 2

i think the way the character has been written will automatically make the audience resent him but the acting is just as important. it's good that you don't want to go for the easy shouting and violent personae cos that's a bit pantomime and cliche. You could get inspiration for your character from the way other villains are acted in other movies and television programs. And thinking of a few in my head;Sylar from Heroes, Voldermort in Harry Potter and even Disney villains they all hunger for power and enjoy the amount of power they gain. Wry smiles or a sneer and articulating words with resentment for is inferiors. A swagger or stride for his stance and little eye contact with they other characters to enhance his ignorance and arrogance. Have some variation in the dynamics of your voice and make sure he does physically threaten them by squaring up to them or grabbing them by the lapels.
I hope I've given you some ideas it sounds like a really good character to get your teeth into :)

Answer 3

If you are looking for a way to sound more intimidating and threatening then you need to lower your voice when you are demanding things or saying things in anger. A lot of times lowering your voice and gritting your teeth while you are saying things gets the point across more than shouting.

Choose something physical about the character. How does he walk? Does he walk with his head held high so he stands above the rest and belittles others? If you change your physical demeanor it will naturally change your voice. Does he move quickly or does he walk slowly sort of sauntering as if he is above everything? Think about that and try it out.

Answer 4

Evilness is not only demonstrated through shouting and being physical. I've realized that the most evil people are the ones that seem so cool and confident. But you can tell their evil in the way (the tone) they say things.. or a simple smirk or even the look in your eyes. Try acting condensending or arrogant

Answer 5

Is Ross evil, or mean and sadistic? Perhaps you can make a character with your voice. Find something your comfortable with and develop it. Let it evolve. Squeaky or gravelly voices sound mean. You can also steal another actors work and change it to fit you and your character. Captain Queeg in Cain Mutiny or the captain in Mr. Roberts.

Answer 6

Don't focus on what you as an actor want the audience to feel. Focus on what Ross wants the convicts to feel. You think these people are scum. They are inferior to you. They are less than human. They deserve to be tortured and humiliated. They are completely in your power. You like it that way and you never want to let them forget their lowly place.

I hope you have good, friendly relationships with the actors who are playing the convicts, because when you like and trust people in real life, that makes it easier to cut loose when you have to despise and abuse them on stage.

Answer 7

It truly relies upon on WHY Mona Lisa became into meant to have killed her (except it became into an twist of fate.) The clue to the character's habit could desire to be in the clarification. If Mona Lisa killed her by means of fact she became into recommend and nasty, then she could desire to be recommend and nasty. If Mona Lisa killed her by means of fact she became into dozing together with her boyfriend, she could be somewhat "extra useful than you" in innovations-set or thoroughly snobby. i could recommend against retarded, even with the indisputable fact that, considering the fact which you may hate to get "variety solid" that way.

Answer 8

Pretend you're Geo. Bush but with an English accent. That should do the trick.

Answer 9

Can you do a snide English voice, because that sounds fairly 'evil', one of the most evil things is when you are calm, but sound very intimidating. Say things quickly, but not too quickly. That help?

Answer 10

Well..just to remember that he really enjoys his power...that he may even seem pleasant..evil is more apparent when the way someone behaves seems at odds with the actions they perform.