Advice on preparing a scene

[Jupiter]

Hi,

I discovered your site by chance and wondered if anyone could help?

I am going to act in an amateur drama production. Its a slapstick themed play and my character the villainess has a scene in which she receives her comeuppance being soaked by a bucket of water and taking a cream pie in the face.

Looking for advice on how to prepare. First concern is how to make my reactions spontaneous given I know what's going to come. So far in rehearsals I tend to react a bit in advance spoiling the affect.

Second is the practical difficulty of then acting luckily for a short time in wet clothing.

Any tips and advice most welcome.

Jennifer

[ClownJulie]

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[stockingman]

You cant get a better reply than Julie said i hope it works out and it would be nice if you could post a few pics?

[Hayley]

Hi

Welcome along Jennifer.

When it comes to slapstick choreography, Julie is the expert. She is also very good on reactions and timing. All I know if that you definitely shouldn't look like you know what will happen. Also, how about a silent shocked reaction at first to give the audience the chance to laugh at your fate, then after the laugh, do the angry shouting stuff.

I know what Bill would say - hands on hips and big sigh always works!!

Hayley

[Jupiter]

Thanks for all the tips, that's great. Never thought getting wet and having a pie in the face would be so complex!

Timing is everything and the biggest difficulty has been hesitation and a bit tensing up just when I expect it which ruins the shock effect.

One idea has been slightly varying the moment each time when I'm hit with water and pie which seems to work.

Next challenge is then finishing the act in wet clothing but I guess I'll get used to it!

Jennifer

[BillShipton]

Hi

Is there any way that you can turn to face the person just before you get the pie or the water. This is an old silent movie/cartoon trick to increase the element of surprise for the 'victim' and from an acting point of view means you are less likely to look tense.

Just a thought.

Bill

PS Wet clothes are only horrid if it's cold!!