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Character

I wanted to start some kind of discussion here about Character, whatever that is, and whether it's necessary or useful.

In our Hamlet we have completely done away with the concept, at least in the sense that it is an actor's business, and are pleased to leave the audience to construct a character out of whatever we happen to do.

However, having recently been exploring a modern play, I found it quite hard to do so, although I tried, and believe that those watching would have identified a 'character' in what I was doing although I didn't really make those kind of decisions. I had an accent that was important but I don't know if that really counts. I really love the opportunity to 'become' someone else and try to get away from myself but that has started to feel 'un-Factory'.

Also where would we be without the character work of Brando, De Niro, Pacino, Day-Lewis, Seymore-Hoffman, Depp, Del Torro etc etc etc?

Thoughts?

Alex Hassell

TimEvans	Latest page update: made by TimEvans , Feb 27 2008, 10:20 PM EST (about this update About This Update Edited by TimEvans 2 words added 2 words deleted view changes - complete history)
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marianneoldham

character

Apr 20 2008, 8:26 AM EDT by TomPayne

Thread started: Feb 26 2008, 3:00 AM EST Watch

I have been fairly mystified by this question recently too. I came up with an answer of sorts,-
that, whatever one does as a person/character is essentially, presumably at all times, in order to survive whatever the present situation is. So whatever ones' 'character' needs to do to protect his/her own ego when presented with the pressure from its present situation and the other characters present, this will probably end up being its 'way of being'. This also means that this can and will change as the character is affected by more and more outside sources.
I think this can apply to a wide range of 'character' choices as it were. Whether it be someone who speaks very loudly as a habit as they never seem to be heard. Or someone who is keeping still perhaps in order to maintain a status that is in danger of slipping.
After all, there are so few 'characters ' in real life that don't change or surprise us. I think it's the situation that they see and that they want to change and or maintain that provide any character ticks and choices. Of course this does mean that in order to find them for our 'character', we need to completely forget about our own sense of survival, our own ego. This is impossible and, as I think has been discussed with reference to Heath Ledger, quite dangerous. Explaining why perhaps when 'on stage' it feels like a precarious balancing act.

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Federay

characteractor

Mar 17 2008, 5:07 PM EDT by Federay

Thread started: Mar 17 2008, 5:07 PM EDT Watch

This one is a life's work, isn't it? The illusion we cling to when we talk about character is that we are in control of the audience's understanding of our actions. The thing about the Factory Hamlet is that that responsibility is openly handed over. the audience piece together what they will from what they see. When we do loads of "character work" that goes beyond what we need to serve the scenes we have been given by the writer we are ... well - congratulating ourselves for being so hard-working and we are also moving away from stomach and heart and into our heads. However, the question of "what is necessary to serve the scene" is the Big One. For D-Lewis it's a hell of a lot, for say, Emily Watson it's less prosthetic and more internal. Personally my Big Rule is: is it honest? Does the stoop and moustache add up to an honest and true presentation of the writer's words? In some contexts, absolutely, in others, they are obstacles between the story/play/scene and the audience placed there by the well-meaning, hard-working but ultimately self-obsessed actor. Surely the best characterisations are the ones we hardly notice because we are more concerned with the story or at least how the character finds their way through the story.

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phillykilly

more character, I ran out of space.

Mar 2 2008, 12:33 PM EST by phillykilly

Thread started: Mar 2 2008, 12:33 PM EST Watch

Anyway to Finish off.

I think it is fun for an audience to observe and use the term character but for an actor it doesn't have to be a concern. It will just come from the work he does. He certainly knows what it is but shouldn't be scared of "being' the character or finding it. It will unravel itself on the night.