Actions in Action
This essential element of drama is described in the text as central to all theatrical impact - without it, there is no drama.
What is conflict?
These brief departures from the main action of a scene can be verbal or gestural, but should still have clear objectives.
What are asides?
This acting tool is used when one character agrees too quickly, threatening to remove conflict from a scene.
What is a backtrack?
An action in theatre is considered successful when it brings about this kind of change, usually in the object of the action.
What is an observable change?
When an actor directly pursues their objective and achieves it head-on, the result is called this.
What is a product?
Actors can break down performances into “bits” or “beats.” These are small units of purposeful action that, when combined, build into scenes and eventually a whole play.
What are bit actions?
If an aside is removed from a scene, this should still happen smoothly without interruption.
What is the mainline action continuing?
Conflict can be reintroduced into an overly agreeable scene by adding this extra element, such as doubt, hesitation, or coughing.
What are adjustments or motivations?
The action to sell the chair doesn’t change the chair itself, but this instead.
What is the buyer’s mind?
When an outcome happens as a side-effect of pursuing a different action, it is called this.
What is a by-product?
This type of action represents the overall objective of a play or production, sometimes called the “through line,” and answers the question: “What are we trying to do to the audience?”
What is the spine action?
One common mistake in playing asides is using them for personal attention rather than story needs - for example, breaking structure to impress the audience.
What are self-serving asides?
When an inviter keeps persuading until the invitee gives an enthusiastic “yes” instead of a reluctant one, they are using this technique.
What is shading the conflict?
On stage, unlike in everyday life, actions should build in strength rather than fade. This upward progression of energy is called a sequence of these.
What are dynamic phrases?
In the four “dead critic” examples, only the first and the fourth involve the actor consciously playing the action to kill the critic. The difference between them is that the first is a single bit, while the fourth is this larger unit of performance.
What is a scenic action?
This advanced acting technique involves seeming to juggle two or more deliberate actions at once, creating a multi-layered performance that feels natural and human.
What is a supplementary action?
A famous example of a long and complex aside is Hamlet’s reflection beginning with this line.
What is “Oh what a rogue and peasant slave am I…”?
In the example from The Wiz, Dorothy’s mother avoids dead air when Dorothy agrees too soon by renewing her persuasion until she sees this sign of genuine surrender.
What is a warm smile and a cuddle?
In performance, “broadcasting” is not the same as this, which requires sharing information with someone, rather than just speaking words aloud.
What is communicating?
Romeo’s attempt to stop a fight, which tragically results in Mercutio’s death, is a famous Shakespearean example of this principle.
What is an unintended by-product of an action?
When a performer must approach their objective indirectly, similar to a sailor zigzagging against the wind, they are engaging in this kind of scene.
What is a tacking scene?
During an aside, performers must avoid stalling or breaking rhythm; instead, they should enter and return smoothly, a skill that requires this kind of planning.
What is thinking ahead?
Backtracks require performers to recognize and correct lapses in conflict, usually identified at this stage of the production process.
What are rehearsals?
The push–pull model of energy in theatre is compared to both rocket launches and political manipulation. Hitler used “push” by exploiting a ruined economy, and “pull” by doing this.
What is giving people scapegoats or enemies to zero in on?
Playing the action “to ignore” directly risks making the audience miss the intention. Instead, having the actor window-shop so that the snub is clear to spectators is an example of achieving the effect this way.
What is through a by-product process?