I love the Kick the Box idea!
I've been searching for the phrase that describes this problem of dropping pitch and volume at the end of a line. So far I've only come across "thwipping" so I use that. I've also heard someone use the phrase "hold the dishes up"... Probs from someone wearing one of those shirts that says "I'm an actor. May I take your order?" But the idea of sustaining all the way out the door does resonate clearly enough to be useful.
Anyone got a descriptor other than thwipping?
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Douglas Rome
Director of Theatre Arts
Fairfax County Public Schools
Burke VA
Original Message:
Sent: 01-04-2017 10:08
From: Warren Kerr
Subject: Line exercises
One exercise I use is called "kick the box". I bring in used cardboard boxes and have one for each actor on stage. When they come to the last word of each line or sentence I tell them to kick the box, HARD. (making sure that nobody is in the direct line of fire) This makes the actor tense up enough so that the last bit of air escaping when forming the word is punctuated.
You can always dial that energy down once they get in the habit of pushing a little harder at the end of the line. It has worked for me very well.
Warren
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Warren Kerr
Theatre Arts Teacher
Auburn School District
Auburn WA
Original Message:
Sent: 01-04-2017 09:40
From: Susan Nieten
Subject: Line exercises
I have sat in the audience and rang a bell everytime it happens. It helps them realize the problem and keeps them thinking about it. Then, they make the correction so they don't get "called out" by the bell. When they stop thinking about it, the bell starts ringing again. With some students it has taken a few rehearsals to break the bad habit, so I'll train a promoter to listen for the issue; that frees me up.
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Susan Nieten
Theatre Teacher
Noblesville High School
@NHSTheatre @mrsnieten
Original Message:
Sent: 01-03-2017 14:56
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Line exercises
Favorite exercises to get actors to experiment with a wider variety of tone and pitch in their lines? I am especially looking for ways to help them break the habit of dropping pitch at the end of their lines. Our production is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and they're having trouble across the board. Thanks!
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Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Fishersville VA
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