8.2 Analyzing and rehearsing two-person scenes

Two-person scenes are the building blocks of dramatic storytelling. They require actors to delve deep into character motivations, relationships, and conflicts. Understanding these elements is crucial for creating authentic, engaging performances.

Analyzing and rehearsing these scenes involves breaking them down into beats, exploring character objectives, and experimenting with different interpretations. Through this process, actors develop a nuanced understanding of their characters and the scene's dramatic structure, leading to more compelling performances.

Character Objectives and Relationships

Analyzing Character Motivations

Top images from around the web for Analyzing Character Motivations

• 

  Story arcs beyond TV [Thinking] View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trait Theorists – General Psychology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Keller’s ARCS Model: Integrating Ideas About Motivation | Educational Psychology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Story arcs beyond TV [Thinking] View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trait Theorists – General Psychology View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Analyzing Character Motivations

• 

  Story arcs beyond TV [Thinking] View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trait Theorists – General Psychology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Keller’s ARCS Model: Integrating Ideas About Motivation | Educational Psychology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Story arcs beyond TV [Thinking] View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trait Theorists – General Psychology View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Character objectives drive a character's actions and motivations within a scene
  • Short-term goals (get a promotion)
  • Long-term desires (find true love)
• Tactics employed to achieve objectives often change throughout the scene as obstacles arise
  • Persuasion
  • Manipulation
  • Confrontation
• Character arcs track the emotional and psychological journey within the scene
  • Reveal growth or change
  • Show resistance to change
  • Demonstrate shifts in perspective

Understanding Character Dynamics

• Relationships between characters defined by history, power dynamics, and emotional connections
  • Influence interactions and conflicts
  • Shape dialogue and subtext
• Given circumstances encompass the situational context of the scene
  • Time period
  • Location
  • Prior events shaping character behavior
• Subtext reveals deeper character intentions and feelings beneath surface dialogue
  • Nonverbal cues
  • Tone of voice
  • Pauses and silences

Scene Breakdown and Conflict

Identifying Scene Structure

• Beats mark the smallest units of action within a scene
  • Shifts in tactics, objectives, or emotional states
  • Usually correspond to a single exchange or moment
• Overall dramatic structure typically includes introduction, rising action, climax, and denouement
  • Each section contains multiple beats
  • Builds tension and engagement
• Rising action escalates tension and stakes, building towards a climax or turning point
  • Intensifying conflicts
  • Revealing new information
  • Increasing emotional investment

Analyzing Conflict and Resolution

• Conflict drives drama, arising from opposing character objectives or internal struggles
  • External conflicts (character vs. character, character vs. environment)
  • Internal conflicts (character vs. self)
• Turning points alter the direction of conflict or characters' perspectives
  • Major revelations
  • Unexpected events
  • Shifts in power dynamics
• Resolution addresses conflicts, leading to changes in circumstances or understanding
  • May not fully resolve all issues
  • Can set up future conflicts
  • Provides emotional catharsis or new questions

Rehearsal Plan for Acting

Character and Scene Exploration

• Character development explores backgrounds, motivations, and emotional journeys
  • Hot seat exercises
  • Character biographies
  • Relationship mapping
• Table work involves in-depth script analysis and discussion before active rehearsals
  • Establish shared understanding of scene objectives
  • Discuss themes and subtext
  • Clarify any ambiguities in the text
• Improvisation exercises explore character relationships and scene possibilities
  • "What if" scenarios
  • Character-building exercises
  • Exploring alternative outcomes

Staging and Technical Elements

• Blocking plans movement and positioning of actors on stage
  • Support dramatic intentions
  • Reflect character relationships
  • Enhance visual storytelling
• Pacing encompasses rhythm and tempo of the scene
  • Variations in speech patterns
  • Strategic pauses
  • Physical action timing
• Technical elements integrated early in rehearsal process
  • Props
  • Costumes
  • Set pieces
• Regular run-throughs scheduled with specific focus areas
  • Character consistency
  • Emotional arcs
  • Technical integration

Acting Choices and Interpretation

Exploring Performance Techniques

• Stanislavski's Method of Physical Actions emphasizes concrete, purposeful actions
  • Generate authentic emotions
  • Create believable reactions
  • Establish character truthfulness
• Emotional recall techniques draw upon personal experiences
  • Inform character portrayals
  • Deepen emotional connections
  • Enhance authenticity of performance
• Viewpoints technique explores movement, spatial relationships, and tempo variations
  • Shape
  • Gesture
  • Architecture
  • Spatial relationship
  • Tempo

Experimenting with Interpretations

• "Playing the opposite" explores contrasting choices to initial interpretations
  • Reveal new character depths
  • Uncover unexpected relationship dynamics
  • Challenge preconceived notions about the scene
• Status exercises experiment with different power dynamics between characters
  • Affect interactions
  • Alter overall tone of the scene
  • Reveal hidden character motivations
• Textual analysis from different perspectives yields alternative interpretations
  • Feminist theory
  • Postcolonial theory
  • Queer theory
• Acting choices encompass decisions about character physicality, vocal qualities, and emotional responses
  • Posture and movement
  • Accent and speech patterns
  • Reactive expressions and gestures