In my final year of college in my last acting class we were studying the the script “Mauritius” by Theresa Rebeck. Since there were only four of us students we had the luxury of spending 6 weeks studying only this play and the insight we gained was incredible.
I had never played a ‘bad guy’ before, and while my character Mary definitely wasn’t written as the worst behaved, at first glance she isn’t exactly a saint either. This character was outside my comfort zone and I wasn’t exactly thrilled. During one of our first runs off book my professor interrupted me.
“Stop it. You’re judging her.”
Unsure of what she meant, I lamely stared back.
“You’ve already decided she’s a ‘bad guy’ so you don’t like her, so you don’t want to play her and it’s showing. That’s why you’re having such a hard time.”
Those words were a turning point in my character development for that particular play and I was sufficiently humbled as an actor and individual.
One part of Stanisvalski’s method taught that there are given circumstances with every play and character; environmental and situational conditions that influence the actions the character undertakes. When it came to my character, Mary, I didn’t like or agree with her given circumstances that were written in the script. I didn’t understand her motive. I didn’t want to because it was different and it made me uncomfortable. Instead I tried to push through and force my opinion onto this fictional character. And I was stuck.
I couldn’t move forward until I tried see past her outer persona and into her written given circumstances. I recognized her core truth and how much it mirrored my own; she is striving to do the absolute best she can with her given circumstances while attempting to achieve her goals. Just like me. Just like any of us. That was the connection I needed. I didn’t have to agree with her tactics. I didn’t have to like them. But I needed to respect them. I needed to respect her.
Mary taught me there’s more to a person than just their actions. There is a past I don’t know about. There are fears and insecurities just like mine. There are needs and desires to be validated and honored. Just because I don’t understand another does not give me permission to judge them or the given circumstances in their life. The only thing judgement does is halt progress and generate mistrust. Instead, halt judgement and generate respect.
Thank you, Stanisvlaski. Thank you, professor. Thank you, Mary.
Sarah Lorna
SARAH LORNA BAILEY 