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What are your limits? |
Katwoman
Joined: May 09, 2005
Posts: 346 |  Posted: 2010-07-28 11:24
Someone told me the other day when I gave him a costume to wear that he 'hadn't signed up for camp'. Which given that (a) the costume was vaguely military (b) this was SLT, I found a little surprising and possibly a misapprehension of what acting is about. So, just how far are you prepared to go on stage (no not that)?
Would you:
- wear a costume that you knew made you look stupid / fat / unattractive because it was right for the character
- hire / buy a costume at outrageous expense because you wanted to 'get it right'
- wear cross-gender clothing (if you're not someone who does drag up)
- wear a swimsuit or underwear
- wear nothing at all?
Would you
- wear outrageous makeup
- a wig
- dye,cut or grow your hair
- grow 'period' facial hair?
Would you
- lose weight
- gain weight
- wear a fat suit?
Or anything else that I've probably missed.
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darkling
Joined: Oct 23, 2006
Posts: 455
From: SLT
| Posted: 2010-07-28 11:28
Gain weight... That's about it...
Apart from that, anything goes...
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Helen
Joined: Jul 23, 2001
Posts: 3512
From: South London Theatre
| Posted: 2010-07-28 11:29
Hmm. I think other than (deliberately) getting fatter or going naked (shudder), I've done all of the above!
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Jenny G
Joined: Dec 12, 2003
Posts: 1743
From: Jenny Gammon
| Posted: 2010-07-28 11:56
I've never grown 'period' facial hair - if I have people are being very polite about it - and I'm fat enough these days not to need putting on anymore. Apart from that I've done all of the above at some time or another.
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Helen
Joined: Jul 23, 2001
Posts: 3512
From: South London Theatre
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:01
Ah yes, good point, I hadn't spotted that you had to have actually grown period facial hair. Although I have worn period facial hair ...
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YellowBlazer
Joined: May 21, 2007
Posts: 506
From: SLT
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:04
Some actors are just very sensitive. You only have to so much as suggest that they audition for the role of an 18 stone lesbian and they get all offended.
Nudity, check (but that was the Edinburgh Fringe so it was quite standard). Unattractive costume, check. Facial hair...no, but I shaved my chest for Elegies. And the only person who noticed was Ed.
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Clarisinda
Joined: Jul 29, 2004
Posts: 1269
From: SLT
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:10
I have done quite a few of the above, and would be quite happy to wear pretty much anything - or not. Ditto wigs and make up. I would be very reluctant to cut or dye my hair though because it takes years to grow it out again, and I wouldn't put on weight intentionally. I probably wouldn't promise to lose weight either.
I find when doing costumes for a show actors tend to fall into one of the following categories:
a) Actors who know far more about costumes than I do, have researched it in great historical detail, bring in samples and photographs of what they think they should look like, etc. These people I can happily leave to sort their own costume out knowing it will be perfect to a point that even Val can't find anything wrong with it. Perhaps surprisingly, these people are usually men.
b) Actors who take their costume seriously, but are far more concerned that they look attractive on stage than that their costume is authentic/appropriate. Unsurprisingly these people are usually women. They tend to bring in their own clothes in and attempt to persuade you that really their 1990's skirt could pass for 1700's because they think their bum doesn't look too big in it. Best way of dealing with them is to try figure out what their actual issues are and tactfully negotiate the best compromise you can between the costume you would choose and them not feeling too uncomfortable on stage. In extreme cases they customise their costumes to meet their quirks in the run up to the show, which you have little control over...
c) Actors who don't really have a clear idea of what they ought to be wearing, but are game to try absolutely anything I suggest and happily spend an hour in wardrobe trying on everything as I suggest and reject a long series of costumes until we find the right thing. I like these people.
d) Actors who really, really don't care about costumes, who clearly think that time spent in wardrobe is a waste of valuable rehearsal time, and if left to their own devices would grab the first thing that came to hand, no matter how inappropriate, then get back to the important business of acting. I truely don't understand these people. However they tend to be pretty compliant and will wear pretty much anything you hand them.
 
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Jason
Joined: Aug 26, 2005
Posts: 264
From: Islington
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:24
Interesting question.
Personally, the wardrobe part of the theatre hobby is my least favourite. Trying things on and dressing up generally is little or no fun to me.
I suspect this makes me unusual though (in SLT).
I am always in awe of, and very grateful to, those who know what they are doing in this area.
So I would hope that I would be considered a (c) if I were to be categorised by Michelle in her post above...
[ This Message was edited by: Jason on 2010-07-28 12:40 ]
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Helen
Joined: Jul 23, 2001
Posts: 3512
From: South London Theatre
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:35
Although as a proviso, if my character IS supposed to be attractive, and the costume chosen is uncomfortable, unflattering, doesn't fit, or something similar, I will (and have) said something. Hopefully not in a stroppy way, but it's important to feel that the costume is right for the part you're supposed to be playing ...
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jennymac
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Posts: 273
From: South London Theatre
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:35
Great question, Lisa.
I would, and have done pretty much everything on your list. The costume and make-up process really helps in rounding out the character for me. So I am an attention to detail person, down to researching and buying appropriate underwear, finding a wig to replicate a portrait etc.
These days, I would have to draw the line at making major changes to my actual physical appearance: shaving my head, for example, or dying my hair purple would not be appropriate for me professionally, so that's off the list. For health reasons, I would not put on weight deliberately either and certainly not for a 5-night run. Pad me up, by all means.
So... unflattering/uncomfortable costumes, underwear, nudity, wigs... no worries.
x
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Katwoman
Joined: May 09, 2005
Posts: 346 | Posted: 2010-07-28 12:39
I am pretty sure I have asked people to do most of the things I mentioned above as a director, though not all in one production. (And I have never asked a woman to grow facial hair or anyone to gain or lose weight.) I have been amazed at the extent to which many people have been prepared to put themselves out for a role.
And yet, in certain cases, I've also been surprised by how a performer's sense of themself and how they perceive themselves (as well as, in some cases, personal comfort) will override all other considerations (point 2 of Michelle's) so that they end up wearing what they want to, regardless of whether it is right for the character or fits the period or the spirit of the production.
Doing costume, I've also been astounded by how some people don't actually know how to dress - tie a tie, wear a belt in the right place, button a jacket.
People like Jason are fine though because you can give them a costume, secure in the knowledge that they'll wear it just so they don't have to try anything else on.
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Rocko
Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 324
From: SLT
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:42
Personally, I won't take a part that requires full nudity. There are all sorts of jokes that I could make about not giving the audience very good value for money, but it’s something that really doesn’t appeal to me (not least because it may end up being an unflatteringly chilly January production). One that I’ve done in the past but won’t do again is the cross-dressing side of things, as I put long-suffering family members through enough of that with A Midsummer Night’s Dream...
Generally, I do what I’m told by the costume person and/or director, as they know far more than I do and I have to trust that they will do their best to make sure that I look appropriate for the part.
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Naomi
Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 1523
From: South London Theatre
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:48
I think I'd do pretty much any of the above other than gain weight.
Oh, and I'd never, under any circumstances, ever, wear a swimsuit. That's not going to be a problem is it Lisa? 
Oh...hang on....
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Stevie
Joined: Jul 14, 2010
Posts: 22
From: South London Theatre
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:51
You mean it's possible to grow facial hair during a period!?
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darkling
Joined: Oct 23, 2006
Posts: 455
From: SLT
| Posted: 2010-07-28 12:52
No Stevie. No. Bad Stevie.
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