By: David James

David James — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:16:18 +0000

Ty
What an absolutely marvelous topic of discussion.There are so many levels and layers to consider when attempting to do so. The first thing you have to remember is the first rule in acting. Be believable. Where it gets really challenging is when your character exhibits drunken behavior that is totally different from you. Example in a broad sense. Some are happy drunks some are sad and some are mean. I believe you mentioned that. If you get very happy and animated when you drink in real life,it’s quite a challenge to be a brooding drunk. Ask yourself many questions before you begin making choices. The same as you should be in all your scenes. First of all is your character a drunk, or is he just drunk in this or other scenes. If your character is a functioning alcoholic your choices would most likely be subtle but very definite and always evident.To the point if he is ever sober it would have theatrical meaning. Brick is an example of an individual of great adventure. His drinking simply magnifies his anger and at the same time washes all the guilt away about it. He speaks of getting that click in his head that he is trying to achieve with his drinking.We as an audience do not get to know it until he tells us. We do not realize we are watching a drunk because we do not know who he really is. Not until he tells us. Yet for the actor to be true to Williams he must be drunk.This brings up the other question that must be asked by the actor. Why is the character drunk? Then all sub questions. Is it your intention to get drunk? are you trying to get attention or are you trying to hide it? I guess there are hundreds of elements to doing it full justice it is not an easy exercise. But Ty could not be more right in saying how easily one can become a caricature. My personal general advice is remember no matter what the play is. whether it is comedy or drama or anything else. A person that is a drunk or is very obviously drunk is a tragic figure. If the play write deems to write such a character ask yourself this. who is this character when no one is around? What does he do when he is alone? and if he drinks when no one is with him does he behave the same. The greatest performance I ever witnessed was as a first year student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Harry Dean Anderson A.K.A. Mcguyver played the drunk in Bus Stop in his senior year showcase. He had maybe ten fifteen lines. He absolutely stole the show and gave me a memory I will never forget. Because he was so believable. I hope I have not bored you I know this was long winded.
Thank You
David James

Comments on: Are You A Good Drunk?

By: David James