Character/Play Analysis

How to Play a Character

basic first step is to define the given circumstances

The given circumstances are the world in which the play takes place.
1. No moment exists for itself. It grows out of other moments that went before and sometimes
are expected to come after it. The more you understand about the characters interaction to that
world, the more concrete the performance. In the 50s air conditioning was rare. What difference
does that make in the play 12 angry men?
2. To understand that world. ask the right questions. (The 9 essential questions of
Stanislavski.)
a. Who am I? Make it as complete as possible, invent to fill in the blanks.
b. Where am I? Do you see, hear , smell all about the place that you are?
Describe it. How do you (Your character) feel about it? Is it familiar? What is your
history with this place?
c. What time is it? Year? time of day? how does it feel? For instance, the first
day of Winter? Christmas? How does your character respond to it?
d. What surrounds me? What can I see in this space? These may be living
persons and/or inanimate objects. Remember that sometimes inanimate objects
also remind us of people. Almost all the objects in your life have a history with
you.
e. What are the given circumstances? Exactly what do you know about the
situation that you are in right now, in detail. Past, present and future.
f. What is my relationship? To the people and even to the inanimate objects
that are around me.
g. What do I want? Overall objectives, character objectives by line and scene.
h. Whats in my way? The obstacles stopping me from completing the
objectives. The stronger and more specific this choice or choices is will determine
the strength and interest of your character. If nothing is in your way, get your
objective and get off the stage. Or find an obstacle.
i. What will I do to get what I want? This is both physical and emotional. How
important is it to you? Will you kill for it? Will you pay money to accomplish it? If
so,. how much? What lengths will you reach for this goal?
The following questions/ pointers are not part of the Stanislavski 9 Essential
questions but may help you find your character.
J. Who am I talking to? Make a history for the two of you. Fill it with details.
 k. What happened to me the moment before this scene happened. Even though
this may be the first scene in the play, something happened to your character in
the moment before the play started. Something that brought him/her here. Actors
frequently find it helpful to have the first line be the answer to an unspoken
question.
L. What is your view of the world? State it in one sentence if possible. This helps
you establish a value system for your character. People are basically
trustworthy. or All men are slime tell us something about the philosopher and
how they interact with other people. This belief is not something that you can
play, it must be anchored in action. But it affects how you respond to lots of
things.
3. Dont work for emotion. Let it be the natural result of what happens in the scene and to the
character. It is perfectly all right if you do not have the same emotional response each time you
do the scene. This is called playing the moment or staying in the moment and is a product of
doing the right things.
4. Dont make choices that are boring to play or watch, even if you believe they are natural. Why
would anyone want to watch a boring performance? We are attracted to energy and levels. The
more complex the choices, the more real the performance seems. Real people have conflicted
choices.
5. The more specific the choices, the better. Dont be afraid to risk, take a chance. Dont be
afraid to create. Thats what it is all about.
6. Enjoy the creating. It is fun. Thats why we call them plays.