CHAPTER 2Pantomime and Mime

Instructional objectives To master the basic principles of

pantomime and apply them to common stage actions

To recognize and practice conventional mim actions and exercises

To use facial expressions and gestures to enhance a characterization

To differentiate between mime and pantomime

Hunters and warriors To tell a story they used

Movements Gestures Facial expressions

Modern Drama Includes two forms of silent acting:

Pantomime Mime Often used interchangeably, the styles are

different. Non-verbal communication is the core to

pantomime and mime. Smile, happy Blow a kiss to say goodbye Fingers to our lips, silence

Pantomime Activity Visualize watching a live sporting event if

someone describe details of what the actual work and the actions of the audience then select a small group of students to paint them are a particular sport. The remaining students should try to name the sport they are watching. They should be in describe details from the pain to mine that are indicative of that particular sport, such as head movements, hand gestures, and facial expressions. As a variation have the students act as an audience in response to the action of the sporting event. This

Relaxation exercise, page 28

Relaxation exercises are not only useful but he also improves mental and physical well-being.

Relaxation is a foundation of acting; using relaxation techniques in voice and diction should be used throughout the course.

Posture exercise page 30 Identify a person or a group of people

who typically have good posture. Check your own posture by standing with

your back and shoulders touching the wall and your heels approximately 3 inches from a wall

What kind of walk is it? Identify the following: Walking barefoot across a gravel road Walking on the surface of the moon Walking into the cafeteria on your first

day at a new school Walking down a sidewalk holding a leash

of a large, rambunctious dog

Crossing, turning, and falling

Visualize a character who might be in a situation in which he or she would have to cross, turn, or fall.

Experiment with shy, confident, strong-willed, or retiring type persons.

Experiment with different types of falls: a comic fall, a melodramatic fall, a heroic or tragic fall, and so on.

Gestures divide into groups with each group

performing the following exercise: You have picked up a bottle of ketchup

and unscrew the lead in order to pour some on a hamburger. At first now ketchup comes out, but then suddenly a large quantity floods your food.

After each group performs discuss different ways individuals react to the same stimulant stimulants.

Gestures exercise You are a police officer at a busy

intersection that has lost its traffic light to a power outage. Traffic is backed up in all directions, and drivers are impatient you tried to conceal your hostility for the honking drivers while calmly directing the traffic. For this exercise have students work in payers; one student will be the native, the other a foreigner. If time permits have them switch roles

Gestures, continued You are in a foreign country where you do

not speak the language. You hesitate to approach a stranger, but finally you see a friendly looking person. Using hand and arm gestures as well as a facial expression try to show that you are hungry would like to know of any nearby restaurants.

Pantomime expressions As one student follows the instructions in

the text have the other student pantomime reactions to that emotion. For example, if one student pantomimes rage in the first exercise, the other might repack either with aggression, fear, or scorn. Have students take turns and being the initiator or the reactor. Try to identify the emotion being portrayed.

Characterization exercises page 41

Two students For exercise two, have students and ask

these scenes in different ways—melodramatically or comically, for example.

How many different ways can we enact a scene.

Pantomime the following: Actions of a

baseball player a chef A dentist A carpenter A sales clerk A mail carrier A fisherman

A quarterback A new dad A new mom Secretary A doctor A spoiled child Basketball player

who is a ball hog

Physical properties Size Shape Weight Resistance Texture Placement Condition

Brick Empty box Soft pillow Small stuffed

animal Ball Bearing

Homework Bring a ball to class Baseball Jacks ball Tennis ball Golf ball Basketball Racquetball softball

First Observe What is it look like

when it rolls And when it’s

tossed And when it

‘served When it’s hitPut all outside. Two

people pick one ball and pantomime the time the ball used

Pantomime foods Pantomime handling were eating foods of

different sizes, temperatures, and textures. Thigulpings might include:

Crisp crackers Sloppy sandwiches Sticky taffy Scalding soup Mashed potatoes tests

Pantomime real activities Daily activities Family member

Build a house of cards Four people sit at a table building a

house of cards. Emotion is run high as the house gets taller. Only chairs can be used as props. The goal is to help others “see” the table, the cards and the cardhouse.

Group Pantomime Guests at a fancy dinner party are seated

around a lovely table while they are being served food and drink. One by one, each guest discovers that the food they were served taste terrible. The host s seem unaware of the problem, so the guest s tried to be gracious and polite. Each tries to avoid eating the food without calling attention to the action (See next slide).

Which One?THE 5 MINUTE SPECIAL MORE TIME Students should be

able to show moods by this time.

A definite beginning and end

Distinct characters whose expressions, gestures and actions reveal character and mood.

Clear, simple movements that are purposeful and motivated

Vocabulary Relaxation Surprise Click Inclination Charlie Chaplin Illusory walk Pantomime Chest Gesture Nonverbal communication Rotation Happiness fingertips

Mummenschanz Woman shuns Resistance Isolation Anger Combination Sadness Marcel Marceau Kinesthesis Eyes Cross Preparatory action

VocabularyRELAXATION SURPRISE A combination of

inner composure, mental awareness, and physical flexibility; the act of “letting go all over”

The emotion conveyed when eyes widen, brows lift, and the mouth forms in the shape of an O.

Vocabulary“CLICK” INCLINATION The setting up of an

action with definite hand movements; for example, the snap of a mime’s hand around a glass

The bending of the body to the front, the side, or the rear

VocabularyCHARLIE CHAPLIN ILLUSORY WALK a silent film star who

was a master of pantomime

A basic mind convention; the mind uses exaggerated movement to appear to be walking

VocabularyPANTOMIME CHEST The art of imitating

real-life actions with out using words

The body part where most movements begin

VocabularyGESTURE RESISTANCE Hand and arm

movements and facial expressions that help and express an idea or an emotion

A term for the firmness or its solidity of an object in opposition to outside force

VocabularyISOLATION ANGER The separation of

parts of the body for individual development and expression

The emotion conveyed when eyes narrow, brows furrow, and jaw sets firmly

VocabularyMUMMENSCHANZ EYES the Swiss- trained

mime Troupe that initiated the use of special props and non-traditional objects in mime

One of the body parts in most mimes emphasize with makeup

VocabularyCROSS PREPARATORY ACTION To move from one

place to another on stage

A movement opposite to the action that the mime wants the audience to follow

VocabularyMIME SADNESS The art form that

does not precisely imitate real live physical action but gives an illusion of that action

The emotion conveyed when eyes narrow, counter brows and mouth turn downward, and facial muscles sag

VocabularyMARCEL MARCEL KINESTHESIS The Frenchman who

is one of the best known mimes in history

The neuromuscular awareness that you feel when your body is in a particular position

VocabularyNONVERBAL COMMUNICATION ROTATION The general term for

expressing ideas and emotions without using words; the essence of pantomime and mine

The turning or pivoting of a part of the body such as the head or a chest

VocabularyHAPPINESS FINGERTIPS the emotion

conveyed when eyes squint, brows lift, and mouth curves upward

The body parts where all arm movements must end