Improve your understanding of movement
Read the following scenario from William Shakespeare鈥檚 play, As You Like It. Answer the question then check your response against the sample answer.
Question
At this point in the play, the character Rosalind is in breeches, playing the part of a young man, Ganymede. Rosalind has been telling Phoebe to be grateful for the love of her admirer, Silvus when she suddenly realises that Phoebe is looking at her in an admiring way. It becomes quite clear that Phoebe is in love with the imaginary Ganymede (really Rosalind). Rosalind needs to reject Phoebe subtly without revealing her true identity.
Describe what movements you would suggest to the actress playing the role.
It鈥檚 essential that Rosalind stays within her male disguise here. I would instruct the actress to stride confidently with a long gait when moving across the stage. She should use broad, exaggerated and manly steps. She could also reinforce this attitude by placing her hands on her hips when standing still. Done well, this should also provide some comedy for the audience.
At the beginning of the extract, before she realises Phoebe admires her, Rosalind could stand close to her. Once Phoebe starts to show her admiration, Rosalind could gradually back away and show her dawning realisation and horror that Phoebe has fallen for her. It's important that she should show to the audience that she thinks the situation ridiculous by using facial expressions such as subtle eye-rolling, while being careful not to reveal her true identity to Phoebe.
Rosalind could also briefly 'forget' that she's playing a man and drop into a more feminine stance. She could clasp her hands together and smooth her hair which would also create comedy for the audience.
When Rosalind realises she's 'lost character' as Ganymede, she should snap rather clumsily back to her male persona and stride confidently with an exaggerated swagger. She should keep a physical distance from Phoebe to emphasise that 鈥楪anymede鈥 doesn't want her. She could also cross her arms when speaking to Phoebe to show she鈥檚 鈥榖locking鈥 her physically.