1. Over Exaggerate Facial Expressions

Pantomime Unit

How to Pantomime:

1. Over exaggerate facial expressions

2. Make gestures bigger than life. In pantomime objects are almost always involved. But, your objects are not real, they are pantomimes (meaning your item is invisible and you will have to use your body to shape it as if it was there). You will not have real props available, so understand the five qualities of objects and how to Incorporate them into your performance:

a. Weight- To show the weight of an object, use your muscles and movement to show straining or flexing.

b. Size- Be reasonable with the size of the object you are pantomiming.

c. Shape- The shape of objects is also a very important factor. You may not be able to show the exact shape of every object though.

d. Consistency- Make sure nothing changes throughout the performance. Keep objects the same size and shape, put things back in the same place that you got them, etc.

e. Resistance- Make movements sharp and crisp.

3. Develop a character

4. Tell a story! Make your scene simple, yet entertaining!

Practice: Gestures

1) REAL OBJECTS.

2) PICKING UP A FLOWER: Start standing neutral. STOP ONE – See the flower. STOP TWO – touch the flower with two fingers. STOP THREE – Pluck the flower by the stem from its roots. STOP FOUR – Smell the flower. Finish with a reaction (Ah that smells good OR uh-oh I have horrible allergies)

3) PICKING UP A GLASS/CUP: Similar to the flower, see it, touch it, pick it up. But every cup/glass is different. Try picking up a coffee cup. Fast food soda. Fancy dinner goblet. Etc. See if you notice how you react to the type, size and weight of each cup.

4) BUILD A ROOM: One player enters a blank performance space. Performing a basic task, the player establish at least one piece of furniture defining the space. After 20-30 second the player exits the room. Player two enters the space, performing a new task and adding a new piece of furniture (or appliance etc.). Player two has to honor best possible the location, size and quality of anything player one established

5) MAGIC BOX. Reach into the box and pull out an object. The audience will guess what the object is based on your reaction and your believability.