The Green Room - The Role of Your Life

Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 11:27am

Cheeky Monkey Offline
Diva
Austin, TX

Gender:
Posts: 7832

What has been the role of your life? One role that really made an impact on you, whether it on your life personally or maybe on your craft in general.

Mine was Brigid Mary Mangan from Little Moon of Alban. It was the hardest and most rewarding role I have ever played. It�s one that really put me through an emotional ringer�her fianc� gets killed early on in the show, among other trials�but helped me realize that maybe I could really do this acting thing.

"Depends. Did you feel anything for the pumpkin? The midgets?" -Wildcard&&&&If Mary Matalin and James Carville can make it work, ANYONE can. The end.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 11:34am

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Ed Carmichael in "You Can't Take It With You" for so many reasons (not the least of which is that thios show is where I met my kidney donor, so this play quite literally saved my life).

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 11:40am

kitchensinger Offline
Ingenue
in my kitchen

Gender:
Posts: 912

Mary Magdalene in Savior of the World; it impacted me profoundly both personally and as an actor.

"I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."--Calvin Coolidge&&&&"Some families go water skiing together; others go camping.....our family does THEME PARTIES." --my brother Ben

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 2:40pm

fuutballer Offline
Ensemble
"Let's go see the roof,
it's upstairs!"
Happy Valley

Gender:
Posts: 396

Archie Craven in The Secret Garden. �That was the first part that really stretched me as an actor, and I finally had to dig deep and find the emotions needed for the part.

"The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her if she is pretty and to someone else if she is plain."

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 3:04pm

The Heathenist Offline
All Access
it's the bitch of living.
SALT LAKE CITY

Gender:
Posts: 1274

Che Che in Anna in the Tropics. I have NEVER had to work so hard to fully understand a character. He is an incredibly misunderstood character that in the end, kills a man, rapes a younger woman, and runs away before he is caught.

It was so challenging. The first time in rehearsals that I killed the other character, I ran off stage and just lost it. I could NOT stop crying. It was the strangest experience, and then i realized that I think that crying is the same reaction that this charachter would have had in real life.

I spent a lot of time during the rehearsal process and performance process defending my characters actions. Well not defending them, because they were obviously wrong things to do, but more trying to explain to the rest of the cast and audience members i got to talk to that yes, he made mistakes and did horrible things, but the society he grew up in and the people he worked with during the time that the play takes place...they were never cushioned, safe, comfortable places for him. Everyone in the play mocks him, disagrees with him and taunts him.

What I am trying to say is that even though he technically is the VILLAIN of the show, I grew to love and understand and sympathize with this character more than i ever thought i would. And I began to be disgusted by the people around him and the miserable world they created for him.

It is such a poetic and beautiful show, and it is well worth seeing or even reading if you get the chance. I mean it DID receive the pulitzer in 03.

Love if you can and be loved.&&&&You see what you look for, ya know?&&&&I like smiling, smiling's my favorite!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 4:04pm

BlueRoses Offline
Ensemble
I Love PA!
Salt Lake City

Gender:
Posts: 163

I played Laura in The Glass Menagerie (hence my username on this site is BlueRoses). It was an amazingly poignant and at times surreal/painful experience because each of the four actors in our show was dealing with issues in personal life that were very like his/her character. It was the first show I had done in several years because of panic attacks at auditions. The director was a former professor of mine who knew my ability level, believed in me, and pre-cast me in the role without my having to audition. Laura's insecurity and anxiety about her limp were similar to my own feelings. Unlike Laura at the end of the play, however, I was not crushed. It made me feel hopeful about my acting career. This role changed my life--literally. It boosted my confidence and ultimately opened the door to many amazing roles I've played since then.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Apr 3^rd, 2009 at 7:00pm

Hedgehog Offline
All Access
Who doesn't love a cuddly
hedgehog? WHO?!
Salt Lake City, UT

Gender:
Posts: 3549

Non-Speaking Tree #5 in The Wizard of Oz in Elementary.

Also playing Periodic Element "Xe"

And Stella in Streetcar Named Desire

Things are rarely "just crazy enough to work," but they are frequently "just crazy enough to fail hilariously. &&&&

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Apr 4^th, 2009 at 1:01pm

Lover of Trapdoors Offline
Scenery
To act is human. There
is no off-season.
The Fifth Cellar

Gender:
Posts: 3

Iago in Othello. I learned more about human nature than I had ever anticipated because of that role. It got to the point where I was having trouble sleeping at night because of it, and I finally reached a Patrick Bateman-like conclusion: "My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not wish for a better world for anybody. I want no one to escape." I think Iago knows there's no happy ending in sight for him. He couldn't care less about that. The only measure of satisfaction he can gain is that if he loses, everyone loses. He's the closest literary adaptation of the devil himself in my opinion.

« Last Edit: Apr 5^th, 2009 at 9:08am by Lover of Trapdoors »

"Lying is our business, and we know it when we see it."

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Apr 4^th, 2009 at 11:48pm

Toddy Offline
Diva
There's A Fairy Who Hides
In My Gaaaaaaarden!
Utah

Gender:
Posts: 4667

Charlie in "On Golden Pond." I closely related to this character on so many levels. It really stretched me as an actor to let go of all my inhibitions and insecurities and let the real me show through. And it helped a lot that I had such a wonderful director in Kathryn Little.

Crazy world, full of crazy contradictions like a child; first you drive me wild, and then you win my heart with your wicked art; one minute tender, gentle; then tempramental as a summer storm; just when I believe your heart's getting warmer. Your cold and your cruel, and I like a fool try to cope. Try to hang on to hope. Crazy world, everyday the same old roller coaster ride, but I've got my pride, I won't give in; even though I know I'll never win. Oh how I love this, crazy world! -- Henry Mancini

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #9 - Apr 5^th, 2009 at 2:17pm

Nuff Sed Offline
Ensemble
They like me, they really
like me! Wait..... Nope!
WVC, UT

Gender:
Posts: 149

Creature in Frankenstein... the role required me to draw on so much. From pantomime to viciousness then to tenderness and the full gamut of emotions in between.

Spank you very much.... � � �Nuff' Sed!

Back to top

IP Logged

BackStage Utah