<rant>
Comedy is way harder than drama. I've always found a very natural timing and comfort with comic roles, but the problem comes when I try to actually act in them. Shocking, but apparently it's possible to have an over-the-top, comic character come from an authentic place inside you. I would never have known, but for our Opera Characterization class, where I have to do exactly that. I've been watching my colleagues try it for a month now, and though I can see the positive result, I'm having a helluva time getting it myself.
It's one thing to play a straight man in comedy. That can be authentic. But the silly man? How can you make a caricature like Osmin into an authentic character?
</rant>
Sorry, had to get that off my chest. Anyone with suggestions on realism in comic characters, please post a comment!
Wed, 2006-11-29 11:49
Personally I prefer the dark, evil roles like Sweeney Todd. Somehow it's fun to be the bad guy with a dark side. But the bigger-than-life caricatures are fun, too. But harder, yes. I'm working on a show now where I play Lou Costello & do one of their routines. He was certainly a caricature, and trying to emulate a real-life person is harder than making one up from scratch.
I love to watch comedians like Jim Carrey and Danny Kaye. They have an amazing ability to portray authentic and sympathetic cartoon-like caracters. Watch their movies like Liar Liar, or The Court Jester, and you'll find they are amazingly believable buffoons.
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»Wed, 2006-11-29 14:10
that's a great idea! What's more, you get to watch funny movies and call it research!
Seriously though, I'm going to try that. Good idea!
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