I am NOT liking my new play. What do I do?

Question

I just finished playing the lead role with my community theatre, and now I only have a twelve line role. It was the only role for a teenaged girl, but I still feel at loose ends going from over 260 lines to 12, and suddenly being a "nobody character" (please refrain from using the "no small parts" line). I feel like I have lost my place a bit. It is a very large show with over 40 people (a production of Tom Sawyer, and I play Cousin Mary), and almost no one has more than 5 lines. The exceptions are Tom, Huck Finn, Aunt Polly, Sid, Becky and Injun Joe. Other people are feeling this way too. Former stars in past plays are no just the ensemble. How can I feel better about a small, uninteresting role?

Answer 1

The others all have good advice, but I'd like to add this: remember to act.



While there is a story being told by the playwright, it is important to remember in any size role that the story YOU are telling is YOUR CHARACTER's story. You should be acting just as much in a smaller role as you would in a larger one.



When you're on stage, be in the moment and react to the action honestly as your character would. Even if you don't have a line of dialogue, you're still on stage for a reason and you still have thoughts and feelings about the things going on around you, and you should concentrate on playing them in a believable way (without upstaging others or pulling focus when you shouldn't).



That means doing homework, though, even if it's just time spent thinking about the role. Who the heck IS Cousin Mary? What's going on in her life? Since it sounds like you don't get much help from the script in answering that question, you get to make up the answers yourself. And there may be more clues in the original Mark Twain novels or in Twain's personal history, so doing some reading and research couldn't hurt.



When you're on stage, why are you there? Where did you just come from and where are you going next? What is your relationship to every other character in the show? What is it that you want most (in that scene and in the whole show)? What are you most afraid of? Are you nice? Are you mean? Are you hiding something from one or more other characters? Are you in love with another character? What is your own character arc? Who are you at the beginning of the play and who are you at the end? Did you change/learn/grow/win/lose? How and why?



Yes, it's a small role. And yes, it can feel like a drag if you've played larger roles. What it means, though, is that you have to be better at managing yourself--you're not going to get much character help from the script and you're not going to get much attention from the director during rehearsals. It is, however, a very good way to prove to yourself and others that you're actually an actor, and not just someone who stands on a stage and says words.



I'd also suggest you stop counting your lines (although, of course, sometimes there are so few you notice, anyway). It doesn't help anything, and can only make things worse for yourself or between you and other actors. Why bother?



So the play is called "Tom Sawyer" and there are a half-dozen actors in a cast of forty that speak the bulk of the dialogue. So what? None of that means that Cousin Mary can't be the most interesting character in the show. It's your job to make that happen. Doing it well will make the whole show better.



Break a leg.

Answer 2

Maybe if you remember that you're part of a team that is putting together a show to entertain people and that's your goal - maybe you'll have fun in the show. That's what the "there's no small part" line means. If acting is all about you instead of all about the work, the show, the production, the audience - then you're missing the point. Like people who go into acting for fame or for attention, you're bound to be disappointed.



Really good actors appreciate that they're part of a team - from the lead actors to the chorus to the teach crew to the set movers, to the front of house staff - everyone needs to work together to make a good production and a good experience for the audience. Your pride should come from doing the best you can do to make the production as good as it can be for the people who come.



And I get that this is a mature way of viewing acting that it's often hard for teens to get. I'm old - I was a professional actress for over 15 years, and often it's hard to work with teens because the focus is always on themselves instead of on the show. It's really a joy to work with mature teens that get the idea of team - and often they're the ones that will work professionally again. If you really are serious about acting - then it would be very helpful if you could change how you view things to be more about the show than about you. It really can be fun and fulfilling to be part of a team that does well. Acting is a team sport.



Good luck with the show!

Answer 3

Okay, I know I may lose credibility since I can't even remember who it was, but... There is an actor who was in a play once, too. I believe it was a local production or even school production. Two agents were sent to watch the lead, but instead they discovered him. He had one line in the whole play (no, I'm not kidding). But he was so amazing at that one line, and the rest of his time on stage, that both tried to represent him. That's a true story, I only wish I could remember the actor (I don't think it was anyone like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt, but they are fairly well known). So even though it's improbable that this will happen to you (sorry!), it's still a good illustration of the importance of doing your best, no matter the amount of lines you have.

Answer 4

first of all, think of all the people who would have loved your part. I mean, we can't all be the stars. It is humbling and awesome to go from 260 to 12 and you should feel that way. Second, you have to realize that sometimes the small parts can be the best characters and steal the show. Just put every bit of effort into Cousin Mary, and it will show. as Abraham Lincoln once said "Whatever you are, be a good one."

Answer 5

I have played much worse. If it was the same theatre company they would not give you a lead after having a lead. Just remember how many people would die to even be in the show. That's what I reminds

myself when I am and extra or small character.

Answer 6

I love indoor games the best. Truth or dare is always fun. I like games that involve foods on bodies too.