Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Paul Mockovak
As performers we train for years to perfect and hone our talents. But
obviously talent alone is not enough so we must train to acquire a solid technique, a
way or process of performing. One could say there is style, how it is done, and there
is the technique to perform the style. Thats what I understand the difference of
The four basic styles of theatre are as such comedy, tragedy, melodrama and
drama. The style is how the types of theatre are defined. More of what we are
working with today as actors is realism. Its the idea that the play or theatrical work
is as real as this reality. The costumes are authentic to the time period, the
characters believable, and the settings are based in reality. More people tend to
identify with realism because it is just like every day. However this realism trend is
very new to our world of theatre and although effective to audiences, I think that it
doesnt challenge people in the way that some other style such as Brechtian or Epic
theatre would. Another style of theatre is Naturalism. This is the heightened and
extreme realism in the theatre that likes to place its focus on subject matter that is
typically not explored on the stage. With movement that is theatrical, characters
subjected to their own circumstances and done in real time with the plot moving in
time with real time. These are styles of theatre and subsequently one could say that
the style informs the technique. What I mean by this is that one could use particular
techniques that not only work for them, but also work for the style.
Style and technique can overlap, intertwine and support each other. The first
thing that comes to mind is the style of Shakespeare. You could say that one uses a
classical acting technique to perform Shakespeare, but I think that the style of
Shakespeare should be performed in a specific way in ode to the writing. When you
break down Shakespeare you can see they style that he wants. Iambic pentameter
informs the style. Style is broad, and there are many various techniques that can
help execute the style in a direct way. For example modern dance is a style of dance,
but there are many techniques that derive from the style of modern dance. The style
of modern dance generally looks like modern but the technique adds specific
nuances that inform the audience of how the performer is articulating the style. To
accomplishing the task of style. Without the style to apply technique to the
technique is just that, but when you add it to the style it is performed in the most
efficient way for each individual person. We practice technique in the studio,
whether it be breaking down how to turn the correct way, or going through an
acting technique process. Style is already intrinsically there, however we can learn
the style by studying it. Specifically in Pirates of Penzance the style is specific to
characters are over the top melodramatic but fully immersed in their own world.
Tom has said over and over again to not comment on the style. This is imperative in
Pirates of Penzance because if you comment on the style the joke is lost.
Commenting on the style in this instance would be for example switching out a
sword for a rubber chicken, and brining attention to it by noticing it. The funny
aspect of this style is that the characters are given certain bits that only the audience
is supposed to notice; the characters all think its normal. The technique used in
Pirates is that of melodramatic over the top acting and sung with a classical
technique (open throat, soft palate lifted unless for comedic effect, and turned over
lofty sound).
Style and technique go hand in hand. There is no conflict between the two, it
done. Style can exist without technique and vice versa, but the real magic in theatre