Around the World in 80 Days, and Staying in Character

Courtesy of www.aroundtheworldinnyc.com

Last week I had a thoroughly enjoyable time seeing a re-make of the Jules Verne Classic "Around the World in 80 Days" in a wonderful off-broadway production. Directed by Rachel Klein,  the play involves 39 characters comedically and convincingly portrayed by 5 actors. The cast includes Shirine Babb, Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio, Stephen Guarino , and Bryce Ryness 

Set in victorian England, the story is about a wager that the aristocratic and virtuous Phileas Fogg and his unconditionally devoted servant Passepartout enter into for a very large sum. The bet that challenges them is to circle the globe by whatever means possible and return back to London in 80 days. Unknowingly pursued by a detective who is convinced that Fogg is a bank robber on the run, the adaptible, quick-witted twosome travel 4 continents and 3 oceans in a fast paced romp to achieve their goal. There is never a dull moment!

Everything about this production was excellent including some very creative set design. What impressed me the most was the high caliber of the acting and how each character stayed in character with unfliching commitment. Even with the portrayal of many multiple personalities, each character was 100% convincing, with a clear motivation, emotions that were easy to identify with and an embodiment of that  character physically so that each character, even though played by the same actor in multiple roles was a distinct entity. Wow! 

I have always told my students that not all actors are singers, but ALL singers are actors. This is a concept that is the same no matter what genre of singing you're performing. The commitment to your song or role must be real to you and unflinching. It struck me while watching this performance that good acting does not come from our heads or through our deliberate thinking but by being committed to our character, and that this committment is a physical, sensory one, so that each phrase we sing comes out with an authenticity that is undeniable to the audience. I've noticed in some of my beginning students that when they "try" to sing in character it often comes across as just that, "effort". Whatever you are actually feeling is what comes across when you sing, no matter what you tell yourself.

According to Thomas de Mallet Burgess here are some points for the singer to consider--

How can the text and subtext of a work be truthful in every part of the body and voice?

How can the singer maintain focus and emotional intensity during fixed silences (musical rests) of varying lengths, or instrumental sections where there is no singing?

A starting point is to speak the words of your song slowly and  thoughtfully as a monologue. Each breath you take as you speak can be thought of as an emotion that you feel physically in your body. Now see how that emotion can color your voice automatically as you speak your text. It's as if the words you speak are carried in the breath by the emotion you are feeling. This should be done in the most spontaneous, unselfconscious way as possible incorporating posture and movement. Give life to the words that you speak. If you can also do this with a body that is flexible and free of excess tensions you may find that the body is more receptive to taking on the emotions, thoughts and motivations of your character. It takes honesty with yourself. It's a skill to be developed like any other.

In closing I would like to say that going to see excellent live theatre, even if there is no singing in it, can be an inspiration to singers, as after all we are also actors. There is so much to learn and so much talent out there! 

Breath Control for Singers

 

Picture courtesy of Yoga and Mudra for Health         

I'd like to discuss breath and breath control for singers today as breath flow is the foundation for good use of the voice. We don't have direct control over the diaphragm, the major muscle of inhalation, but relaxation of the abdominal muscles enables it to naturally do it's job. When the abdomnal muscles relax the breath feels low and the body expands as you inhale.

For this reason when students come to my vocal studio the first thing we do are exercises that free up the abdominal muscle group. Often I have students do a cross-legged spinal twist as seen here. In this position the abdominals initially lock up. The student is then prompted to notice the tightness of the stomach area and let it release and soften while maintaining this position.  Once a student is able to master this abdominal relaxation we practice slow panting to feel free movement and buoyancy in this area. When the abs release in this way the inhale begins to feel like an inflatable "donut" cushion around the core abdominal area. This is how the "low" breath of singing is achieved.

The next challenge is to hiss slowly on a sustained "s" sound while keeping the "donut" inflated. We often switch sides and twist the other way. These exercises are designed to relax the oblique abdominals. The next abdominal release exercise is done for the central group of abs. The student kneels and senses how the  abdominal muscles have tightened in this position. Then the student relaxes and softens that area and repeats the sequence above. Once my students have mastered the abdominal releases we do what I call a "circular breath". We relax the abs and they come out for the inhale. We hiss on an "s" sound, buzz on a "z" sound, sustain the vowel "ee" go back to a buzz and then a hiss. These sounds should last 3 seconds each and most importantly be performed with a steady breath flow on one normal sized breath. One sound needs to flow into the next with the sense that the flow of breath is connecting all these sounds. 

The purpose of keeping the abdominals out and relaxed is to hold back exessive breath pressure from the vocal cords. Our exhalers are the abdominals, but when we sustain sound as in the above exercise or in singing we want to delay the exhale and make it very gradual. For many of you this will take a bit of practice. During this exercise the abdominals should stay out, down and feel relaxed. Often the singer has problems with the body locking up by tight abs. This exercise is a good antidote for that problem.

Key Things to Remember:

• The low breath of good singing is easily achieved by relaxing tight abdominal muscles. 
• The twisted cross-legged position is one way of finding the tight abdominals and releasing them. There are several other positions to try for this purpose which is the material of future posts.
• While making sustained sounds the abdominals need not tense up.
• The low breath achieved by relaxed abdominals helps the diaphragm do it's job more efficiently.
• Relaxed abdominals help the body to regulte a steady small breath flow.

I welcome comments from my readers. Please leave your comments/questions below. For private questions and/or lesson inquries please contact me here.