Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 3/2/2010

Question
Hi,

I am currently working on a scripted drama piece, and I need to learn how to cry onstage. I have been finding this particularly challenging. Could you give me any tips? (I currently wear contacts, and so I can't keep my eyes open to make me cry as they fall out.)

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Tiula,

Hope this comes in time, I have been experiencing computer problems.

Crying onstage can be accomplished with preparation. It's usually easier for women than men, but I suspect that in your family maybe it was not acceptable to show emotions so freely -at least, crying. For men, we are are told "boys don't cry" "Its not manly", etc. Acting requires freeing up your ability to show emotions. What would life be if not for emotion though? People go skydiving or watch movies to experience emotions -sometimes emotions they are denied by life...

I auditioned for a movie where I was to be the star's big brother. It was a multi-million dollar production. The casting guy asked me if I had any problem wrestling with the star. She was an A-list celebrity, her career was smoking hot. I said I had no issues with that. (I didn't) As almost an afterthought, as I was leaving, he asked: "Oh yeah, you can cry on queue, right?" Of course I said yes, although I had never been trained on that. (Example of why training is so important.)

Here I was with a dilemma. I had three weeks to learn. While I should have hired an acting coach for a few private sessions, I decided for some reason to go it alone. Luckily, it worked out.

You will have to find your own tricks, but what did it for me, was to get into the emotion prior to the scene by keeping a small music device in my pocket that I had recorded the saddest songs I knew. I also had a small clipping in my pocket of the saddest story I had come across. It was about a young woman who had grown up without a father. Throughout her her life and school years, whenever she faced one of life's sad, cruel moments, an arrangement of flowers came to the door, with a note from her "secret admirer". She grew up, and one day, met a young man, fell in love and got engaged to be married. Well, as fate would have it, two weeks before her wedding, her mother died suddenly. She closed the story with the line: "That's when the flowers stopped coming." Maybe that doesn't do it for you. It has to be personal to you. Something which taps in to your deepest fears. Do you have a favorite pet? Although it is a cliche', many of of us fear losing the pet, and can imagine very easily, how we would feel when that time comes that they must make that long drive to the vet's office to say goodbye. I have also used that for years, and because I am facing that within a too short time right now, I know I will be able to use it forever.

It's harder to do this onstage, of course. In film, you do have to repeat the scene several times, but you can stay there until you are done, with time beforehand to dedicate to getting ready. Onstage, of course, you have all the scenes non-stop, before that point. The thing is, crying is just another emotion. Throughout the play you SHOULD be experiencing all the other emotions too. That is really acting. Acting is not saying words and twisting one's face into fake expressions. If you do that, you are cheating yourself of the best part of acting: getting to live in a fantasy world as a different person. When you can get up there and the audience disappears, that is the best! That requires FOCUS. If you haven't learned your lines until you can say them in your sleep, committed to heart, you will be so busy searching for the words, that you can't do your job. Also, it's not just learning the lines, it's learning the role. I have known people with photo-memories, who can memorize the lines, but is more like watching a string of words pieced together that thoughts. Half of a convincing performance is when you are NOT speaking! The audience wants to see how you react to the speaker's words. Again, if you are just searching for the words, waiting on your chance to speak...you are not doing it right. I am not saying you can't or won't be nervous, you will be. But if you admit that to yourself you will be better. Don't get hung up on how much work and time it takes to get prepared compared to the other actors, it takes however long it takes. Eventually, with practice, it gets easier and easier.

As far as the contacts: how bad are your eyes without them? Are they soft or "hard" contacts (I don't know if they still make those) They shouldn't pop out that easily, maybe you should ask your eye doctor. Mine suck down on my eyes that I have to pry them out. The only time one came out, I was rubbing my eyes kind of hard. Maybe you can go on without them. If you can see well enough to move around and grab objects, you should be fine. It's not like you will be reading anything. Many actors do this. Nicole Kidman has really thick glasses, but she never wears them to act. Of course, this was five years ago, and she was looking into surgery.

Hope this helps!

Best,

Taylor