Papers by Gale McNeeley
What is melodrama? It is the overblown, overdone physical expression of a deeply-felt emotion. It... more What is melodrama? It is the overblown, overdone physical expression of a deeply-felt emotion. It emanates from the chest, around the heart, on an in breath, and it expands from there throughout the actor's entire body.
Il Parlaggio, 2022
What is melodrama? It is the overblown, overdone physical expression of a deeply-felt emotion. It... more What is melodrama? It is the overblown, overdone physical expression of a deeply-felt emotion. It emanates from the chest, around the heart, on an in breath, and it expands from there throughout the actor's entire body.
Il Parlaggio, 2018
The most important thing we can learn from theatre is how to play with others. In Commedia there ... more The most important thing we can learn from theatre is how to play with others. In Commedia there are no stars, no heroes, no heroines. Every actor, in every mask, is a protagonist. That means that your story is as important as every other character's story. Your needs, your actions and your reactions rule the play with comedy, drama, melodrama and farce, just like every other character's do. Without you, there would be a hole, where there should be a player.
Il Parlaggio, 2017
Get ready to leave naturalism behind, movies and straight plays, method acting and emotional prep... more Get ready to leave naturalism behind, movies and straight plays, method acting and emotional preparation. Get ready to use your instincts, grab an idea and go with it, to throw your whole body and voice into a character in a simple scenario-and see where it takes you and your partners in play. Commedia is play. There are some basic rules-some bumpers that will head you back when you feel lost, but at its root, Commedia is play. Do you want to play? To let your child "Come out and grab the balloon-no matter how high it floats?" Play takes great physical energy and relaxation, and real generosity towards your partners. It takes both an open and inspired mind. Commedia is a theatre of great passions-human needs. It is a very human comedy. You need food. You need money. You need sex. You need love. And you need it now! You are in action as long as you are on the stage. You aren't asking yourself, "What do I want now?" You are "wanting it" physically, verbally, actively. And you will do anything to get it. "Make a fool of yourself?" You don't care! As long as you get what you want. You must have it! To your character, anything is possible. If you are an impotent old rich guy, you believe that young women love you and crave your attentions. If you are a cowardly braggart of a soldier, you believe in your own myth of bravery until the very moment you are in danger, and exposed as a pretender.
Commedia dell'Arte comes alive when played passionately by characters with an unquenchable ne... more Commedia dell'Arte comes alive when played passionately by characters with an unquenchable need. Commedia is a theatre of contrasts. It moves from Order to Disorder, Chaos, Disaster and back to Order and a Happy Ending. Masks and improvisational play distinguish Commedia from other theatre forms, and the spectacular nature of each character's play. Commedia dell'Arte is alive today because audiences see themselves on stage dealing with the fools they meet daily. It will never die as long as their are great masters like Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, Giovanni Fusetti and Antonio Fava to share the form, and fools to poke fun at in the world.
Drafts by Gale McNeeley
Playing Commedia, 2020
An argument, from personal experience, on why Commedia dell'Arte hs to be play if it is to have a... more An argument, from personal experience, on why Commedia dell'Arte hs to be play if it is to have a direct impact on the audience, and if it is to inspire the actor's creative juices. Also, why we recognize the comic archetypes of Commedia, and how audiences today still can see themselves in the play.
Teaching Documents by Gale McNeeley
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Papers by Gale McNeeley
Drafts by Gale McNeeley
Teaching Documents by Gale McNeeley