The Use of Jacques Lecoq’s Mask Technique For Improving Actor’s Ability to Embody A Character: Case Study Denise Savage Character from Savage in Limbo

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to use Jacques Lecoq’s ‘Mask Technique’ to expand actor’s non-verbal communication skills and improve their ability to embody a character effectively. I, as the reseacher, practiced the Mask Technique, focusing on 1) warm-up exercises 2) increasing sensory awareness and imagination exercise 3) expanding body potential and limits 4) characterization exercise 5) neutral mask and character mask exercises. Then applied the trainings to embody a character, Denise Savage, from the play “Savage in Limbo” written by John Patrick Shanley. The analysis of the experiment revealed that Mask Technique helped with discovering new behaviors, movements, and sounds that I do not typically use in daily life. Moreover, it also increased the utilization of intuition to create more authentic movements. However, there are limitations in relying solely on Mask Technique to embody the character as it could lead to create a one-dimensional character if the actor doesn’t go through with character analysis in detail beforehand.