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

Authors

  • Prynlada Arbhabhirama Faculty of Arts Chulalongkorn University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60101/faraa.2024.268056

Keywords:

Acting, Embodying Character , Mask Technique

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.

References

Ebong, I.A. (1984). Mask and Masking: A Survey of Their Universal Application to Theatre Practic. Anthropos, 79(1/3), 1-12 http://www.jstor.org/stable/40460787

Goto, Y. (1989). The Theatrical Fusion of Suzuki Tadashi. Asian Theatre Journal, 6(2), 103–123. https://doi.org/10.2307/1124454

Griffiths, D. (1998). Acting through mask (Vol. 1). Psychology Press.

Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & Ancient World. (n.d.). 13 Things: Commedia Dell’ Arte. [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu/ Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7731.html

Lecoq, J., Carasso, J.G., & Lallias J.C. (2002). The Moving Body: Teaching Creative Theatre. England: Routledge.

Lecoq, J. (2006). Theatre of Movement and Gesture. Taylor & Francis.

Murphy, M. (2019). Enacting Lecoq: Movement in theatre, Cognition, and Life. Springer.

Theatre – Masks.com. (n.d.). Custom Theatre Masks by Jonathan Becker. [Image]. Retrieved from https://theater-masks.com/masks/

The Fool Moon Production (n.d.). Neutral Mask. [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.foolmoon.org/neutral-mask

Downloads

Published

2024-12-24

How to Cite

Arbhabhirama, P. (2024). 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. Journal of fine arts research and applied arts, 11(2), 142–162. https://doi.org/10.60101/faraa.2024.268056

Issue

Section

Research Articles