Acting in Opera: Its ABC, With Descriptive Examples, Practical Hints and Numerous Illustrations - Softcover

Shea, George Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0217674445 ISBN 13: 9780217674447

Publisher: General Books, 2010

Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1915. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII "coming On" And "going Off" Stage; How To Take Other Side Of Stage; The Feet; General Remarks. "coming On" And "going Off" Stage In stepping onto the stage from the wings, be sure that your "up-stage" leg or boot conies first into the audience's view; and when coming onto stage with an arm raised, let it always be the up-stage arm (see illustrations, page 46). Thus, if you came on from the left wings--i. e., to the audience's left--your raised arm would be the left one, and your left leg or foot would step out first into view. The above rule holds good for the arm, but not for the leg, when you "come on" retreating, walking, running, or staggering backward in fright, apprehension, bewilderment, or in an unbalanced state. In coming on thus backward it is the up-stage arm that would be raised, but it is the down-stage leg that first appears, and the face would be slightly turned down-stage unless there be a special reason for the contrary. If one comes on gaily--in the guise of a peasant or a gondolier, or of any character not burdened by a sense of his dignity and importance--one can skip on, precisely as a child skips, waving one's hat; up-stage leg and waving, up-stage arm come first into view, unless the up-stage arm happens to be around a dainty peasant waist or reposing on a muscular peasant shoulder. The same general rule holds for "going off" stage: the up-stage leg takes you out of sight of the audience, and the up-stage arm makes the final gesture; because, if made with the downstage arm, your head would be hidden by it from the audience. In "going off" backward, the downstage leg takes the step that carries the body out of the audience's sight. How To Cross To Right Or Left Your taking the other side of the stage, in passing in front of or b...

Edition details

• Publisher: General Books
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0217674445
• ISBN 13: 9780217674447
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 46