Jenny Hyung

UWP 1

Exclusivity in the Theatre World

For this project I have decided to focus my discourse community on theatre, specifically

the community of actors. Actors work together for one goal which is to perform for the audience.

They rehearse and do research on the character they are portraying so that they can make the

audience believe in what they are performing and the characters they are portraying. It is the

relationship between the audience and the character that the actor is trying to establish. Creating

this allows the audience to see the characters come to life; it is for this relationship that the actors

uses their vocal dynamics such as pitch, volume, and rate, play around with blocking to see which

action fits best with the script or which facial expression best describes the emotional state of the

character and put so much time and effort into their roles. It can only be created by the actors

choice in establishing a character. Everything the actors do to create the relationship is to have

the audience leave changed (Katia Mendizabal). Their goal to have an impact on the audience;

the impact is the relationship.

Each actor has different roles but all are necessary for the director and the playwrights

vision to come to life. Although actors have the ability to create such intimate relationships with

the audience, other factors also play a role. For example, all the behind the scenes that happen

during a show. Without the right lighting, stage, or costume it is difficult for the actor to bond

with the audience. If an actor cant look the part, it is very hard for the audience to imagine the

character, without the right stage it is hard to image where the play is taking place. All these
factors are determined by the director, the playwright and the theatre companys budget. Actors

alone usually dont make enough, however it is their passion for acting that keeps them

motivated. In high school, I was part of this theatre community. As a member of this particular

discourse community, I am able to see the difference between points of view of being part of the

community and viewing it as an outsider; viewing it as a member of the audience. As an actor, it

is the thrill I get right before getting on stage, the immediate connection I have with the character

while being on stage, and the relief of my success after the performance that gets not only me but

other actors eager to go on stage again.

In the acting community, they have different ways of communicating their thoughts and

opinions. For example, they critique each other and give each other feedback on the piece they

are working on. Each actor portrays their character differently and based on how each of them

views it will perform accordingly. The actors themselves critique each other and work together so

that they can give the best show possible. In my point of view as an actor, I always had mixed

feelings about critiques because they way I see my character can be different than how my peers

view it. I work hard on my performances and I always try my best to being able to portray the

character as best as I can, however, when I get a suggestion on changing my blocking and I may

disagree with, makes it harder to perform. However, the director is the one to make all the calls.

The director makes sure the play is being portrayed the way the playwright wrote it or in a new

way but with respects to the playwright. The actors make choices for themselves they think is

necessary when blocking the performance. When critiquing there are basic rules the theatre

follows. Its not all about negativity or putting someone down. Its always good to start off with

mentioning something the action did well, then the suggestions on improvement and a

compliment to end the cirque. The theatre community doesn't want anyone to be discouraged,
instead they support one another and want them to do well. Being part of this community, I

realize the amount of support I would get in my performances; it is always encouraging to hear

something I did well rather than always hearing things I did wrong.

This type of communicating allows theses actor to work together and form bonds with

each other. Although each actor has a different character, they all are part of the same goal; to

perform for the audience. They all share ideas when critiquing and they all share a common goal.

Critiquing allows the other actors to act as the audience to see if the connection, the relationship

between the actor and the audience is stable. We as actors want to connect with the audience on

more deeper level, rather than having the audience see us perform. We believe that being part of

the theatre community is not only a personal experience but one to be shared with the whole

world (Katia Mendizabal).

However, like other communities they exclude certain people. For example, during

auditions actors are placed with certain characters based on their physical appearance and

personality. An actor can be very good at playing a character however, if the director does not

like how the actors physical appearance is different than in script, the actor will most likely not be

placed for that particular role. Physical appearance and personality of the actors are important

when the play specifies a characters personality trait or even physical appearance. These factors

play a role when the casting directors are choosing what character each individual actor are more

likely to be or seen as. The only exception to oversee theses factors is if the actor is incredibly

good at portraying the character, then the director would make a slight change in the script to fit

what is necessary. I have experience this type of exclusivity, where I had very similar roles because

of my personality or because of my physical appearance. For example, I was part of a scene from

the play Angels of America where I was assigned to play Asiatica. I was only one of the very
few asians in my class so I understand the reason my instructors assigned me this role. Asiatica

was also part of a council in the play which meant that she had to be performed with elegance

and authority. The councils role was to decide how best to monitor humanity and how to

proceed in God's absence (Sparknotes). The other characters such as Antarctica, Europa,

Oceania, Africanii, Australia and the Angel of America were all assigned to my peers whom fit

the physicality of these angels. For example Africanii was represented by my black classmate,

Europa was portrayed by someone pale, and so on .All throughout my acting years, I have had

very similar roles to Asiatica. I had been assigned to play Mame Wilks from Radio Golf whom

is Harmonds wife and campaign manager. She is the one who does all the work for Harmonds

political campaign and is also pursuing a prestigious position for herself in the governors office

(Enotes), Kayleen from Gruesome Playground Injuries; although I played a young Kayleen, in

the scene she was responsible in making decisions on her own without the help of her friend

Doug; she was seen as mature. Irina from The Three Sisters and the Abuela from

Electricidad; she was known to be wise and known for giving advise; all to which had similar

traits to Asiatica. All had the same atmosphere such as elegance, role model, authority, wisdom,

and maturity to the characters. I was never placed with a character who was reckless, childish,

and carefree.

Our instructors knew us actors very well due to our close interactions with our

performances, enough to understand which characters best fit us personality wise. For example,

although I wasnt placed to play Olga in The Three Sisters who happens to be the most

mature, I was assigned as Irina. Irina is the youngest of the three and while she is not determined

to find her true love like her older sister Masha, she is content with her life. I can relate to Irina in

a way that I too am the youngest and is fine living my life the way it is. I feel a similar way when I
had to play the other characters. For example, Mame Wilks has a career and is married; I dont

fit her characteristics however, at the time we shared similar aspirations. Mame wanted to be

apart from her husbands work because she wanted to focus on hers and have her own career

without others associating her work with her husbands. She had always done the dirty work,

making sure her husband career was going well.

In a similar way, I felt this with my older brother. I looked out for my brother making sure

he was doing well however, at the time he was graduating soon and starting a part of his life that

I had no experience in. In her monologue she states I still love you but youre on your own

now, this campaign, the old house, youre on your own with all of that. I cant live my life for you

and you cant live yours for me. But Im still standing here (Mame). She is letting him go to be

on his own without her help and thats how I connected with Mame. I had to let go of my brother

and allow him to do things on his own.

One character that I found hard to relate to was Abuela, for she is a grandmother who is

part of a cholo community. Her lifestyle is very different than mine however, one thing I found to

help me portray her was her passion in the value of family. Although she finds her family crazy,

she always goes back to them; helping them whenever they are in need. Family is everything to

me and no matter what the situation is, I will always be there for them.

Making connections is crucial when performing because without this connection it is very

hard to be the character. As an actor I had to study the character with table work which is

researching everything I can about the character, even analyzing the script to see how the

character interacts with others and discovering the characters traits. Although not all the

characters I played were just like me, with the help of table work I was able to find at least one

connection to help me emerge as much as I can with the character.



I believe that my instructors and other casting directors purposely assign roles based on

the similarities the character has with the individual actors because it is easier to form a bond. It

is easier to create a connection with the character so that we as actors can best perform and

portray them.
Cover letter

Dear Aaron,

Similar to my cover letter on the pervious draft, I reflected a lot in writing this. I realize

that being part of a discourse community taught me to see that even the theatre world has a way

of excluding people. In my 4 years being part of this community I never realized how important

it is for an actor to hold a relationship with the audience. It reminds me of when I write papers; I

need to make a connection with the readers.

The actors goal is to have an impact on the audience and have them leave changed. The

fact that we as actors have the ability to change someone through the world of performing makes

me proud to be have part of this community. I was a little disappointed that we exclude people

however the impact we have on the audience, I find worth being proud of.

Just like how actors change the audience I feel that anyones writing can have the ability to

change someone as well. I find this amazing to have someone read something and feel what the

author wants them to feel. I find it interesting and to think that when others from theatre

communities can relate and feel what I feel in writing this draft is something I would have never

expected.

This draft was a reflection for me.

Any comments or feedbacks would be very helpful.

Thank you so much,

Jenny Hyung
 Work cited

"Angels in America." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 16 May 2017.

Hirschhorn, Joel. "Review: Electricidad." Variety. N.p., 07 Apr. 2005. Web. 16 May 2017.

Mendizabal, Katia. "Theatre: A Discourse Community." Prezi.com. N.p., 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 16

May 2017.

"Radio Golf ." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 16 May 2017.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika Act 5, Scene 5 Summary."

Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 16 May 2017.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Irina in The Three Sisters." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov.

2008. Web. 16 May 2017.