Pantomime

1. Pantomime

2. MIME vs. PANTOMIME:Similarities • Communicate by gesturing, or acting without words • Actors portray characters and scenes through facial expressions and body language that the audience can easily understand.

3. MIME vs. PANTOMIME:Differences • Comes from the Greek word “mimesis” which means “to imitate an activity.” • Main activity is movement and it’s content deals with complex meanings and forces of life. • Pantomime comes from the Latin word “pantomimus” which means “ all gestures used in support of a theme.” • Revolves around character and plot, using imaginary props and people to tell a story.

4. MIME vs. PANTOMIME:Differences • Pantomime- simple, chronological story lines • Mime – complex story lines based on theme, illusion, and plot which requires a higher level of communication between the actor and audience

5. Definitions Mime – the silent art of using body movements to create an illusion of reality Pantomime- the use of mime techniques, acting without words, to tell a story

6. Pantomime Tips • Requires concentration on details in movements and expression • SHOW, do not tell, what is happening • Communicate clearly by using • Simplicity • Accuracy • Consistency • Exaggeration

7. Pantomime Tips • Make actions clear and exact so that observers are never in doubt • Every movement an audience sees should be well planned and prepared (like dance choreography)

8. Preparing a Story for Pantomime • Must be SIMPLE • Do not cloud the story with too many details • Must have 3 parts • BEGINNING: Introduction- introduces character • MIDDLE: Conflict- establishes problem • END: Resolution – solves the problem

9. Practicing/Presenting Pantomime • Accuracy in movements make it believable and understandable • Consistency keeps all items in the pantomime the same size, shape, weight and in the same place • Exaggeration makes the actions bigger than life which helps the audience see action more clearly

10. To achieve clarity • Practice the following • Focus, reach, take, accent, and release • Focus- visualize the item • Reach- approach the item • Take- establish space that the item is in • Accent – show size, shape, weight, temperature and any other detail that will help the audience understand what it is • Release – finish using the object and discard it appropriately.

11. Activity #1Character Walk • Everyone participates • Class puts ways to move across the room on the board. • Students begin walking normally around the room without touching each other • Teacher calls out a way to move and students change their movement to match

12. Activity #2Object Focus and Detail • Class creates a list of small objects • An item is called out and students visualize using the object. • One student from the table then acst out using the object using their visualization as a base line • Students from table evaluate the clarity of the action and make suggestions for improvement

13. Activity #3Where are you? • Class makes a list of places people go • 1st volunteer secretly chooses one of the places listed. • Volunteer imagines all the senses that make him/her aware of that place. • Volunteer begins acting out where s/he is • When others think they understand where the 1st volunteer is, they raise a hand volunteering to act out being in that place as well. Teacher will choose 3-4 students to join the pantomime of that place. • At the end the 1st volunteer reveals the place and the other players and audience evaluate the actions that led the other players to end up in the same place or a different place.

14. Activity #4 How are you feeling? • Table activity • Class makes a list of emotions. • Table establishes order of participation. • 1st person secretly chooses and emotion and visualizes what it looks like when they feel this way (posture, gestures, and facial expression). Then act out the emotion. • Table attempts to guess the emotion. • Table evaluates clearer ways to show the emotion.

15. Activity #5 Scenes for Pantomime:Procedure • Small group activity (4-5) • Group chooses a common location. (ex. park) • Group lists SIMPLE problems that could occur in that location. (ex. gum stuck to shoe) • Each person in the group selects ONE problem to pantomime in that location. Group decides performance order. Group decides on a creative title that does not give away the location. • Each person writes a detailed story line for their simple problem using SAMPLE as a guideline. MAY NOT USE OTHER STUDENTS IN THEIR STORY LINE– THIS IS SOLO.

16. Activity #5 Scenes for PantomimeRehearsal and Performance • Each movement in the pantomime should be planned, practiced and clear to the audience. Like making dance steps. • Students practice individually. • Students show the members of their group and group evaluates ways to improve believability and clarity. • Group practices the scene in order. • Group performs for the class. • Class tries to guess location and the problems that occurred in the location.

17. Activity #5 CHARACTER VARIATION • Group chooses a common location. • Group makes a list of people that would be in that location. • Group makes a list of SIMPLE problems that occur in that location. Group decides on a creative title that does not give away the characters or location. • Each student chooses a different character and problem to pantomime. Each person writes a detailed story line for their simple problem using SAMPLE as a guideline. MAY NOT USE OTHER STUDENTS IN THEIR STORY LINE– THIS IS SOLO.