Worrying about Wyrd Sisters
I've been thinking about my characterisation of Nanny Ogg for the autumn production. As I've mentioned before, I'm kind of nervous about the role, for a few reasons.
Number one, Nanny is a well-known character, and that adds a pressure to 'get her right' that would be lacking for another character in a less well-known work. It would be a whole lot easier if I wasn't in SF fandom, so I wouldn't have to worry so much about my friends hating my characterisation. If it all goes horribly wrong, I'll never be at another Mafia again - I mean, can you imagine what Toni would say to me? He's bad enough as it is.
Number two, I'm not convinced I'm the right person for the part. I was cast partly because Jack, the director, wants someone with a dirty sense of humour, and I'll admit that I have that. But when I make a sly innuendo, I tend to look mischievous, and I've always pictured Nanny as looking more earthy than mischievous.
Number three, many of my lines are very English, for instance Nanny greets people with "Wotcher", and I'm worried about accent implications. I know I haven't the thickest Irish accent in the world, but many of the lines feel wrong in my mouth, and I'm unsure what to do to make them more comfortable. I'm thinking of asking Jack whether I can change "wotcher" to "howaya", which would convey the same irreverence but be much easier to say*.
Number four, Nanny is a portly and elderly woman, and, well, I'm not. I have the kind of face that with make-up can look elderly, and I've requested a fat suit. I'd also like a wig of curly grey hair, my own hair is cut short again and besides which, temporary hair colour is the greatest pain in the arse to wash out.
Anyway, to start creating the character, I've been thinking of some stock actions that Nanny would have, that I can easily do. I have some facial expressions I'm going to try out. I also think that ponderously adjusting the bosom is a good idea, but unfortunately I can't quite picture how it's done. This may be the only time in my life where I deliberately seek out footage of Les Dawson in drag.
The most difficult thing to find is something to do while the action is with other characters. Which is a lot of my time on stage - there are several scenes where I can tell that Nanny is only there to provide a dirty joke halfway through. My part as Jessie in Beautiful Bodies was similar in some ways, but Jessie was the kind of person who would always listen attentively and politely when somebody else was speaking. Nanny isn't that kind of person. I'm toying with the idea of always having something to nibble on, or to sip on, although that'd be a nightmare for the person on props. Scratching myself would be easy, but unimaginative and should be just a fall-back. Extracting small insects from my clothing is probably going to be distracting, as would be anything grosser than that.
The stage will be pretty bare (there are hundreds of scene changes, so set will be minimal), so wandering off to investigate things won't work, although it is a very Nanny thing to do. Poking and prodding other characters is only going to work to a certain extent, Granny is the one who adjusts her hat all the time, Magrat fiddles with her hair, which leaves me with my broomstick, for however many scenes I get to carry it.
I'll get something together. I know I will. It's just that I'll worry myself to pieces before I do so.
* One of the other actors in the show thinks that there's something about 'Ogg' that sounds Irish. I expect he is getting confused with Óg, I can't think of anything Irish about Ogg, but if it gets me out of putting on an accent then I'm ready to agree with him loudly and often.
Number one, Nanny is a well-known character, and that adds a pressure to 'get her right' that would be lacking for another character in a less well-known work. It would be a whole lot easier if I wasn't in SF fandom, so I wouldn't have to worry so much about my friends hating my characterisation. If it all goes horribly wrong, I'll never be at another Mafia again - I mean, can you imagine what Toni would say to me? He's bad enough as it is.
Number two, I'm not convinced I'm the right person for the part. I was cast partly because Jack, the director, wants someone with a dirty sense of humour, and I'll admit that I have that. But when I make a sly innuendo, I tend to look mischievous, and I've always pictured Nanny as looking more earthy than mischievous.
Number three, many of my lines are very English, for instance Nanny greets people with "Wotcher", and I'm worried about accent implications. I know I haven't the thickest Irish accent in the world, but many of the lines feel wrong in my mouth, and I'm unsure what to do to make them more comfortable. I'm thinking of asking Jack whether I can change "wotcher" to "howaya", which would convey the same irreverence but be much easier to say*.
Number four, Nanny is a portly and elderly woman, and, well, I'm not. I have the kind of face that with make-up can look elderly, and I've requested a fat suit. I'd also like a wig of curly grey hair, my own hair is cut short again and besides which, temporary hair colour is the greatest pain in the arse to wash out.
Anyway, to start creating the character, I've been thinking of some stock actions that Nanny would have, that I can easily do. I have some facial expressions I'm going to try out. I also think that ponderously adjusting the bosom is a good idea, but unfortunately I can't quite picture how it's done. This may be the only time in my life where I deliberately seek out footage of Les Dawson in drag.
The most difficult thing to find is something to do while the action is with other characters. Which is a lot of my time on stage - there are several scenes where I can tell that Nanny is only there to provide a dirty joke halfway through. My part as Jessie in Beautiful Bodies was similar in some ways, but Jessie was the kind of person who would always listen attentively and politely when somebody else was speaking. Nanny isn't that kind of person. I'm toying with the idea of always having something to nibble on, or to sip on, although that'd be a nightmare for the person on props. Scratching myself would be easy, but unimaginative and should be just a fall-back. Extracting small insects from my clothing is probably going to be distracting, as would be anything grosser than that.
The stage will be pretty bare (there are hundreds of scene changes, so set will be minimal), so wandering off to investigate things won't work, although it is a very Nanny thing to do. Poking and prodding other characters is only going to work to a certain extent, Granny is the one who adjusts her hat all the time, Magrat fiddles with her hair, which leaves me with my broomstick, for however many scenes I get to carry it.
I'll get something together. I know I will. It's just that I'll worry myself to pieces before I do so.
* One of the other actors in the show thinks that there's something about 'Ogg' that sounds Irish. I expect he is getting confused with Óg, I can't think of anything Irish about Ogg, but if it gets me out of putting on an accent then I'm ready to agree with him loudly and often.