ACTING IN MASKS

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FALL THEATER PERFORMANCES

In September, the Wolf Players performed THIS IS A TEST, a hilarious one-act play on one student’s worst test day nightmare.

The Wolf Jr. Players performed GHOST LIGHT: A COMPILATION OF CURIOSITIES, a quirky and comedic take on a zany acting troupe’s time at an old, and possibly haunted, small town theater.

acting in

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Theater performances on campus have looked different this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everything from the selection of plays and musicals, to the size of casts, to the decision of live performance versus livestream has been on the minds of the theater team.

Fortunately, both middle and high school plays were performed live this fall. Audiences were limited and socially distanced. Performances were livestreamed for the rest of the Wesleyan community to enjoy. To maintain Wesleyan’s face covering protocol based on CDC guidelines, all actors, crew, and audience members wore face coverings during rehearsals and performances.

“Yes, we had our entire cast wearing face coverings,” laughed Steve Broyles, coordinator of theater programs. “The student actors were skeptical it could be done, but we did it, and I think we not only rose to the occasion, but I really believe cast members are better actors after having this experience.”

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It turns out that acting in masks is not a new phenomenon. From the very origins of theater, masks have been used for various reasons that have nothing to do with a pandemic. Masks as part of actors’ on-stage costuming date back to early Greek theater, and acting in masks has a long tradition in eastern theater.

“In eastern and Asian cultures, acting has typically been more body language dependent,” Broyles went on to say. “Wearing a mask that shows facial features or emotional clues helps audiences understand each character, and then dramatic body language is a way that the actor further communicates their character.”

Often masks would be used to help audiences immediately understand who “stock characters” were. Understanding up front who the “bad guy” is, for example, or who would be providing comedic relief could be communicated from the start of a performance based on which mask an actor was wearing. “Wearing a mask on stage forces an actor to not rely on their facial expressions when telling a story,” said Stephanie Simmons, lower and middle school drama coordinator. “Actors must enhance their body language, the tone of their voice, and even the direction of their body and their gaze.”

Wearing a mask on stage forces an actor not to rely on their facial expressions when telling a story. Actors must enhance their body language, the tone of their voice, and even the direction of their body and their gaze.”

“This is seen in many undergraduate and graduate level theater programs. Acting In A Mask is actually a course in many university theater programs,” said Simmons. “It is challenging, and it certainly can help an actor grow in their craft when you take away one of the primary things actors in western cultures rely on. By hiding their face, you sometimes get an even better performance.”

While the middle and high school casts wore masks this fall for different reasons, the challenge was the same. Considering these are student actors with varying levels of experience in theater, Broyles and Simmons knew they had their work cut out for them.

“In our case this fall, we were not using traditional theater masks,” explained Broyles. “We were using the type of face coverings that only cover the mouth and nose, of course, due to COVID. In some ways that makes it even more challenging. It is harder to speak and project lines, and only the student’s eyes are visible. The eyes tell the audience everything, whether the rest of your face is covered or not. When only the eyes are visible, actors must be much more aware of not just the expression in their eyes, but where they are actually looking.”

When rehearsing for both the middle and high school shows, both Broyles and Simmons found they gave similar notes frequently to their casts.

“We had to keep reminding them to be mindful of where they look,” recalled Simmons. “Directing teenagers has taught me that, whether they acknowledge it or even realize it, they are seeking our feedback to their acting throughout rehearsals. Many of them will be in the middle of a scene, body and face pointed in the right direction, lines recited correctly, but if I look closely, their eyes are cutting to the side to see if they can see my reaction as the director!”

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“This is not a new thing that has come up due to the face coverings,” explained Simmons. “But the face coverings taking up three-fourths of their faces and leaving only their eyes to be seen has made this much more obvious. So, we’ve worked hard with the cast to help them stay in character, stay in the moment, and focus on the other actors on the stage…and not the reactions of the audience!”

Acting in masks also requires students to be very diligent about voice projection and diction. Students worked hard during rehearsals to make sure they spoke slowly and clearly so that the audience understood their lines.

“We also talked a good bit about how to show the audience and not just tell the audience,” said Broyles. “Those are two very different ways to express a character for an actor. Understanding how to tap into both can elevate a performance.”

While many are looking forward to the day when we can be on campus without face coverings, there are some silver linings to the protocols currently in place. Enhancing our student actors’ experience and theater training, it turns out, may be one of them.

WINTER AND SPRING THEATER PERFORMANCES

High School Winter Musical

Into The Woods February 3-6, 2021 Powell Theater

High School Spring Play

Hayfever April 7-9, 2021 Lencke Blackbox Theater

Middle School Spring Musical

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown April 29-May 1, 2021 Powell Theater

**In-person attendance may be limited. If livestreaming is available for the show, the link will be available in Blackbaud the week of each show.