On Monday, November 17th we had the last meeting with Sylvia Toone. It was one of three lessons in total, one on Friday and one on Saturday in Salerno. She gave us a series of theoretical and practical advices about how should an actor hold the stage and improve his stage presence.
We made exercises like “zip-zap-zoop” to experiment with new techniques of improvisation, which are based on the direct and immediate communication of what you want to show or express to others.
We made also excercises of relaxation and slackening which are very important for an actor because they give him the possibility to place himself in a specific situation or get into the character that he is going to play.
According to Sylvia Toone, an actor should play as he really sees what he speaks about. But to do that, a good actor has to mould his mind and put all his senses together to find a unique point of concentration (sense of hearing, smell, seeing, touching and taste). In this way he will become more aware of himself, of his body and gestures.
Grazia Carbone
