The Neutral Mask, made by Simon Edwards
Marian Masoliver
Yes we are all different and yet we are all the same. When we see a tree, a sunset, climb a mountain…The Neutral Mask allows the actor to be present in the space in that moment, and react to the surroundings. The empty space is never empty, a rock, a tree, the ocean…As human beings we have been given good imagination. Instantly the images come, we just need to let them in. As if for the first time the Neutral Mask sees, touches, hears….It has a state of awarness…technically the mask raises the level of tension of the body and teaches the actor to project physically. The movement becomes clean, clear and amplified. It finds an economy of movement which is precious and poetic. It engages the whole body and it finds the attitudes (strong moments of stillness in which the body is engaged).
Jacques Lecoq with The Neutral Mask
A well-worn Neutral Mask is beautiful. It shows us the essence of men and women. It’s a very precious tool for the actor. Not just physically (actors will benefit a lot in terms of ‘cleaning’ their body), but also emotionally and psycologically. When we come from the Neutral Mask we are detached. When we play a character (obviously not with the Neutral Mask!) we don’t need to come from a place which is personal. We can understand that we have things in common as human beings, such us anger, hate, rage as well as tenderness, love, kindness… If we can tap in that which is common to all (because we are humans and is part of our spectrum), we can have a distance from that character and actually even ‘enjoy’ playing someone nasty…because it is not me, I have found the essence of this character. This is very helpful for film work as well as theatre. The Neutral Mask taught me this. This is why I love Lecoq’s approach because it is so healthy!
The day before yesterday it was the International Day of Theatre. And it made me think: Why do we need Theatre? We need to understand ourselves, as humans we need a mirror. I just ask one thing, let’s not make ‘boring Theatre’. There is nothing worst! Theatre is an Art! And when it is carefully cultivated and understood it can tell us about Truth.
The essence of men and women, the mirror, the Truth…yes, it is really what we are looking for when we make theatre or go to see it. Thank you for the post
Thanks Maria José, I agree! How is the story telling going? All the best! Marian
That is my inspiration for today – Thank you Marian x