Expression of the face, form and voice is the main point in acting.
The former two may easily be acquired, but the latter will be utterly
ruined if the student places himself under the tutorship of an
elocutionist. They teach a drawly, too-perfect, sound of every vowel,
which is both harsh and unnatural, and above all, the student is as
apt to copy their faults as their perfections. Seek to imitate no
one--be something original--create the parts you play!
In expressing _grief_, the head is bent down, the eyes partially
closed, the mouth slightly open, the corners tightly drawn down, the
left hand is pressed upon the heart, and the right clenched at the side.
_Fear_ bends the body forward slightly, the wide open hands are held up
before the face, which is half averted, the eyes turned to the object
of terror. The lower jaw is dropped, the eyes wide open, showing the
ball to its fullest extent.
_Love_ parts the lips, makes the breathing irregular, the eyes gaze
fondly at the object of affection, but drop confusedly before hers. A
smile wreaths the lips, and the whole demeanor is gentle and tender.
_Hate_ protrudes the head, draws rigid the cords of the neck, shows the
eye-balls to their fullest extent, the lower lip is dropped, showing
the tightly-set teeth, the eyebrows knit with a heavy scowl, and the
hands, hanging by the sides, open and close with a convulsive movement,
as if longing to grip the object of hatred.
_Jealousy_ is hate subdued and less forcible, with a nervous twitching
of the lips.
_Pity_ clasps the hands, closes the lips in a half pout, drops the head
slightly to the left, and gazes longingly from beneath the brows.
_Joy_ opens the lips, radiates the face with a smile, widens the eyes,
and extends the hands eagerly.
_Passion_ contracts the brows, dilates the nostrils, draws the lips
tightly together, and flushes the face. Some practice will be needed
before the rise and fall of color can be completely mastered, however.
The body in this emotion is drawn fully up, and towers over the object
of its rage, while the hands, as in _hate_, open and close with a
convulsive grip.
_Hope_ is like _love_, but subdued.