A while ago I studied acting with Mark Blum at HB Studios. Mark helped me make a breakthrough as an actor: he told me to use my own voice. To start from myself, and to create the work from there. This made my acting, and actually all of my creative work, a lot more organic and real. And as I continue to follow this train of thought, I trust more and more that the idiosyncrasies in my work aren't a problem at all; in fact, they're what makes it worthwhile.
Like a lot of "breakthrough" stories people tell, this really only makes sense if you're going through the struggle yourself. You have to have intimate knowledge of that devil inside you that keeps telling you to be like someone else or to play to other people's expectations. (Often you imagine these expectations, but that's another story) And you have to learn technique, just like everyone else, so you have the strength and versatility to support what you want to do in your own idiosyncratic way. And you have to do the work.
In a few weeks, at the George Street Playhouse, Mark will perform in Roger Is Dead, written and directed by Elaine May. Ms. May is a seminal comedy genius who started with the Compass Players, made her first big splash with Mike Nichols (you can see them in this live commercial for GE), and who went on to write screenplays (Primary Colors, Heaven Can Wait) and direct movies (The Heartbreak Kid, Ishtar). And did I mention Marlo Thomas is in the cast?
I'm itching to do my own work. I got a sweet little taste this week performing with improv group Punching Hal, and I want more. But until I get something I can sink my teeth into, I'll study the work of masters.
