Mastering the Art of Controlling Laughter On Stage

As an actor, it's crucial to maintain self-control during performances, especially when a moment of laughter seems uncontrollable. Whether it's during a tragic moment in a play or an unexpected mishap, mastering the art of suppressing laughter is essential for a successful performance. This article explores various techniques and strategies to help actors manage their reactions on stage and provides real-life examples to illustrate the challenges faced.

Why Should You Control Laughter on Stage?

While a moment of uncontrollable laughter can be amusing, it can also create long-term negative consequences for your character and performance. If you laugh during a tragic scene, it may become difficult to regain the necessary seriousness and emotional depth in subsequent performances. Therefore, the ability to control your laughter is a fundamental aspect of an actor's craft.

Techniques to Suppress Laughter

One effective method to avoid bursting out in laughter during a performance is to practice your lines in front of a mirror while engaging in self-indulgent activities, such as tickling yourself or wearing a funny hat. These activities help shift your mind away from the performance and towards something humorous, thereby reducing the likelihood of being caught up in a sudden burst of laughter. Another technique is to imagine the audience in their underwear or to envision the funniest scenario imaginable. However, the ultimate solution is to pretend to cough very hard, which can serve as a quick distraction.

Managing Different Scenarios

The control required can vary depending on the situation. If you laugh at something happening in the scene, it's essential to stay in character and understand the reasons why the character would not laugh in that particular scenario. Conversely, if the laughter is a result of a malfunction or mishap, you should remain focused on the scene and the imagined reality, rather than the real-life situation. In most cases, it comes down to practice and the ability to suppress your natural tendencies.

Challenges and Real-Life Examples

Acting requires a high degree of self-control, often referred to as self-restraint. While there may be no issues with the jokes and funny lines in a play, there can be unexpected moments that a performer may find humorous despite extensive practice. For instance, during a performance, a stage partner might deliver an improvised line or make a mistake, leading to unexpected laughter.

One real-life example occurred during a performance for children. During the show, several mishaps happened, including a teacher with an uncontrollable laugh in the audience, an unexpected delivery of a large box or crate, and several improvised moments. In one accidental trip over the crate, the actor said, ldquo;Oh a crate, I love crates!rdquo; in the first instance and ldquo;I hate crates!rdquo; in the second. Near the end of the show, when the king made a reference to the ldquo;runaway crate,rdquo; the audience, both children and teachers, laughed uncontrollably, but the actor masked their laughter with a cough, and the moment passed unnoticed by the audience.

Surprisingly, despite the challenges, these moments can also be among the most rewarding for an actor. The audiencersquo;s reactions, improvised moments, and accidental mishaps are often the most memorable and entertaining parts of the performance. These moments require a nuanced understanding of self-control, which is essential not just for comedic roles but also for maintaining the integrity of tragic and dramatic scenes.

In conclusion, mastering the art of controlling laughter on stage is not only a fundamental skill for actors but also a testament to their emotional and technical prowess. While self-control may seem like a trivial aspect of acting, it is essential in maintaining the integrity of the performance and the ability to deliver standout moments that resonate with the audience.