The Lol Act

Expressing one’s emotions is difficult enough and to do it on stage can be nerve racking. “Emotions have to be felt according to the character one is playing. Depending on the emotion and situation,it has to be performed with the help of facial expressions,voice,hand gestures and body language,” says Mital. “With eye contact,continued practice and dedication,one can control these emotions. Whether it’s a comic line or a scene where one has to be sad or angry,emoting becomes easier when one enjoys the role,” adds Mital whose favourite play is Adrak Ke Panje by Babban Khan.

When to use humour is as important as how to be humorous. It boils down to comic timing. “Acting is as important as reacting; this action-reaction constitutes the factors of comic timing. Whether it is situational comedy,slapstick or simple comic lines,poor comic timing will kill the attempt to tickle one’s funny bone,” he says. And for this,he insists that people need to learn to control their body language and facial expressions.

Apart from the above basics,the workshop will also train participants in miming and pantomime. “Mime is a beautiful form of theatre. It comunicates the emotions of the story with hand and body movements and various props on stage,” he says,adding,“Pantomime,on the other hand,is a reaction to sound and music using body gestures.”

(The workshops will be held September 3 onwards at Saroj Apartments,Sahaney Sujan Park,Lulla Nagar)