You ought to give the stage a try, just once. If you do, besides the obvious memorization of lines and following directions, actors have to keep remembering the fundamentals of stage acting.
I use the acronym SOFA to remind myself of the four things John has directed the actors to remember during these first weeks of rehearsal:
[S]tay in character. Once you’re in view of the audience, you are no longer “you;” you are the character. In facial expression, mannerisms, body movement, action and reaction, you cannot let your usual self be seen.
[O]pen your body to both audiences, stage left and stage right. Don’t fall into the trap of conversing with a character, turning toward them, and showing half of the audience your back. The trick is foot position, keeping them open to both audience halves.
[F]ill the room. With your voice, your movement, and your character. The person sitting in the back row must hear you, see you, feel you.
[A]wareness of your upstage, downstage position relative to the key actor. Know the directions “upstage” and “downstage.” Don’t force the key actor to turn upstage to talk to you, exposing their back to the audience.
Wow, just seven weeks to opening night. We’d better get off the SOFA pretty soon!
