7.8: Lesson 7- Crosses and Transitions
Crosses are the way that characters move across the stage. Although many actors and directors do not pay attention to the patterns of crosses character’s make these patterns are very useful storytelling tools.
Arcs and Straight Lines
As much as possible have your actors move across the stage in arcs rather than straight lines. What you are doing when you do this is creating visual continuity that you can capitalize on later in the show as the tension rises. The arc pattern gives the appearance of ease and casualness to the movement. Whereas a cross that is a straight line conveys urgency. As a character’s situation becomes more dire and their needs more urgent their cossess will become straight lines rather than arcs. This allows you to convey information to the audience that is not expressed in the dialogue.
Crossing Upstage or Downstage of Another Character
Cosses can also indicate the intentions of a character. If one character 1 moves across the stage behind or upstage of Character 2 the move can often be interpreted as happening ‘behind the back’ or without the knowledge of Character 2. This creates wonderful opportunities for characters to reveal hidden motives, feelings, or can even provide an opportunity for a character to break the fourth wall, without anyone else on stage being aware. Consequently if a character crosses downstage of another character, both characters are aware of the action and it is less threatening, deceptive, or hidden.
Crossing on the Line vs Before or After the Line
When a character crosses while delivering a line the audience's attention is drawn towards the movement rather the line. However, when a character crosses and then delivers the line, the attention is drawn to line rather than the action.
Transitions
Transitions are the theatrical vehicle for transitioning the audience from one scene or location to another. Many time transitions are done by a lighting change and set transition, but you can also use this space to be creative. If you have few theatrical elements you can have your actors spin to indicate a transition. When the actors spin they do need to spin in the same direction and at a relatively consistent speed.
You can also transition with dance, music, or storytelling elements. Some plays will have transitions where characters come out and dance. Some plays will have a musician play a song for the transition.
However you can also use elements of the story you are telling as a way to transition between scenes. When I say storytelling elements I mean that characters can come out during scenes and through movement progress the story. For example, in a Midsummer Night’s Dream you could use the fairies to help transition your scenes or use the opportunity to show the audience what is happening with the lovers during this transition.
Staging Exercise 1
- Create a silent scene with a beginning, middle, and end where characters movement patterns are established and then broken as the conflict becomes more urgent.
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.
Staging Exercise 2
- Create a scene with a beginning, middle, and end, in which the tension between the characters is so great that neither speaks. However, the tension builds and the silence is broken by one word or phrase delivered after or before a cross.
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.
Staging Exercise 3
- Create a silent scene with a beginning, middle, and end that takes the audience on a journey. The scene must establish movement patterns and contain at least 3 transitions.
- Rehearse for 1 hour and then present
- Discuss and critique each scene
- Remember to always focus on successful elements first. People need to know what they are doing well more than they need to know what to improve. Encourage progress and try to give 5 positive comments to each suggestion for improvement.
- Rehearse for an additional 15 minutes in order to incorporate notes.
- Present scenes a final time without notes or critique.