I've got an audition for a panto villain next week and theyve asked me to prepare a speech in that ilk...but I'm drawing blank in my own monologue repertoire!
Anyone know of any good panto-esque bad guy speeches I should have a look at?
Panto Villain....: the secret with a good panto villain is to get the audience "against" you.....the very second you appear...you should have all the kids booing and hissing you for all their worth! However, and this is the skill....they still have to like you?! By that I mean...."like" to boo you. If you annoy them by being too blatently nasty... or try to get them to "hate" you...it won't work. - if that makes sense?!!
Show utter distain of the audience. You are tired of them...., you are far superior tan any of the revolting kids! You can't get your way and its all the audiences fault etc. You are nasty....but not hateful...all characters need a bit of depth and you should show a touch of vulnerability…you will almost certainly be getting your just deserts in the end so show the director that side too.
Show the director that you can command a big noisy audience by also projecting well, acting larger than life, and directing it over the whole theatre! This is open armed, wide eyed, focused looks…..bring the audience to you! Make them listen in other words!
As far as script goes: Make it up is fine….improvise, a nice director and or panel will be delighted to join in and boo and hiss you....its the above acting styles they are looking for more than actual words at this stage I woudl think. If its a known panto plot....then do a quick research on the story to give it some topical edge.
I'd storm in sneeringly shouting "Oh c'mon you lot, I haven't got all day!" "well go on then ask me what i've been doing.....not that its any of "your" business...and I'm not even sure I want to be in this rotten panto anyway!"
Some fantastic advice from all corners - I'd love to say how incredibly grateful I am...but none of you snivelling lot deserve my time let alone my gratitude! Mwahahahaha!
Mark is surely right. One of the most important lessons I ever learned as a panto villain is that when you ewalk onto the stage for the very first time you need to pause before you say anything to let the kids know that you are the bad guy and expect to be booed.
If you don't the sort of sneering line such as 'who let all these smelly kids in?' or something in that ilk....don't make too much noise kids....I've got a headache......I was up all night working in my TORTURE CHAMBER...ha ha haaaaa
If its a good production you will be aided by a suitable crash of scary music each time you come on...and or a thunder crack and flash pyro maybe...they all help.
Alan's Pause is quite right....let it sink in with 'em!
Some Actors underestimate Panto acting, and some look down on it too???! If one assumes one can be over the top and hammy..."Oh its Panto...you can get away with that!" I start to worry!! Don't you believe it ...not for a second. Children are very sharp audience cookies, and if you don't grab and maintain their attention from the off.....you will die on stage like a kipper in a sand pit!
Of course the grown ups like a bit of add libbing here and there…….but the kids expect realism. I think so anyway.
Why not go back to the'bard'& perform one of Richard 111's speeches?The baddie is often given Rhyming couplets.Samuel French,I believe,have copies of Victorian Pantomimes-bound to find a speech there!
Break a leg!
who wants to be the prince when you can have the time of your life scaring kids,and being paid for it.
Going off script once in a while is all part of the fun if the moment calls for it.But always remembering to hit your cue lines for entrances exits and effects.
No crew or cast will ever thank you for killing a gag or extending a show by 20 mins a half.
Watch a few panto showreels,get a feel for the part and write a short speech of your own for the casting .Go and have fun buddy,I have during the last 6 seasons of it.
Huge thanks again to everyone for their invaluable advice!
I've put together what I think is a very Panto-esque speech of my own (admittedly with inspiration taken from Nigel's PMs - cheers Nigel!) which I think should stand me in decent stead!
It's gonna be a tough day as I have an audition with Debbie O'Brien for the Tribute to The Blues Brothers European and UK Tour immediately before my Panto audish...but you won't hear me complaining for a second! I can't wait fir both auditions and just hope my journey down on the overnight coach doesn't finish me off before I even start...!
Well, wish me luck! :-)
13 years ago
19
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