A Bad Scene

Back Stage continues its "Actors on the Street" feature by posing the question: What do you do when you have a bad scene partner? Actors  in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco weigh in!

"I was paired with an actor in an audition to play the roles of brother and sister, but I didn't feel the connection. So I got closer to him and looked him in the eyes as if to steady us, and I slowed down the speed of what I was saying. He then clicked into my eyes, suddenly relaxed his shoulders, slowed down, and we were actually communicating -- not just saying lines but to each other. When we stopped, we turned and realized the people there were truly listening and watching us."   
-- Dawn Ressy
New York 

"I let them know I need them to do the work. If it continues, I let the teacher or director know immediately." 
-- Joanne Rose
Los Angeles

"Nobody likes being directed by a scene partner, and doing it can make your partner feel entitled to do it too. Since you can't direct your partner, hopefully an objective outside observer can. If you're working outside of class/rehearsal without direction, each of you can invite a friend to give feedback. This can be a director (preferably) or a fellow actor you trust. They can tell you what is or isn't reading to an audience. Hopefully, if both of you get constructive criticism, your partner will improve without feeling singled out or picked on."
-- Noelle Teagno
New York   

"Say yes to everything they do, in every moment, turning it into something we both can use to drive the scene." 
-- Chris Boykin
Chicago   

"Hey, you are an actor, right? You are amazing at pretending, right? That's what it's all about: Just pretend that you are reading with the most sensitive, intuitive, and generous person ever to hit the boards. Draw yourself into the moment as devoutly as you did when you were a child playing house or pirates, and just pretend." 
-- Nancy Sale
San Francisco