Hey guys,

This is a bit of a weird question, but I am currently in a play were I play someone who is not normally clumsy, but on this specific day she is nervous and eager to please and she keeps running into things and knocking things over. I tried being "clumsy" in rehearsal today, and it was just weird and awkward and it looked like i was pretending to be clumsy. I was just wondering if anyone has any tips to make the clumsiness come more naturally!??! Thanks for any help!

Jason Bennett says: Involvement is the antidote to indicating, or fakey acting.

Try being INVOLVED fully in something BESIDES running into things, like studying a painting on the wall, or thinking about what you ate for lunch while crossing the stage to get to something on the other side...or trying to figure out what the other character is thinking at that moment....SOMETHING...to involve you...so that running into things is a SIDE EFFECT of the involvement...so that running into things is a "genuine" accident.

If you don't understand, please tell me and I'll explain further.

- Jason Bennett

Nice advice, Jason.

You might also try the same trick people use when they are acting drunk--try very hard to act like you are NOT drunk. Or with this, try with all your might to appear graceful and solid on your feet. I know that as soon as I am aware of looking smooth and together I start tripping!

Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it, and I will try some of the suggested techniques in rehearsal tomorrow!