Illusion

Acting, the performance of an actor is the performance of action which creates an illusion, which is carried out with the complicity of the audience. No one thinks *real* magic is occurring, we just admire the work of a very gifted and hard grafting magician.

Character is illusion too, it does not require belief on the part of the actor, although self confidence is a must. When you perform the words of the writer, with something like the same intent as the character, then the illusion of character is created.

To create character is the job of the writer, to live fully the actions of the character, with great emotional availability, in the moment, in response to what your partners are doing now, that is acting. And the rest is children’s games and poppycock.

We are makers of magic, illusionists, not wizards. And with this knowledge a great weight and an impossible responsibility is lifted.