An Acting Lesson

From left: Tyler Eglen, Maria Amorocho, Rusty Ferracane, Katie McFadzen, Shanique Scott, Cathy Dresbach. (Photo by John Groseclose)
From left: Tyler Eglen, Maria Amorocho, Rusty Ferracane, Katie McFadzen, Shanique Scott, Cathy Dresbach. (Photo by John Groseclose)

I saw this photo on Facebook. It is more than a picture of the cast of “Good People,” which was produced at Actors Theatre. If you dream of becoming an actor, your acting school is right here. Let me start at the right. I have known Cathy Dresbach the longest. She is the comedy/drama mask of legend, able to switch from one to the other on a second’s notice. What can she teach you? She doesn’t act a part, she transforms herself into the character. Every toss of the head, every gesture of the hands, the way she sits, the way she crosses the stage. It is not Cathy Dresbach, it is the woman of the playwright’s words. Next to her is Shanique Scott. Watch her as she creates the background of a scene. Others are acting, she is reacting. By her facial expression, by her body language, she beautifully magnifies the emotion of the moment. Katie McFadzen is an unparalleled mistress of the vocal art. She can use her voice to cut to the quick, to make the most mundane of sentences seem outrageously funny, to bring tears to the eyes and a clutch to the heart. She infuses every speech with an authentic poetry tailored to the occasion. Rusty Ferracane has the musician’s gift of rhythm. He can pace a bit of dialogue so precisely that it acquires nuances that take the words to a new, unexpected level. A playwright or director watching this from a darkened theater must be thanking their gods. Next to him is Maria Amorocho Weisbrod. Watch this actress’ eyes. Such a wealth of emotion! And when she is sharing the stage, there is no one there for her but the other actor. She LISTENS, one of the greatest gifts an actor can give her castmate. Finally, there is Tyler Eglen. His is the gift of using his body as an extension of the words. The sentences are those of the playwright but their life is entirely Tyler’s. Combined, the audience is treated to the total experience of the moment. Whenever you see this sextet on stage, observe! You will be the better actor for it.