As I stated in my first column last week, I am a wrestling fan. The “entertainment” aspects of the wrestling industry for me at least is a mixed bag. Sure the industry is action-packed with performers who deliver in and out of the ring. There are those that no matter what angle, or who they work with; will elevate themselves and their opponents, and create magic inside and out of the squared circle.
But this column isn’t for these types of performers. This one is for the McMahons. And they should listen up! Vince comes across on screen most times as a ham, and his lovely daughter doesn’t possess the chops to act her way out of a wet paper bag. Sorry, but it had to be said. The McMahon family works very hard to bring their brand of wrestling and entertainment to all us fans. Having said that however, some of the acting that goes on at RAW and SMACKDOWN makes the day time soap operas look like Shakespeare.
And for the record, I have done Shakespeare. I also teach a summer acting class for kids, ages 12 to 15 that display more emotional range than the Puffed-up egomaniac Vin-man and his screeching owl of a daughter.
Okay, now class in session. As an actor, the one thing you do not want in any scene that you are in is Dead Air. Dead Air goes something like this, “You say your line,” PAUSE. “I say my line,” PAUSE. You say your line,” PAUSE. “I say my line,” PAUSE. Now far too often in these back stage vignettes, there is so much dead air and “dramatic pauses” that one has time to take a bathroom break and not miss a beat.
Now kids, in real life we don’t wait for other people to STOP talking. The natural flow of conversation has the people engaged in conversation jumping in when they have something to say, and particularly, us red blooded Americans do not wait for our turn to speak. You got something to say, say it gosh dang it! Waiting for your turn to speak is not good drama, it’s bad, and it is boring to watch. Getting rid of the Dead Air will bring a sense of urgency to what you are saying, because it will seem like you are really speaking from the heart, and not trying to just remember your lines! And although she might be awful puerty to look at, (Okie- spelling intended!) Steph is by far the absolute worst in the company at this. Plus I’ve seen more range from a stove top than what the lovely future Mrs. Hemsley exudes.
Come on Steph! Take some risks with your character, and build emotion, by constantly rasing the stakes of what it is you are trying to say during the scene. Which segues us right to the one note wonder that is Mr. McMahon himself.
If Mr. McMahon says “YOU’RE FIRED,” one more time, I hope someone fires Mr. McMahon’s ass for being an unoriginal parody of the compelling heel character that he used to be. He’s like school on Saturday…no class.
Case in point, during last weeks SMACKDOWN during a promo that he played to the hilt the full time, with no sign whatsoever of dramatic range, (I mean it takes no skill to stand in front of a camera and scream at someone!), Hogan, er, Mr. America walked off to the right and instead of Vince letting his eyes follow Hogan off camera, he turns to the left, showing his “good angry side” I guess, and continues to scream at Ho, I mean Mr. America, like he had walked off in the other direction. Pure friggin’ ego.
Hey the McMahon’s are like billionaires or something, so they can do what they want, but if they really want to entertain us outside of the ring as much as their product does inside the ring, then put some effort into it. That’s all I’m askin’. You wouldn’t walk out for a match without stretching first, so why not do some vocal warm ups and at least think about your character before hand as well? Couldn’t hurt if you ask me. Use your money and hire an acting coach for each show. Otherwise it’s just gonna be more, “Hang on to your ego…”
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