The Magic If is a Stanislavski technique utilised by actors to imagine themselves in circumstances, ‘What would I do if I was in that situation?’ The actor is also aware that they are still in the throws of a make believe.
Magic if allows an actor to image the given circumstances as if they are really experiencing the moment at hand, while acknowledging that these circumstances are make-believe.
For example, if an actress in character walks down a street to go to church to meet her beau, she might imagine what the street would look, sound and feel like.
She might imagine the sound that her shoes would make when they connect to the pavement, road or gravel. She might imagine the visceral feel of the moment at hand. (Time to ponder what would happen if you actually were in that situation?)
The actress might imagine the feeling of being in love with the man she is betrothed too. What if this situation was real, how would she feel and what emotions are evoked as a result?
What would happen if the same character walked down the street and sees her Beau in the distance kissing and cuddling an unknown attractive young woman? Where would the imagination take her then?
Is she truly in love with him in the first place? Does she really know if this ‘other’ woman is actually a rival love interest? Or could she merely be a sister or cousin? The actor would allow themselves to feel the emotions which should naturally arise.
The actor would utilise the most appropriate imaginative circumstance to forward the scene. She would use her emotions as if the circumstance has truly taken place.
Magic If also helps inexperienced and younger actors get into character developIng a foundation from which to draw from. Using the technique deliberately to establish a realistic situation for their character. The actor asks themselves; “What would happen if the situation or outcome really did happen to me, how would I react?”
Magic If can also help an actor to connect with other actors. The actor can imagine what it would be like to meet and or interact realistically with these characters considering the plays circumstances.
Let the Magic If help you when you audition for new roles
The Audience Factor
An actor’s job is to reveal a character within a play or performance in which the audience is entertained or able to relate in some way. Depending on the show at hand, an audience may experience a range of emotions and or a sense of catharsis. Plays, Musicals and shows are vehicles to allow an audience to do just that.
The actor would do well to remember that the play is about the audience rather than them. If an actor can establish themselves realistically in a role, giving an audience a directed emotional release, then they have fulfilled their role.
The actor can use the Magic If to gather information from the text or script to explore likely scenarios which furthers the scene. This could include the characters personalities and the situation they are in.
Use the script to ascertain and formulate ideas about the character’s traits and personality quirks. Establish his or her wants and needs within the given scene or throughout the play as a whole.
Act With the Innocence of a Child
A good way of utilising the Magic If method is to adopt a role as though from a child’s point of view. A young child often emerges themselves into roleplay during free play. They engage in their scenarios they have imagined with different degrees of realism or believability.
How to adopt the innocence of a child?
- Act as if this is the first time you’ve ever come across this situation, instance, or moment in time.
- Find the innocence in the moment. Treat the moment as though you it’s brand new. Find the wonder in it all. Everything is new, this movement can never be recreated ever.
- Actually enjoy being someone different or other than yourself. You can fully immerse yourself knowing there is a fourth wall.
- Use props around you to make into an object to act with. If you have a piece of wood, this could become a gun or a bunch of paper or it could be a desk full of writing working as a famous writer.
Illusion of The First Time
The job of the actor is deliver their lines from a written script as though it is the first time they have ever uttered those words. That means no stiff, wooden bland delivery of lines.
The Magic If is very closely linked with the concept The illusion of the First Time. This concept suggests that the actor is experiencing a particular circumstance or situation for the first time. She or he reacts accordingly which gives rise to the the appropriate action.
The audience needs to experience a reality in which the actor portrays his or her character within a framework with a sense reality. The audience should hear the lines portrayed by an actor without a preconceived poor delivery. By that, some student actors and many B grade actors deliver their lines where they already know what is going to happen. It is a poor way of acting a part.
Here is an example of some of the worst line deliveries from movies. No sense of in the moment.
Many amateur actors make this mistake without recognizing the overall flaw of their approach. This is a classic a mistake. It’s likely that actors will never make it successfully on stage or screen, if this is how they portray characters.
The job of an actor is to find a way within themselves to find the truth within the moment. If he or she doesn’t find the truth within the movement, the audience won’t believe in the character, or script itself. They let everyone down.
Good acting and confidence in ones abilities is gained through experience. Most people get better at using their imaginative skills to deliver a believable character. Some people are quicker than others to pick this up. But with the desire to do better and learn from mistakes they can and will likely succeed.
Read More of Stanislavski
It is vitally important to learn more about the masters of the acting craft. Russian acting theorist Konstantin Stanislavsky, is one such master who has a plethora of books available for the beginning and experienced actor.
There is a consistent thread that the more you read, better you get at your craft. Reading and employing Stanislavski’s methods gives actors greater insight to their own abilities. It also helps develop their craft and skills. The Magic If and the Illusion of Time are such techniques to use to help an actor find their character with confidence.
Stanislavski has a number of books, but his most prominent book is An Actor Prepares. Many actors, actresses and acting teachers have read these books. Performing artists have used many of Stanislavski’s techniques with success, which is the foundation for good acting.
In Conclusion
The Magic If and the Illusion of Time are techniques for actors to utilise and become better actors. It sets up a foundation for a beginning or seasoned actor to use their imagination to put themselves into imaginary circumstances with a strong sense of realism and believability. With time and experience, actors can develop solid acting skills using these techniques.
