Keep the ball in space
Space objects is not pantomime (creating the illusion of objects) but the actual use of space as substance. Many people make the mistake of equating the two. Having been a professional mime for over 12 years before encountering Viola, I learned the difference quickly. (See my blog post “Out of the Head and Into the Space”) Viola said that Mime is sister to Dance in that it is choreography – a script and therefore not improvisation. I argued with her that street mime had elements of improvisation, i.e., interaction with an audience and passers by, but it is a far cry from this work.
Audience Players see the difference
In the evaluation you ask players was the ball in the space or in your head? Audience, do you agree? It is obvious when the ball make an appearance. That it does at all is good enough at this stage. Players now know what making the invisible visible means. I have a tendency to belabor the evaluation and try to avoid too much explanation. Get your group used to acknowledging a quick “Yes” or “No” and move on. We tend (or I do at least) to want everyone to ‘get it’ right away and over do the evaluation sometimes. If the group or the player want to explain why they did or didn’t see the ball, simply say “There’s always a reason” and avoid further analysis or discussion which often is rescuing the player who’s in their head. (a form of codependency) Just know that eventually everyone will “see” and don’t rush it. It’s the first rule in Viola’s Tips and Pointers.
Viola Spolin’s coaching style to contrast my coaching style with Viola’s, here’s the master leading the same game.
As I said in my notes above, I have to monitor myself for urgency and desire to force the experience into being. I notice this in myself as a coach and “don’t do anything about it” and “don’t NOT do anything about it.” as Viola would say. See her work on What is Your Score.
