| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
|
||
|
THE FACULTY OF OBSERVATION 101
attentive eyes, he cannot help becoming an observer.
It is said that a seaman, who is eternally on the lookout for the dangers of the sea, becomes very sharpsighted. Why should one not acquire a sharp vision of men and things by continually "eying" them?
I wish to illustrate what I mean by training the gift of observation, and mention an experience I have had with many of my pupils.
Sometimes I practice with them, how they should comport themselves on the stage, when placed in certain situations of daily life.
I imagine for them certain situations, — tragic, comic, or indifferent situations, significant or quite banal situations, — and I try to find out in what measure they possess the gift of observation, and what is the quantity and quality of their observations.
You will hear with surprise that very few were able to express exteriorly an imaginary joy or sorrow; many were more or less embarrassed when they were to read an imaginary letter, instead of holding the real letter in then-hands. Many were at a loss when they had to indicate by the intonations of their voice the character of the imaginary letter, whether it |
||
|
|
||