Characterisation techniques/examples please?

Question

For a play I'm in, I have to play a typical "floozy". It's a comedic piece so it's not really sexual in any way, just the whole swooning and blowing kisses sort of thing.

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on the sort of body language I could use, or if anyone could think of any examples in TV or cinema I could model it on. I really would like to get some laughs out of the audience for this one.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

What's the play?

It depends on the type of comedy. If it's a farce, you can really go over the top with it since characters don't tend to be very deep. If it's more dry humor, you could play it a little more straight and still get laughs just from the character/lines.

I agree with much of what the above poster said, but for some inspiration for funny bombshell types, check out:

Nicollette Sheridan in Noises Off

Goldie Hawn in just about any of her earlier work

Answer 2

firstly....don't go for the laughs...that's not comedy, that's overacting. comedy is timing and that's it. if you have comedic timing...you'll be fine. and i would actually try and put an effort into creating you're own "floozy" instead of mirroring your character off of someone else from a totally different storyline. it's kinda easier this way...when you pull from a tv show or movie you have to realize this is a different medium than the stage. for tv, the timing is laugh track specific, meaning they have taken a specific pause to insert a specific reaction. i would just get to know you're character...figure her out. what kind of clothes does she wear? are they tight? that would definately affect how she walks meaning she might take smaller steps, little short twitchy steps which would make the top half of her body move a specific way. keep this up and all of sudden you have a character walk....holly c**p...it's that easy. what does you're character do when she's bored? does she stare of inter space dreaming about bunnies and snow cones or is she a nail person (like to constantly file or adjust her fabulous nails? does she stick her chest out because she wants people to notice her curves? does she remind you of any animal? it sounds a little weird, but you can really solidify a character if you start paralleling attributes with things you recognize. is she birdlike? does she move her head like a pigeon? or is she slinky like a cat? does she stare at someone or somelthing with big, wide eyes that comprehend nothing or does she stare at you like  she's trying to figure something out? is she smart or dumb? does she play dumb or is she REALLY dumb? what does she think is her best feature? just ask yourself questions and figure out very specific anwers. the more specific you answer these questions, the more detailed your character will be. and when i say don't try and be funny, that doesn't mean don't make humorous choices. make a CHOICE that may seem funny to you, but don't try to make the audience laugh. what i've found, is that for the most part an audience won't necessarily laugh at what you think is funny...it's what THEY think is funny. so just make funny choices within you're character! and you can totally look at other actresses and see how they make choices but really sit down with you're character and try to make your own personal and specific choices. brake a leg!!