Theater acting question

Question

I am acting in an amateur theater production. Its a slapstick play and my character the villainess has a scene in which she receives her comeuppance being soaked by a bucket or water and taking a pie in the face.

Looking for advice on how to prepare. Concern is how to make my reactions spontaneous given I know what's coming. So far in rehearsals I tend to react a bit in advance spoiling the affect.

Answer 1

Ask your scene partners to vary the timing a little bit, even if only by a second or two.  If you know EXACTLY when it is coming, of course you are going to react.  If you know what's coming but don't know quite when your reaction will be more natural.  

You could also ask your scene partners to vary their approach a little - not coming at you the exact same way every time.  Same idea as varying the timing - if you don't know HOW it's coming, much like WHEN it's coming, your reaction should be more spontaneous/natural.

If you begin to react too early, react BIG afterwards to offset it a bit.  You might need to simply FORCE yourself to not react ahead of time - not easy to do, but possible.  Try focusing on something else all together in the moments leading up to the pie/water.  

Best of luck!  I hope it goes well.  =)

Answer 2

just dont react until after. like dont start reating when she throw the water at you. do whatever you do, then after she pours it react:] otherwise its cheesy.

please help

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Answer 3

DON'T SET YOUR MIND ON WAT HAPPENS DAT WAY UR REACTION IS MORE NATURAL

"BREAK A LEG"

Answer 4

Just try to think, if someone was really just randomly throwing a bucket of water on me, how would I react, try not to prepare yourself for it, just let it happen when you're on the stage, save it until your performance.