The many voices of The Shadow

[the_loneranger]

Rehearsals are going well, despite losing riolobo, which was disappointing to hear.  Because we lost him and one other cast member, the remaining male actors all picked up extra roles.  I was given one other speech-making official and a military radio operator who speaks only seven words in "War of the Worlds", but no extra parts in the two Shadow

Comments

[flaviarassen]

You do have a somewhat soft, less-than-crisp voice; I have always put it down to your gentle personality. Enunciation is a good thing for an 'edgy voice. Without knowing anything else about what the director wants, have you thought of perhaps a sense of urgency or nervousness - something that will give an edge to your voice without making you sound tough?

And, as far as the Shadow-tough voice, did the director say it had to be a strong voice, or could it be that low tone that forces people to listen (kinda like Clint Eastwood)?

Just my hopefully helpful 2 cents...

[the_loneranger]

At the last rehearsal, when I tried the Bret Morrison idea, the director said that Cranston's voice should remain at a higher level than The Shadow's (which is odd, since my Shadow voice isn't really low, just creepy). This was during reading of the first Shadow script where Cranston only appears at the end. When we rehearsed the second Shadow script, which is more Cranston-heavy, I raised the voice pitch a little - projecting from the diaphragm - and the director didn't mention anything afterwards. I took this as a good sign

[flaviarassen]

Yes - you articulated perfectly what I was thinking & obviously didn't say well. Cranston: clipped, urgent (intense & focused) Shadow: flow with a calm that comes from total power :-)

Orson Welles AND Ronald Coleman? Neat! :-)