Physical illusion in pantomime is based on three principles: Counterweight, Foreshortening, and Attitude. Today, we will explore each of those elements and learn how to create popular mime illusions that will leave our audience amazed.
Physical Illusion in Mime
Here are the three main principles.
1. Counterweight
A counterweight is a muscular technique of exerting imaginary force on an imaginary object. While creating the illusion of “pulling the rope” for example, the artist shows the force exerted on the rope, the attitude towards it, by the resistance to the imaginary force of the opposite pull.
When an imaginary object is displayed, the artist physically responds to the imaginary size, weight, and shape of the object to define it in the eyes of the audience. The illustration is done by imitating the weight of a person facing a real object or resisting its action (for example: imitating the weight in front of the stability of the wall, or imitating the weight on the chair while sitting on it).
2. Foreshortening
An illustration of an action does not have to be done by presenting the action itself. The artist does not have to walk, to convey the feeling of walking. The way he does this is a summary of the act of walking itself into its prominent formative elements. The abbreviation creates a condensation of action. In a pantomime, an action such as walking is usually presented to emphasize the essential physical elements of the movement – which cause walking to look like walking. These elements integrate into time and space and create an illusion. The resulting look seems like walking, but it does not exactly carry the same movements of real walking, and the artist does not go anywhere.
3. Attitude
How the image (or any other action in the pantomime) is displayed. The speed, frequency, and intensity of the action conveys to the audience the mood or emotional state of the image.
Flowing and smooth movements, expressing something completely different from short movements (staccato), creating other meanings for the artist’s action. Walking slowly, with a lowered head, hands swaying to the sides, presents a completely different figure from cheerful walking, dancing hands, and a raised head, although in both cases an imitation of walking, of weightlifting in walking, is made while summarizing the walking movement. This principle is true for every movement in a pantomime.
Read more: Key Elements in Mime – 9 Things for a Great Act
Mime Illusions as a Source of Power
Seemingly, the mime artist seems to limit himself very much in conveying his message, relative to other artists. If the actor has the opportunity to express things in words, costumes, and scenery, and the filmmaker has additional photography angles, and the ability to create a cinematic illusion, the mime artist gives up these aids.
The waiver can be viewed as a source of power. The power of the mime is in creating the space around which there is nothing. The mime can present a few minutes or an entire lifetime in a simple gesture. To make the transition from a young man to an old man demonstration, there is no need to change makeup or outfit, and this ability gives a mime artist a big advantage.
The mime can also define the space he is in, more easily than an actor, for example. A pantomime can make an audience ‘see’ stairs in a place that until a moment ago ‘was’ a swimming pool, without the need to change scenery. In addition, it can create spaces that are designed in a way that does not exist in reality, such as, for example, a space in the center of which stands a sofa that can be passed through.
A mime artist has the potential to illustrate an ongoing change, rather than clinging to a collection, however large, of people and objects.
Mime Illusions
Want to learn some of the basic mime illusions? here are some cool (short) videos.
How to Perform Popular Mime Illusions : Mime Hand Techniques
How to Perform Mime Lifting Weights Illusion
How to perform Mime Illusions professionally: “The Wall”
How to Perform Mime Box Illusion
