Playing grief right off the bat is a tough call for any actor. Thorough and specific preparation needs to happen before each run through. The actor playing Bridget will need to create some very specific images and scenarios to get inside this experience as there is no other stimulus beforehand. The actor playing Ellie on the other hand, will work off her partner's state of being working almost completely in response. She will work with actions such as: to help or to console. The actor playing Bridget needs to build strong images to help her refer to what she has experienced with Abby. What has she seen and heard? How did Abby look when she came in? What was the sound of her voice as she told the jokes and offered Bridget some of her grandma's cakes? The more specific the images created by the actor the stronger the response to the memories and their emotional weight. (See: Specificity of the Image) What was it about Abby that so appealed to Bridget? Was it her ability to be so level headed and mature while suffering trauma? Perhaps Abby reminded Bridget of herself when she was younger? The actor needs to explore the cause of her special connection to Abby as this amplifies the pain and grief that surrounds losing her as a patient. The actor playing Bridget must explore what causes her to have such strong feelings towards Abby. This scene is rich in exposition as much of the character's speech relates to events from the past. This type of scene presents its own challenges to the actor as the exposition must be used in action (such as: to understand or to reconcile) and be supported by the emotional truth of the character's experience. If exposition is not supported by the need of the character it will be received as dry information. Both characters are experienced doctors. On this occasion Bridget has been affected by circumstances beyond her control. Her training cannot totally prepare her for the times when she will make a special connection to a patient and be unable to save them. Bridget grew an immediate affection for Abby. Her sudden death was unpreventable. Bridget did not see it coming as she did not have the x-ray she needed to diagnose the symptoms. Ellie reassures her with compassion and understanding. Ellie is a realist and perhaps her ability to empathise stems from a similar experience in the past. She knows how important it is for Bridget to deal with her own grief and move on. Her professional life depends on it. Those of us who are not in the medical profession can only guess at the affect of dealing with life and death on a daily basis. This scene provides a window into that experience and how two people who care for others for a living might handle the situation in their own way. As characters fight to survive what is Bridget's fight for survival? What are the stakes for Ellie in this fight? Is Ellie's desire to help Bridget informed by a need to justify this type of situation for herself? Exploring and discovering the answers to these questions will no doubt enrich the context of the scene supporting the complexities that arise from extreme situations. |