Need to portray AS for an improv show

Page 1 of 1 [ 9 posts ] 

ForgottenDarkness
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 4 Mar 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 132

06 Mar 2009, 6:55 pm

I need to be an Aspie for am improv drama show, however, I have no clue how to do it.
What do I need to know?

What are the vocal qualities? (raspy, gurglely, nasaly, gravely)
Is there any distinct movements?
Any common catch phrases?
Common actions?
What do I need to know?



Tahitiii
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 1 Jul 2008
Age: 70
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,214
Location: USA

06 Mar 2009, 7:20 pm

Please don't. It won't help.
There are no specific mannerisms or common actions.



riverotter
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 970
Location: the frosty midwest

06 Mar 2009, 7:28 pm

Oooh, I love improv comedy!! !
And I hate being made fun of!



zghost
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,190
Location: Southeast Texas

06 Mar 2009, 8:21 pm

Base it on taking things WAY to literally. Think of words that just don't make sense, and try to work up an explaination. For example, a parkway: Why do they call it that? What might happen if you actually parked there? Stuff like that.

If you do anything voice-wise, probably keep it kind of deadpan flat. For the whole "I want to laugh but I'm getting uncomfortable" effect. Is it a joke, or are you serious?

I'd skip the "distinct movements" part, too many people will jump straight to ret*d.

Catch phrases? No. But make up one and overuse it, why not.

Maybe go to youtube and search for Asperger's or aspie, watch and study?



Callista
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 3 Feb 2006
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 10,775
Location: Ohio, USA

06 Mar 2009, 9:01 pm

It's usually kind of subtle...

You could use someone who speaks really formally. Not all of us do that, but it's common. Talk like you're reading out loud, and use very precise words. Mostly you'll see that in people in their midteens or younger; older people will most likely have taught themselves casual speech. Or you could just do the "shy" thing.

Movements--well, you probably won't see really obvious, constant stims most of the time, not with most Aspies. You could try stiff posture or gestures like hair-twirling, touching fingers to thumb repetitively, playing with the edges of clothing or with a small object, that kind of thing. Think "fidgeting".

Many Aspies will have a favorite topic. For example, I have one Aspie friend who spends a lot of time talking about her cats, and another who is fascinated with mathematics. So if yours has a subject like that, he can come back to it often. It probably won't be extremely weird, because if you are AS and you have a very narrow or odd interest, you learn not to talk about it. On the other hand, more mainstream interests can serve as conversation starters or even bridges to friendship. So it's not uncommon to hear an Aspie talking rather often about a favorite computer game or movie, for example. I tend to go back to psychology and physics, but I'm odder than most.

The big problem with your improv thing is that if you are portraying AS realistically, it may not be obvious enough to get across to the audience, unless your audience has a lot of Aspie/auties in it.


_________________
Reports from a Resident Alien:
http://chaoticidealism.livejournal.com

Autism Memorial:
http://autism-memorial.livejournal.com


ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

06 Mar 2009, 9:02 pm

ForgottenDarkness wrote:
I need to be an Aspie for am improv drama show, however, I have no clue how to do it.
What do I need to know?

What are the vocal qualities? (raspy, gurglely, nasaly, gravely)
Is there any distinct movements?
Any common catch phrases?
Common actions?
What do I need to know?


Be extremely literal and do not pay attention to face or body language. Be as obtuse as you can be, even if it is an act. Excessive correctness in enunciation and a slight monotone will do nicely for you. Practice it and your NT buddies will not recognize you.

ruveyn



MONKEY
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 3 Jan 2009
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Posts: 9,896
Location: Stoke, England (sometimes :P)

07 Mar 2009, 4:33 am

Be really pedantic and correct people alot, and talk in a formal way, do the whole literal thing
Just think sheldon from big bang theory, if he isn't one no-one is


_________________
What film do atheists watch on Christmas?
Coincidence on 34th street.


zer0netgain
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Mar 2009
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,615

07 Mar 2009, 8:22 am

I'm not sure why an improv show would want to go into that kind of detail, but....

There is more than enough info on AS out there to give you an idea of what mannerisms a person with AS may have to contend with. That information also explains why someone with AS struggles to fit in with NT people.

If you're trying to get into character, focus on how you would feel if you found yourself to be a "freak" who never fits in but must try and fit in with those around him. At least that carries the more subtle actions/reactions of your character.

How much AS symptomology to exhibit will vary on the nature of the character you are playing. If you are an adult who works a job, you don't want to make it obvious since AS people who are productive adults learn to conceal their AS fairly well, but still have occasional awkward moments and difficulty in social situations. Younger people tend to have more obvious symptoms because they have not learned how to adapt as much as adults have.

There is also the issue of high versus low functioning. Some AS people have more problems because they exhibit more obvious signs of autism than others. The danger in portraying a "stereotypical" person with AS is that there really is no correct stereotype.



riverotter
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 970
Location: the frosty midwest

07 Mar 2009, 10:42 am

Good points, but...comedy is supposed to be funny (i.e., exaggerated).