An Example Of Mime

The following instructions, called mimography, describe mimetic movements that may be used to portray Jesus' Parable of the Sower.

Copyrights on Mime Numbers Mime numbers and a mime's face (make-up design) are copyrighted. This means they are the sole property of the mime. To use another mime's created piece without permission from the artist is against the law and is unethical. To perform another mime's work, it is necessary to contact the original creator of the piece and receive permission for performance. Like sculpture and painting, the original works of mimography are always better than the copied work. Therefore, they are released by the artist for performance in local church ministry only. Any other use of this work for public performance is an infringement of copyright laws. Information for permission to perform another artist's number should be sought before the performance occurs. The Sower, by Todd Farley Mime Pulpit. The Sower is an example of a pulpit support mime (illustrated sermon) in which the preacher can play an active role as the narrator. This would be placed in the middle of the sermon. It can also be included in a regular mime concert or on the street. Level of Difficulty. Beginner to intermediate. Techniques Used. Variations of the "seed sower hand" and "march of the sower," stomping, and flight. The players should work on these techniques before trying to do the mime. 1. The Seed. The seed starts in a balled up position on the ground. The player sits on his or her feet, head forward to the floor; the arms are around the head on the floor. The technique is described as an exercise where, through use of rhythms, the growth of a seed into a plant such as a flower transpires. Change the rhythm throughout the exercise to make the plant look like it is growing at an accelerated speed, like time-lapse photography (cf. Todd Farley, Mastery of Mimodrame). The players tocs (jerks) from the stomach to begin the process of growth into a plant. He or she should move each part of the body with a different rhythm, making vocal noises commensurate with the movement. The most important point to remember in executing the seed is variety of rhythm and movement: from slow to fast (with and without resistance), smooth (non-stop, breath) to sharp (tocs, succade) and spasmodic. 2. The Sower. The hand position is a complex design using "lyric hand," "hand that takes" (or a variation of "claw hand"), "leaf hand" with "hand that gives." It then uses "marche Grecque" to transfer forward. (These techniques are illustrated on the video Master of Mimodrame II.) Description of hand movement: The right hand starts at the side in "classical hand": a relaxed hand position in which the middle finger is slightly indented (as in ballet). The left arm is slightly opened to the side and to the front, similar to a ballet fourth position. The right hand moves gracefully in a large arc right to left, continuing over the head to the open space between the left arm and the body. While the hand moves to this position, the palm is exposed to the audience in the "lyric hand" position (a flat hand position with the fingers together with the exception of the thumb and small finger). When the right hand arrives to the space between the body and the left arm, it grabs imaginary seeds (a variation on claw hand) in a movement called "hand that takes." The palm is now toward the floor as the fingers close over the "seeds." Turn the right hand over and with a large horizontal arc, release the seed across the path, to the left and to the right. As the "seeds" are released, the right hand shakes ("leaf hand") in order to spread the seed. After spreading the seed, the right hand returns to the right side of the body (ballet first) to begin the movement again. The left hand and arm remain in fourth position and do not move at all. The left arm is meant to create the illusion of the sack of seeds from which the right arm is getting seed to spread. Add to these movements the "marche Grecque." The player breathes in and begins the movement of the right hand, while leaning back in preparation to take a step (backward balance). The player grabs the seed as he passes his central balance, then begins to step forward (and forward balance) onto the right foot while scattering seeds as he breathes out. When he steps on the left foot, he grabs the seed, and when stepping on the right, he scatters the seed. The steps are graceful and majestic. There is a slight glissade (sliding) forward with each step; however, the balance is maintained over the forward foot even as it advances. This creates an appearance of each step floating onto the next. 3. Flight. "Flight" is the technique used for angels and birds. The arms begin in first position along the side of the body. The movement begins with the elbows bending upward lifting the arm. This movement is followed by the wrist and finally the hand. The whole movement is continued until the hands touch over head. After the arms are overhead, they come down by the elbow, twisting and bending down, beginning downward motion which is followed by the wrist and hand. The movement is finished when the arms reach the side of the body, at which time it starts over. The arm movements can be made smaller as the player learns to manipulate his/her elbows, then the movement can be contained within a chest-to-eye-level field of movement. "Oriental hand" or "wave hand" can be added to the end of this movement for extra effect. While the arms are going upward the player goes into "demiplié" (bending the knees). When the arms are coming downward, the player is "tondue" (straightens up) and goes into "relevé" (onto his toes). This creates the illusion of flight. 4. Stomping. Stomping does not need to be refined. The focus is on the caricature of the destructive bully. The "marche" should include a facial expression which is "frozen" like a mask and a one- and two-foot "stomp." The character has the freedom to grunt. Cast: 1 Sower 3 Seeds 1–3 Birds 1–3 Stompers 1 Sun 2 Thorns 1 Group of 30-fold Seed 1 Group of 60-fold Seed 1 Group of 100-fold Seed (30, 60, 100 can be repeats) Minimum: 4 Players Scenario: [The story is a retelling of the parable of the Sower: how he went out to plant his Seed, which is the Word of God, and how it was received or not received into people's hearts. It begins by showing the Sower sowing, continues by portraying the reason for the destruction of the first Three Seeds, and concludes by describing the success of the 30, 60, and 100-fold Seed.] Mimography: The Sower Narrator: (from off stage) "Behold, a sower went out to sow the seeds of truth, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside where the wild birds swooped down and gobbled them up, and the truth was trodden down under the Evil One's foot." Sower (to upstage stage right) walks and sows Seeds taking three to six steps then stops. Give breath cue to Seed. First Seed (center stage right) grows quickly and opens hands with fingers spread apart as if they were the petals of the plant's flower. The Seed is now presented as a plant. The player remains on his knees. Birds (from upstage left) fly to Seed and surround the first Seed, one on either side of it and one behind it. Look at audience. Look at Seed. Look at audience and show hunger and wicked grins. First Bird slowly brings arms above head and back in a counterpoint then "picks" and eats the first petal (finger) on the plant. The Second and Third Birds follow the example nodding encouragement to each other and cooing contentment. The eating becomes frenzied as the Three Birds attack the fingers in an eating rage. They fly off, licking their fingers happily, flying off with leaps and with arabesques. First Seed As the Birds eat each petal (finger), bend the finger as if it has been removed and show fear of the Birds. Then show pain at their frenzied attack. Whimper at the audience as the Birds fly off. Show the audience stubby hands as a plea for sympathy. Stompers stomp on stage and surround first Seed in a half circle, leaving opening revealing the Seed. Look at the Seed. Look at the audience, laugh wickedly at the audience, then at each other. Stop. The Stompers jump and grunt as they stomp around the Seed, complete one circle and stop. First Seed reacts with jerking changes of positioning as the Stompers jump about. When they have finished, the Seed is all the way on the ground again, as in the beginning. The Seed tries to recover, shuddering and breathing in and looking to the audience as it struggles to rise. Stompers see the Seed trying to recover and give one final great stomp. [First Seed responds to the final stomp by being violently cast down in a slightly sprawled out position. Stompers laugh and stomp off.] Narrator: "Some of the seeds of truth fell upon rocky ground and some even on the rocks, where they had but scanty soil. They sprang up quickly in the shallow soil, shooting up and sprouting charismatically; like those who receive the Seed of Truth straightway with joy, but it takes no real root in them. They endure for a while but lack any staying power and are unable to hold out long against the affliction and persecution of the sun's heat. Therefore, the seed is scorched and because it has no roots it withers away, becoming dry and dead." Sower (to upstage stage center) walks and sows Seeds taking three to six steps then stops. Give breath cue to Seed. Second Seed (center stage) grows quickly (staying on its knees) using gestures that resemble a charismatic Christian stereotype. Last pose is that of open hands up in a "hallelujah" and a big grin. Sun (directly behind second seed) rises from behind the Seed facing the audience. As it rises it uses its arms in large round sweeping movements which shoot above the head and then come back in a graceful arc to the sides. The hand and arm design is a variation on "lyric hand." The Sun beams down on the Seed with a malicious look. The Sun continues to move its arms in a round motion as the Seed. Second Seed begins to sweat, indicated by blinking, fanning itself, wiping its brow, and smelling its clothes: each gesture is separated for effect and accelerates in rhythm (increase speed and intensity). After each gesture the Seed tries to look happy-go-lucky until it tries to relieve itself with another gesture during which it shows the audience its discomfort. The Seed begins to wither whimpering and "oohing" as its hands melt closed, its arms retract, its body quivers and shrinks into itself until the Seed is on the floor. [The Sun interrupts its "beaming" to give a gesture of triumph toward the audience (thumbs-up, brushing its fingernails, or showing its muscles), then it sits still using the round movement of the arms until it is hidden behind the Seed again.] Narrator: "Another seed fell among the thorns of anxiety, thistles of worry, and the brambles of worldly care. As the seed grew, the thorns, thistles, and brambles shot up and offered the seed false glamor, wealth, and the lusts of life. While the seed was lost in its own cravings, the thorns completely choked its life out. Since it could not yield fruit it died with nothing to show for its life." Sower (to upstage stage left) walks and sows Seeds taking three to six steps then stops. Give breath cue to Seed. Third Seed (center stage left) grows up with gestures of wealth, pride, and glamor (fixing its hair, polishing its fingernails, etc.). The last position is one of posing for a glamor photo, breathe out or hit the floor with foot to indicate to the Thorns of finish. (As with the others the Seed only grows up onto its knees.) Thorns (two players: upstage and to either side of the Seed) upon hearing the cue to go, shoot up with clawed hands in the air and evil faces grunting at the audience. Grunt toward Seed. Grunt toward each other, snicker, and begin attack approach to the Seed. [The Seed inhales dropping arms, looking forward in concern. Brief stop … on the stop Thorns drop arms and assume an innocent facial expression. The Seed looks back sharply to see the Thorns and stops. The Thorns smile and wave at her. The Seed turns back slowly to the audience and shrugs her shoulders and refreezes with a toc into a glamor pose.] [The Thorns then resume their evil aggressive attack, grabbing her around the throat and choking her to the ground. The Seed shoots out its arms reaching for help, gasping like the lady victim of a Dudley Do-Right film.] [Once on the ground, the Thorns grab a mime dagger and plunge it into the body of the Seed; the Seed's body reacts, arching upward as the dagger is pulled out (this is comic rather than tragically done). The Thorns then throw away the dagger, look toward the audience, laugh, and shoot back down to the floor.] Narrator: "The last are those good seeds which are received in the soil of the open heart, where the word is accepted and taken in. Embraced by the good soil the seed of truth multiples in the lives of those who accept it, bringing forth fruit thirty times." [The Sower walks backward to upstage stage right.] All Others While the narrative is being read all players roll into three groups. A Large Group (thirty fold) of "Seeds" center stage right, a Medium Group (sixty fold) of Seed center stage, and a Small Group (hundred fold) center stage left. [On the cue "thirty times," the Sower sows Seed, then stops. The Large Group (thirty fold) grows to sitting positions with arms up and faces shining.] Narrator: "sixty times" [On the cue "sixty times," the Sower sows Seed, then stops. The Medium Group grows up onto their knees with arms up and faces aglow.] Narrator: "and a hundred times as much as was sown." [On "a hundred times," the Sower sows Seed, then stops, and the last Small Group grows to a standing position, arms up and faces aglow. All freeze.] Narrator: "If any man has ears to hear, let him hear! Be careful how you listen, give your minds to that which you have heard by sight and sound: for from that which you have received you shall be able to give to others, and the more seeds of truth you measure and deal out to others, the more it shall be given and added unto you." [End mime with neutral walk off the stage by players. At this point the pastor would continue his sermon.]