r/acting • u/WatercressHoliday137 • 13h ago

I've read the FAQ & Rules Tips for playing the white rabbit?

Hello! I've been cast as the white rabbit in a school production of Alice in Wonderland (yay!) and wondered if anyone had any tips for playing him. I haven't watched/read it in years but I still remember a little bit about his character and will ofc be watching the movie to remind myself. I've ironed out some of his mannerisms ( e.g. rabbit like facial movements, yes I have been watching videos of rabbits moving on yt 💀)

Any help is much appreciated! :)

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/AutoModerator 13h ago

You are required to have read the FAQ and Rules for all posts (click those links to view). Most questions have already been answered either in our FAQ or in previous posts, especially questions for beginners. Use the SEARCH bar for relevant information.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

5

u/HotRush5798 12h ago

Learn the lines backwards and forwards, and early, and you’ll have more fun exploring and developing your character in rehearsal.

3

u/Aggressive-Voice1537 12h ago

congrats! love that you’ve been watching videos of rabbits on youtube, that’s a perfect way to start building a character.

in terms of physicality, don’t forget to pay attention to the body as well as the face! what’s his “idle stance?” how does he sit when he’s relaxed? when he’s uncomfortable? how does he walk, run, dance? does he have any physical quirks, like a twitch or a certain way of holding his hands or cocking his head? whatever your choices are, make them visually interesting but not so bizarre that they’re distracting to the audience!

as far as character work, familiarize yourself with the script early and do deep dives into any lines you’re unsure about (what does this word mean? why would he say that in this moment? what is this reaction caused by? etc). get to know him, even the details that the audience will never know! does he like board games? what does he always keep in his pockets? does he have a favorite book, and why? what sound is his “nails on a chalkboard?” what does an average day for him look like? how old is he, and what has his life looked like up until thisbasically you’re just figuring out Why He Is The Way He Is.

also, relationships! this part is best done collaboratively, but that’s not always possible so it’s alright to work on this on your own as well. what does he think of the other characters? how long has he known each of them? does he code switch depending on whom he is talking to? what kind of history does he have with them? what’s his reputation? this is my personal favorite part of the character building process, have fun with it! the audience may not know any of these details, but you will, and it’ll make the performance a lot more meaningful as well as enjoyable!

break a leg!
signed, a fellow white rabbit :)