Out of Bounds 2003:

Five Angry Dentists

Actor Notes

Mort: I envision Mort as the kind of guy who wears too much jewelry and, when he laughs, slaps you on the back hard enough to effect a Heimlich maneuver. Generally, hale and hearty, gets-along-with-everybody type, who couldn't care less about anything of any significance. So: superficial, affable, and easygoing.

Joel: Tara, you've got the right bead on this guy, just play it up as much as you can. He's an intellectual, he's used to using his intellect to browbeat people, and gets totally flummoxed by situations where a sound argument won't help him out.

Stan: I totally agree with how you play Stan at the end of the sketch. I totally disagree with how you play him at the beginning of the piece. Basically, Stan should start out low-status, snivelling and pleading ("Please, stop fighting!" is more of a whining line than a stout-hearted command). Thus he has the line "Now, everybody's going to listen to Stanley for a change." Then, when comes out with the drill, it's more powerful for being new. I dunno. If this sounds full'o'crap, please argue with me. :)

Bud: <shrug> Bob, you wrote most of Bud's lines, so I don't have much to say. Don't count the ballots too slowly. That's it.

Steve: I'm tempted to just play him, not as effete, but noticeably less manly than the rest of the bunch, so that Bud's speech is more clearly motivated, and Steve's Chosin Reservoir speech is a bit more surprising. Beyond that, hell if I know what to do here. Anybody else have any ideas?

Footnotes