Easing the comfort acting on stage?

Question:

Easing the comfort acting on stage?

I'm in the musical Guys and Dolls and was cast as Sarah Brown, and I'm having a difficult time being comfortable on stage with the actor playing Sky Masterson. How can I make myself more relaxed, especially during the romantic scenes, kissing scenes, etc. And I need something a little more substantial than "pretend he's someone else". Also, I'm only 17, so I'm having a difficult time dealing with this, especially since he's much older than I am. Also, he's very professional about the whole thing, and he's really trying to loosen me up, I just don't know what's wrong with me! Please, if there's anyone out there with a bit of wisdom, please help me out! Thank you so much!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I primarily do character work [much more fun than romantic roles], but have done my fair share of lovey-dovey stuff onstage.

Here's my take on this situation:

Though you should always strive to "be the character" onstage in performance -- to lose yourself in being another person -- this can come only from doing the preparation work in rehearsal. [Egad, how I loathe directors who want to see performance-level work at the first blocking rehearsal.] If you have to kiss Sky, rehearse the kiss. Detail it to death. Set what both body positions will be, what angle you'll be at if he bends you back, where your hands will be on his shoulders or back when you embrace him. Think choreography -- it's not just for dance numbers. :-) I surmise that you're tense because you feel underprepared, though part of it may be that you're uncomfortable with the whole PDA aspect [that's "public displays of affection"]. But Sky and Sarah simply have to kiss, so you have an obligation to get past this and make it work, for the sake of the audience, the author, your colleagues, and yourself.

Since you asked for wisdom, here are two techniques that have worked for me when I've been in your shoes with this type of role.

1) Don't make eye contact with Sky. Look at his forehead, just above his eyebrows. However, let the actor know ahead of time that you'll be doing this, so he doesn't misinterpret this as more timidity on your part.

2) Since you're doing a role that has been done by hundreds of actors before you, give yourself a high goalpost -- tell yourself that you simply have to be the best artist to ever do that role. Don't HOPE to be -- do the work so that you WILL be. Actually write down the things you need to achieve -- most committed to the character, best arch from Sarah being uptight to letting her hair down, most passionate singing, best comedy when Sarah gets tipsy in the Cuba scene, etc. By listing the aspects to excel at and doing the work to refine each, it will all come together to form a very winning complete performance.

Now log off of Yahoo Answers and get to work! :-)

Oh, and break a leg -- but not literally.