Jill's session on "The Magic IF"

In Jill's first session we looked at the magic if, this is quite a simple concept of questioning if something happens to my character how would I react? We were placed into groups of three and given the scenario of being robbed in our home. I worked with Andrew and Danielle, Andrew was the robber and Danielle was my daughter, I was asked if you were robbed how would you react? We firstly didn't do too well as Andrew wasn't comfortable in performing this, but the second time we gave it a go we all really got into it to begin the improvisation but some of us got too into it and it got out of hand. This was a good example of how quickly a piece can move from realistic and truthful to theatrical and unbelievable within a second. We did this exercise to work our imagination through improvisation and to experience the sensation of becoming a character and reacting truly and honestly to a situation. After this session I have started to use the magic if when approaching my character, especially in the last monologue, originally I performed it quite neutrally with a lack of emotion but then I asked myself: how would you feel if you lost a child? How would you feel if you separated from someone who you had left your whole privileged life behind for? Would you feel resentment towards Jimmy for not caring for you and the child? Or fighting for your relationship? All of these questions came up in my head allowing me to become more emotionally connected to my character and portray this through facial expression and producing a swell of tears in my eyes.