Amadeus: Performers' physical interpretation of character (build, age, height, facial features, movement, posture, gesture, facial expression) – A Level Drama and Theatre OCR Revision

Amadeus: Performers’ physical interpretation of character (build, age, height, facial features, movement, posture, gesture, facial expression)

In ‘Amadeus’, the physical attributes such as build, age, and height of the performers are crucial in portraying the characters effectively. These aspects are often emphasised or downplayed to create contrasting images between characters like Mozart and Salieri.
Facial features also play a significant role in character portrayal. Salieri’s serious, controlled features might contrast with Mozart’s youthful, expressive face, reflecting their character differences and conflicts.

The movement and posture of the performers act as a physical manifestation of their character’s emotional and psychological states. For example, Mozart’s flamboyant, erratic movements can mirror his free spirit and creative genius.
Conversely, Salieri might adopt a more stiff, formal posture reflecting his more conservative personality and pent-up jealousy. The stark differences in their movements and postures heighten the contrast between their characters.

Gesture in ‘Amadeus’ is employed to denote the character’s feelings, reactions, and motivations. Salieri’s restrained gestures, for example, might exhibit his public decorum and private frustration, while Mozart’s passionate, exaggerated gestures could express his creative eccentricity.
Facial expressions are heavily relied upon by the performers to convey their inner emotional states. From showing Salieri’s simmering rage and envy to depicting Mozart’s joy or despair, nuanced facial expressions significantly contribute to the characterisation.
Recognising the importance and impact of facial expressions, performers often deploy a range of expressions from subtle shifts to more dramatic changes to echo the emotional complexity of their characters. The contrast between Salieri’s often controlled expressions and Mozart’s animated, childish ones further highlights their character dichotomy.

The performers’ physicality develops throughout the play in alignment with their character arc. As Salieri’s resentment grows, for example, his physical portrayal might become more rigid and intense.
In the case of Mozart, physical decline might mirror his deteriorating health and fortunes, providing a visual indicator of interior changes, and helping to intensify the drama’s tragic elements. The physical interpretations of both characters present a dynamic reflection of the play’s thematic development.