Some of his characters are absolutely shameless, self-centered, and paranoid. Yet, they all possess a grain of wisdom despite how silly and foolish they first appear. I discover each actor's unique ability, whether it be voice, acrobatics, or farcical gestures. Typically, I begin with improvisational exercises. I find that is the best way to familiarize the actors with each other and, most importantly, with the text.
Every text dictates a certain rehearsal as well as performance style.
For The Imaginary Invalid I will familiarize the actors with the comic routines of artists like Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges. These comedians, who owe their talent to the commedia tradition, inspire the actors to use their bodies as comic tools. That type of translation is lifeless. I come to adaptation as a novelist and playwright, so I am aware that a play needs to tell a story as well as entertain. What makes these figures come alive is their truth.