A balloon.

At The National Theatre School of Canada around 1970, the director John Hirsch made a speech to the students.

In his speech, talking about the shaping and pacing of a play and the actor’s role in that, he used the analogy of a balloon.

He said one had to be aware of how much air they were taking out of the balloon.

At certain points in the play, scene, or speech only a small amount of air should be let out. At other points more air.

To let out too much air and deflate the balloon at the wrong time is the error to avoid. Too much air too soon, leaving none left.

While preparing an audition recently I reflected on the job my character was there to do in the episode of the TV series. I had started off taking too much air out of the balloon.

I considered why the writers had written that character and how the character’s device served the story.

That informed me to lessen the amount of air I was taking.

When we take the right amount of air out of the balloon in each line, speech and scene the balloon empties naturally.

Leaving the audience happy to watch as it deflates - from full to empty.

(In 1965, Hirsch, founder of the Manitoba Theatre Centre, directed the landmark production of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage starring Zoe Caldwell.)