Dufresne's Commandment 6: Thou Shalt Show And Not Tell

I’m Lorna King, a Jill of all trades and master of none…yet. I teach film, theatre, journalism, and American literature at George Wythe High School in Wytheville, Virginia. I can clearly identify with Dufresne’s Commandment 6: Thou Shalt Show and Not Tell. I have echoed this same commandment in my theater classes for 18 years. In order for a performer to bring a character to life, give it depth, and inspire a connection with the audience, he or she must show pain, joy, love, and a multitude of other emotions through physical action. Beginning actors are often reluctant to use physicality to establish a character’s feelings or motivations. The same is true of writing. By allowing the reader to make the connection through vivid actions and bold