Mimes And Miming

Mimes and miming are simple words that convey a lot of feeling and an entire form of entertainment that dates back the ancient Greeks and the tragedies they were the most famous for.  The people who have perfected the art of mime have made an impact on religion, ballet, and or course street theatre where you can still find mimes performing today.  Mime – short for pantomime – the mimes that perform this type of theatre extend throughout the world in many different forms having started with mummer plays, and dumb shows in Medieval Europe to finding their way into silent motion pictures during the day with the performances of Charlie Chaplin.

It was the early nineteenth century before white-faced mimes appeared in the genre.  The eyes and mouth are generally outlined in black, embellished with tears or other small designs that are meant to exaggerate the emotions.  Most mimes where black and white clothing.  The most common of costumes – considered cliché today – was the black pants, striped top, white gloves and some form of hat.  Most mimes today forgo the look that has become synonymous with the word mimes.

Mimes make the art they practice look very simple, but it is a lot harder to do than most people think.  As a matter of fact, many modern theatrical schools teach basic courses in miming to help the aspiring actors and actresses learn how to communicate clearly, especially if they are in a situation where they cannot be heard.  Because mimes do not speak when they perform, they use their body to convey their meaning instead.  Facial expressions, hand movements, and body language are all used to express their emotions, feelings, reactions, and attitude.

We have all seen mimes pretend they are caught in a box and trying to get out.  We’ve seem them climbing ropes and ladders, or fighting the wind on a windy day.  All of these are standard techniques that most mimes begin with when first learning the art.  The true test of mimes, though, is making their character interesting.  Some mimes incorporate a story into the act in a way to engage the audience even more.  They will use their clothing and make-up in such a way that it will convey to the audience the mood of the performance.

There are basic constructs that mimes must master that are the building blocks to the techniques that make up their performance.  The fixed point, the line, the dynamic line, and the space/matter manipulation are all concepts mimes use to bring their character to life.  They are not especially difficult to learn, but it takes time and patience to be able to fully master them.  Also, mimes have to be just as careful of injury as dancers and athletes.  Their performance may look flawless and maybe even easy to duplicate, but it can be very strenuous.  Most mimes warm up before taking the proverbial stage.

Some of the world’s most famous mimes included Marcel Marceau, Joseph Grimaldi, and Buster Keaton.  Mimes can be seen in performances of the Cirque Du Soleil, and the art can still be found in the performances of Dick Van Dyke and aspiring mime, comedian Robin Williams.