Actors face a challenge when trying to depict a realistic death scene. They need to balance realism with dramatic effect. To overcome this, experienced performers have shared some advice.
When Meghan Wolf played Desdemona in "Othello," the biggest challenge was technical. She had to act like she was suffocating without holding her breath, which would ruin the scene. The trick is to act like you can't breathe while breathing naturally.
Another challenge is portraying the moments after death. James Newcomb suggests collapsing facing upstage or on your side to avoid heaving. To convincingly portray a death scene, actors must understand the stages of dying, including fighting for life, realizing the inevitable, releasing the fight, making the last effort to communicate, and the breath leaving the body.
Actor Tony Amendola recommends reading "How We Die" to learn about the physical effects of different types of deaths. Greta Oglesby, who played Gertrude in "Hamlet," found it challenging to portray being poisoned. She imagined shortness of breath, a little delirium, and being in and out of consciousness.
To convincingly portray a death scene, actors must control their breathing, understand the stages of dying, consider the physical sensations of death, and take into account the circumstances of the scene. These techniques and considerations can help actors create a believable and emotionally resonant portrayal of death on stage.