Masking and Performance: Character Matching (Peas in a Pod)

Episode 6 of the neurodiversity podcast (embedded blow) was on doing peas in a pod scenes in improv. This is when you match the point of view, physical, or vocal elements of the person you are doing a scene with.

Masking, a common trait of neurodivergent humans, involves mimicking others in a similar manner to this. You might try to fit in socially, for example, if you match the person you are having a conversation with.

Most humans change some aspects of their personality when they are in different settings. However, you might find your neurodivergent mindset elevates this, and impacts your life in different ways.

So how does masking impact acting in scenes? Read the following article to find out more.

Masking and Character Acting Reference Guide

This article has now been revised and improved, and is available for download. It includes a reference on masking in character acting, and how to approach:

1. Character matching and “peas in a pod” scenes

2. Approaching grounded and “voice of reason” characters

Find this complete reference for download here:

All of my other articles are being updated, revised, and otherwise “cleaned up.”

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Episode 6: Masking and Improv – Peas in a Pod Scenes

Masking is a common behaviour for autistic and/or ADHD people (or those of us who are both). It’s sometimes referred to as camouflaging, mimicking, or being a social chameleon. You might mask subconsciously – you might not even realize you do it! But it’s essentially suppressing your natural reactions, responses, physicality or expressions in order to hide some of your natural behaviours or instincts. Your first reaction.

Masking can help you fit in with the crowd, make social connections, or avoid punishment at work or school. It can also be exhausting, among other things.

Masking affects your improv in good ways, and also some challenging ways. It affects the way you approach grounded characters and scenes, the way you do voice of reason, host shows, and of course… helps quite a bit with peas in a pod or character matching scenes!

This episode covers the intersection of masking and peas in a pod scenes in improv, after a bit of an infodump about what masking is, and why we do it. I hope it makes sense. I don’t know if it will, this stuff is weird and imposter syndrome is real.

Listen to the episode

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