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
character choices, the story comes to life in the reader’s mind.