How to be Greek - No.2

Something that's essential if you want to be a Greek is always to talk with both hands. It's a constant source of amusement to me to watch Greek TV sitcoms, because the actors always act as though they're on stage in a theatre, where the distance from the actors to the audience demands exaggerated gestures.

I remember years ago listening to a distinguished British actor talking about the difference between TV and Movie acting and the kind of acting required in front of a live audience. British and American (and no doubt Australian and a host of other places too) actors and directors learnt long ago that the camera brings the action right up close and personal, thus meaning that the actors need only to hint at a gesture, tweak the corners of their mouths or lightly move an arm and the viewer gets the message. Two actors I think in my humble opinion who can carry this off with great aplomb are Hugh Bonneville and Michael Kitchen. I'm sure you can think of others too.

Anyway, here in Greece it seems that as a general rule they have yet to cotton on to this and even on daytime TV the hosts (usually blonde shapely females, the blonde colour coming out of a bottle of course) are inclined to do it. 

Thus dear reader, whether you get the opportunity to watch any Greek TV or not, here are your initial exercises, practise them...

Of course, a shoulder shrug every couple of seconds adds oodles of credibility too.

...because the fact is, on every street corner and over every garden wall, you'll also see the melodrama unfold with both hands!!

I'm sure every Greek wants to be an actor in a Greek tragedy really!