Question : I do professional stage theater. Can anyone help me with crying ideas?
I am in “Hamlet” as a player (for the play-within-the-play) and I perform a monologue for Hamlet and Polonius, and when I am finished, Polonius comments that there are tears in my eyes. I have tried digging my fingernails into an onion and putting it near my eyes before I do my monologue, but it sometimes works, and sometimes doesn’t. If I try too hard, then my eyes burn and I can’t do anything except rub them. But if I don’t try hard enough, it doesn’t work. I’m also trying to do it without the onion, just thinking sad thoughts. But I’m not quite to the stage in my career where I’m skilled enough to make tears come in an instant. Any suggestions?
I might as well add that this play is being performed in the tiniest possible theater space, so you can most definitely see whether a person has tears in their eyes or not. That’s why it’s neccessary for me to have them. Just a note.
professional staging

Best answer:

Answer by madsfield1
Old actors trick………….pull out a nose hair if you can. Works every time!