I like actors that are good with pantomime and that can transmit

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The evening was heavy with the scent of rain-soaked streets, the sound of distant thunder rumbling across the darkening sky. The dim light of the street lamps flickered and reflected off the wet pavement, casting long, angular shadows that seemed to shift with every gust of wind. Inside a small, rustic theater, the whispers of an audience were hushed, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Jack and Jeeny sat in the last row of the balcony, the smell of old wood and velvet seats filling the air. The stage below was empty for the moment, save for the single spotlight that hung above, casting a soft glow on the wooden boards.

Jeeny was watching the empty stage, her gaze intense, while Jack seemed distracted, his attention drifting between the performers and the echoes of the conversation they’d just had. He leaned back, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.

Jack: (His voice musing, though with a hint of skepticism)
“You know, I never really got the whole pantomime thing. People always talk about how expressive the actors are, but I just see a lot of empty gestures. Isn’t it all just showing off? I mean, how much can someone really say without words?”

Jeeny: (Turning to him, her voice calm but filled with a quiet passion)
“Actually, it’s not about the gestures themselves, Jack. It’s about presence. The way someone can convey emotion, mood, just by how they stand, how they move, how they fill the space. Silence speaks more than words sometimes.”

Host: The stage lights flicker in the distance, and the sound of footsteps on the stage below echoes through the theater. A single figure appears, a silhouette against the dark backdrop. Jack watches, still unsure, as Jeeny's gaze intensifies, the quiet tension in the room palpable.

Jack: (A faint smirk, still unsure)
“So, you’re telling me that you can actually feel what someone’s trying to say just by their stance? That doesn’t seem possible. Words are everything, aren’t they? How can someone convey a feeling without actually saying anything?”

Jeeny: (Her eyes never leaving the stage, her voice gentle yet firm)
“It’s not about the words, Jack. Words can only go so far. What about the way someone stands? The way they move their body, or how their eyes communicate something without a single syllable being spoken? Acting is about presence. And that’s exactly what Guillermo del Toro was talking about when he said he likes actors who are good with pantomime.”

Host: Jack leans forward slightly, the expression on his face shifting from disbelief to curiosity. The figure on the stage is now in motion, their every movement sharp, deliberate, and yet graceful. The audience around them holds their breath in the stillness, awaiting the first word to break the silence.

Jack: (His voice more intrigued now, as he watches the performer move)
“Alright, I see what you mean, but how do you know what they’re trying to express? How does it become clear what they’re saying without hearing it?”

Jeeny: (Turning to him, her voice soft but filled with a quiet understanding)
“Presence is about intuition, Jack. You don’t need words when you understand the way someone is standing — the way they hold themselves. There’s a depth to it. It’s about a feeling, a moment they create without needing to speak. It’s the same as when you look at someone, and their eyes tell you everything you need to know, without them saying a single word.”

Host: The actor on stage pauses for a moment, the silence between them filled with a strange, haunting stillness. The way the performer moves their hands, the way they lift their chin — it’s not just action, it’s emotion. The entire audience seems to lean in, following the rhythm of the actor’s unspoken presence. The room holds its collective breath.

Jack: (Quietly, almost to himself, watching the actor now)
“...So it’s like the whole performance is alive, even without the words. There’s weight to every gesture, every look. You can almost feel the emotion, even if they’re not saying anything.”

Jeeny: (Her eyes sparkling, as though Jack is finally seeing it)
“Exactly. The best actors don’t need to speak to make us understand them. Their presence, their attitude, can communicate more than any line of dialogue ever could. It’s not about saying the right words, it’s about being present enough to make people feel what you’re feeling.”

Host: The stage is now fully alive with movement. The actor shifts from one position to the next, a change in stance, a tilt of the head, a sudden gesture — each one is a word, each one tells a story. The audience is completely silent, only the occasional inhale marking their engagement. Jack sits back, no longer skeptical, now fully drawn into the performance.

Jack: (A soft laugh, as if a realization has just hit him)
“I get it now. It’s like... like when you watch a silent film, right? The actor’s expression, their body language, becomes the entire performance. You feel the story, the emotion, even without the words.”

Jeeny: (Her smile is soft, almost triumphant)
“That’s exactly it. It’s pure emotion without the need for anything extra. Great actors use their presence to create something that words can’t. And it’s what makes them unforgettable. They transmit everything through their attitude, through how they hold their body, through every gesture.”

Host: The performance reaches its climax, the actor’s presence so intense it feels as though the room itself is holding its breath. The audience sits entranced, unable to look away, caught in the power of the unspoken. Jack watches, his gaze fixed, as if for the first time understanding the depth of what Jeeny had been saying. The actor gives one last gesture, a simple movement of their hands, and the audience erupts into applause. The lights dim.

Jack: (Looking at Jeeny, a genuine smile spreading across his face)
“You were right. I guess there’s more to acting than I ever realized. Presence, attitude, it’s like a whole other language. And you don’t need words to speak it.”

Jeeny: (Her eyes soft, satisfied)
“Exactly. It’s the language of the body, the soul. The greatest actors are the ones who speak without words, who make you feel everything just by being there.”

Host: The lights come up slowly, casting the room in a soft glow as the audience begins to stir, still buzzing with the energy of what they’ve just witnessed. Jack sits back, a new understanding dawning in his eyes. The stage is empty now, but in his mind, the performance lingers, its silent power still echoing in the quiet of the theater.

End Scene.