Corpsing
Corpsing is a theatrical slang term used to describe when an actor breaks character during a scene - usually by laughing or forgetting his or her lines, or by causing another cast member to do so. Though the origin of the term is unknown, it refers to almost literally murdering the scene.
A BBC TV programme on 18 November 2006 stated an opinion that the term "corpsing" originated when there was a corpse on stage, acted by a living actor: there was sometimes a tendency to try to make that actor laugh.
Corpsing is not a term exclusive to the theatre, but is also used to describe actions designed to cause hysteria in live television or radio. One of the most famous examples of this is on Test Match Special in the famous Leg-over incident. Another example is in the sitcom Green Wing. In it, footage is sped-up and slowed down partly for comic effect, but is also used to hide corpsing. Green Wing actress Tamsin Greig (Dr. Caroline Todd) has admitted to a tendency to corpse.[1]
- Not related to theatre: Corpsing(band) is also a death metal band from London, UK.
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