ABSTRACT
One of the basic purposes of most makeup is to assist the actor in the development of a character by making suitable changes in the actor’s physical appearance. It seems reasonable; therefore, that study of makeup should begin with an examination of the principles of character analysis. Historical characters should appear to be of whatever ethnicity or combination of ethnicities they actually were—unless the playwright or director has decided to disregard the historical facts. One must take into consideration not only the general climatic conditions of the part of the world in which the character lives, but also the character’s physical work conditions and leisure-time activities. Offices, mines, fields, foundries, night clubs, and country estates all have different effects upon the people who work or live in them. But remember that a character may have had a variety of environments.
