“Use the difficulty”

Michael Caine talking about rehearsing a play where other actors improvising had got carried away.

β€œThey started throwing things, and he threw a chair, and it lodged in the doorway. And I went to open the door, and I got my head around, and I went [to the director], β€˜I’m sorry, sir, I can’t get in.’

“He said, β€˜What do you mean?’

“I said, β€˜There’s a chair there.’

“He said to me, β€˜Use the difficulty.’

β€œI said, β€˜What do you mean?’

“He said, β€˜Well, if it’s a comedy, fall over it. If it’s a drama, pick it up and smash it. Use the difficulty.’”