~by Liz
Chemistry is that ‘thing’, like music, charisma and art, that has no singular definition nor a particular method for making it ‘sing’ to the audience. Trying to define it is futile. I can only summarize what it is about the chemistry between Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans that ‘hooked’ me, and made me such a huge fan.
In my eyes at least, there are different kinds of chemistry. There is run of the mill chemistry, when two actors in a scene seem to enjoy working together and know their material well enough to ad lib or play in the scenes. Then there is organic, undeniable, off the chart chemistry that Stephen and Mary Beth share: the kind that can’t be manufactured.
I can’t deny the importance of writing in making a successful television/soap opera couple, writing is a major part of chemistry. For example, Stephen and Mary Beth, as Stefan and Katherine, had chemistry in spades! I loved Stefan and Katherine together. But the writers at General Hospital did not deliver their end of the bargain, didn’t commit to telling a story for each of the characters individually, nor together. It was as though the lazy GH writers expected to just throw Stephen and Mary Beth in a scene and have them and their chemistry do all of the work in capturing the audience. The story was rushed and not fully explored. In order to really create a successful soap or TV couple, the story has to build slowly, we have to watch them develop a relationship, layer by layer, and see their emotions deepen as they get to know each other. The greatest love stories on soaps strengthen both characters; bring out the best in each character.
On Days of Our Lives in the 1980’s, there was a real sense that the writers were enjoying ‘the ride’ as much as the audience. The audience was taken up and down a rollercoaster ride and allowed to feel a myriad of emotions. The writers were able to recognize chemistry quickly, and played it for all it was worth. Steve and Kayla didn’t have just two actors with amazing chemistry; they also had a team of people behind the scenes committed to making them successful.
But no matter how hard the writers and producers try to tell us who the next supercouple will be, they don’t have the power to predict that. The audience has to be able to relate to, root for, and make an emotional connection to the individual characters in the “couple”. That isn’t always something the powers that be can control or manipulate.
Chemistry isn’t just in the writing, or just in the formula. I remember when “Patch” the thug came onscreen. We were supposed to despise him. But there was something about the way Stephen Nichols played that role, walked his walk, swaggered his swagger, and played that harmonica…that made the audience want more, more, more. (And when we saw him with Kayla…it was just *over*…a supercouple was born). Steve was larger than life, as most characters in supercouples are. He had “it”, naturally. He spoke to something the audience wanted and needed to see; and the more they saw, the more they wanted. You never know what the audience is going to crave until you offer them a variety of menu options, and let them have at it. When you have the perfect recipe, and the perfect combination of ingredients in that recipe…you only know “how perfect” it is because the audience devours it.
I think many actors can develop a nice rapport and chemistry onscreen when they get comfortable with each other and comfortable with their characters. But standout pairings have that something special, above and beyond the standard, usually from the first moment they share a scene.
Stephen and Mary Beth bring out the absolute best in each other, and whether it is in the script or not, there is a palpable change in the “energy” of a scene when they work with each other (as if they light up the room together). Individually they are able to play such a range of emotions believably; that’s what it takes to truly appeal to the audience. Together, they are electric. Their success as onscreen partners flows from a combination of their natural chemistry, how committed the actors are to the roles they play, the intimacy between their characters that they don’t shy away from creating, and how real-feeling their characters become. On top of that, they trust each other as actors, and know they don’t have to hold back. And still, as much as I try to analyze it away, I think there’s also just a little bit of ‘magic’ involved…an extra special something that you can’t explain away because it’s not like anything seen before.
So to sum up?
Commitment to telling a story and being as real in the moment as possible + incomparable acting range + great trust between actors + a natural energy/connection between scene partners + not being afraid to be vulnerable onscreen + help from the writing/shows they appear on + an extra bit of magic = the ‘secret’ formula for Stephen and Mary Beth’s palpable chemistry.
I have yet to see another pair of actors who have all of that in combination, at the level that Stephen and Mary Beth do.
So what do you think? What is it about Stephen and Mary Beth’s chemistry that sets them apart, and puts them in a league of their own? What is that extra bit of magic?
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