Understand that you will need to change many facets of your psychology as well as your physicality in order to represent the opposite sex. Despite what you may think or what you overheard in the male locker room it is not simple being a man. Begin by changing the most material of things, your clothes, throw on a larger, shapeless coat, some tragic shoes, and a hat (no as a woman in the 80s you would not wear a hat- your hair is a sculpture - see Jane Fonda). Physically you need to take up more space, you have noticed in your observations of men outside the rehearsal room that men are generally lovers of space, taking up as much room as possible. Think back to your journey to rehearsals this morning, could his legs have got any wider and further into your personal space? You have also noticed that men do not walk with their hips in a sultry fashion, it is all about the shoulders, a different rhythm and above all else: confidence. As a man, the man in this story anyhow, you know where you are going stride around with purpose, it feels good. You have also discussed and discovered what his intention is in most scenes of the play now too, so you definitely know what he wants, contrary to an earlier thought, his motives are a little more straightforward than Charlene's. Be glad of this difference (especially because you are beginning to learn how many props you are going to have to remember to use for each character, the simpler the intention the better!) Learn his smooth moves, how he seduces, how he dances. Now you know the tricks of the being a man trade, surprise your fellow actor by sweeping her up into your arms and carry her over the threshold of your imaginary apartment. You will impress the director and choreographer with this move, you will impress yourself with your strength. Pat yourself on the back, you're a hot man! Now you have nailed the physicality and psychology, concentrate on how you talk as a man, it is not all about lowering your pitch, but volume too. Place a greater emphasis on every word. Remember 'behind every consonant is a vowel, just like behind every president there is a wife' . Your voice coach makes you laugh with these comments. It distracts you from your loud man voice, you giggle like a girl. Remember what sex you are trying to be; regain your composure. Be playful with the pitch and keep your voice grounded in the back of your throat, pretend you are talking out the back of your throat with your hand. Have a conversation with another actress playing a man like this. Enjoy the reverberations. Don't forget you are speaking in an Uppercrust Delaware dialect. This is different again to your New Jersey and Brooklyn dialect. Keep slipping into your favourite De Niro impression. Think about who you are talkin' to. Are you talkin' to me?
