Situation:

SHE "veteran of the stage" and had roles requiring kissing before, 30-ish, engaged and Catholic
HE first time actor, 30-ish, single, "non-demoninational"
BOTH open to idea, and understand it is emotion-free stage business

The play calls for a cheek kiss or two (not a problem) and two other kisses, one noted as "passionately".

Now, in CT it's a little different, and I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, so I'm relieved they both are willing to keep the kissing in. I don't frankly see that the passionate kiss even needs to be passionate, or in fact any different than the others.

I don't believe it is ever a good idea for something even as "innocent" as a kissing scene be practiced outside of rehearsal, especially with only the two actors involved in some other location unmonitored, even in an attempt to work through the uncomfortableness of that first kiss, despite assurances by both of them that "nothing will happen."  Whether it does or doesn't, in a word-against-word situation, it can't be worked out well. And then there is the matter of the Catholic fiance.

So, my question: we obviously need to include the kisses during the rehearsal, but how to get that first lip-lock behind us??? 

And, would you suggest:
1. before starting the rehearsal, just having them kiss each other to get past it?
2. doing this, or running the scene, with only the two of them, me (director) and my SM in attendance? Then bring it to the full cast rehearsal?
3. just telling them "hey, you know you have to kiss, so just do it" and run the scene and let them work it out themselves?
4. other - please elaborate.

Thanks.

Patrick, thanks for your reply, though a touch snippy. No, they aren't JHS students, but your reply underscores an attitude I find all through CT: that just because you are an "actor", that all of your personal sensibilities should be ignored.  Yes, we "actors" are called upon to use language that some (many?) find offensive, occasionally exposed parts of our bodies our parents haven't seen in 30 years and we aren't likely to show them, commit (pretend) acts of violence that otherwise would repulse us to the point of vomiting, and (in this case) allow our personal space to be breeched by another.  Does being an actor mean you have to forego what has meaning and value, because that's how it's written?  Yes, if you don't like it, get in another play, or don't be in theatre at all.  But I don't think we need to leave our morals at the stage door.  I'm just trying to make sure no one feels they've been asked to.

Readers?

Bravo!  Good answer.