No two productions of a play are the same. No two actors will play the character you wrote the same way. Each actor brings his/her skills to a role. The more skilled the actor, the better the portrayal. While this can remove slight problems with the script, a strong script (the writing) is absolutely essential to the success of a play.
This is not easy.
To help actors, here's a few tips:
1. Be consistent.
2. Always go through the director if you have a comment or problem with the way your play is being acted.
3. If you DO speak to the actors (like we've been doing), keep your comments and suggestions at their level: i.e., speak to an actor about motivation, character, and action. Do not give them line readings, or gush about the play's theme or philosophical underpinnings. An actor's job is to explore. Let them.
4. Always be polite. No one wants to work with a jerk.
During the staged reading or a rehearsal:
1. Listen to where an actor stumbles or struggles with a line. This is your cue to fix awkward phrasing and/or action.
2. Pay attention to when an actor does not say your line correctly or paraphrases your lines. This also needs cutting, correction, or editing.
3. Come to a reading/rehearsal with a pen and your script. Follow along as the play is performed or acted through and listen for changes, mark your script, take notes, etc.
4. Always be polite. No one wants to work with a jerk.
Today, please have a copy of your script with you and a pen/pencil. During the performance, take notes. Save these for your rewrite. Collect scripts and materials from actors if they have them for you.
HOMEWORK: None.
This is not easy.
To help actors, here's a few tips:
1. Be consistent.
2. Always go through the director if you have a comment or problem with the way your play is being acted.
3. If you DO speak to the actors (like we've been doing), keep your comments and suggestions at their level: i.e., speak to an actor about motivation, character, and action. Do not give them line readings, or gush about the play's theme or philosophical underpinnings. An actor's job is to explore. Let them.
4. Always be polite. No one wants to work with a jerk.
During the staged reading or a rehearsal:
1. Listen to where an actor stumbles or struggles with a line. This is your cue to fix awkward phrasing and/or action.
2. Pay attention to when an actor does not say your line correctly or paraphrases your lines. This also needs cutting, correction, or editing.
3. Come to a reading/rehearsal with a pen and your script. Follow along as the play is performed or acted through and listen for changes, mark your script, take notes, etc.
4. Always be polite. No one wants to work with a jerk.
Today, please have a copy of your script with you and a pen/pencil. During the performance, take notes. Save these for your rewrite. Collect scripts and materials from actors if they have them for you.
HOMEWORK: None.
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