Learning lines All 9 messages in topic - view as tree loobyloo May 24 9:47 am show options Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays From: loobyloo - Find messages by this author Date: Tue 24 May 2005 14:47:15 0100 Local: Tues May 24 2005 9:47 am Subject: Learning lines Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse Hello everybody I’m an almost complete newbie to all this and I wanted to ask your advcie about learning lines. This summer I’ll be performing a one man show in Edinburgh and I need to learn a script that with pauses and so on will last about 40 minutes. I know it’s not Hamlet but it’s quite a lot for someone who hasn’t tackled something like this before. I wonder if anyone knows how more experienced actors go about doing this and what methods have proven effective for learning big chunks of text – Cliff Laine The Old Lard Factory Lancaster http://www.loobynet.com * remove any trace of rudeness before you reply * —————————————————————————————- Reply Jim Beaver May 24 1:06 pm show options Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays From: “Jim Beaver” - Find messages by this author Date: Tue 24 May 2005 17:06:59 GMT Local: Tues May 24 2005 1:06 pm Subject: Re: Learning lines Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse “loobyloo” wrote in message I’ve done several one-man shows of this length or longer. I just learn them paragraph by paragraph: learn a line learn the next one learn them together add the next line till you’ve got the first paragraph down cold. Then start the next paragraph. Once you’ve got it down go back and do both paragraphs together when you’ve got those two paragraphs down solid start paragraph three. Then you can either just keep adding paragraphs or learn each new one in conjunction with the previous one. Either method makes sure that you learn each new paragraph as a connected part to the previous paragraph which helps you maintain the flow of thought. But at least once or twice a day run through the whole thing as far as you’ve learned it and then read aloud the remainder. I’ve never had a very hard time learning a long one-man show this way. Of course the better the material the easier to memorize. Jim Beaver Reply Christopher Jahn May 24 6:50 pm show options Also it’s better to work on your lines while on your feet than sitting down. You will be SPEAKING them while you’re moving around after all. It also keeps your blood pumping and prevents you from sloooowly fading out. A trick I have used for really difficult patches or when I have only a short time to learn them I transcribe the words from the script onto a pad of paper in my own handwriting this forces my brain to process the words on a slightly deeper than simply reading them. Then copying the transcription in your own hand forces you to translate your own handwriting and re-process it as you write it out again. This can be extremely effective. This is how I learned a 5 page monologue in five hours for a production in KEELY AND DU when I was picked to be the understudy after the actor injured himself during the matinee. – :- Christopher Jahn :- http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html Ven Hawkins May 25 3:17 pm show options Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays From: “Ven Hawkins” - Find messages by this author Date: 25 May 2005 12:17:12 -0700 Local: Wed May 25 2005 3:17 pm Subject: Re: Learning lines Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse I’ve used three methods: Method One: Record all the lines on tape. Use a small recorder with a pause button. When it comes your time to deliver a line hit the pause button say the line then listen. Of course since you’re doing a one man show it will always be your turn to talk so just take a chunk of dialog at a time. Method Two: Backwards. Memorize the last line. Then the previous line then the one before that. One each iteration go all the way to the last line. This way the lines you’re least familiar with are the first ones you say. Do it in managable chucks. I don’t use this method alone I still use the tape when I’m driving or some other activity that won’t allow me to use the script. I used this method when I had two weeks to memorize lines for a 2 1/2 hour show in which I played the lead character who was on stage the whole show. Method Three: I don’t try to memorize them at all. This actually works for me in some shows. We”ll have a week or two of blocking with scripts in hand to take notes. I’ve found that quite often I’ll have memorized the script without trying. It’s still a good idea to use the tape method to reinforce your lines to avoid paraphrasing. Good Luck Ven Hawkins Reply Cassiusw90s May 25 9:19 pm show options Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays From: “Cassiusw90s” - Find messages by this author Date: Thu 26 May 2005 01:19:57 GMT Local: Wed May 25 2005 9:19 pm Subject: Re: Learning lines Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse Cliff: One suggestion by which you can kill two birds with one stone is this: Go through your scenes a couple of times and break up the “lines” into units of intention…that is “What does the character want ” “How is he trying to get it ” “What obstacles are in his way ”. Afterwards take an hour a day..or more if possible.. and work through each scene with an index card covering all your lines except the one you’re currently on. As a result of the work above you’ll have memorized stuff without knowing it. And you’ll be memorizing the lines as part of understanding ways in which your character is moving moment to moment through the play.. It may sound pretentious but honestly it works brilliantly. Regards CassiusW90s Jim Beaver May 25 9:34 pm show options I’ve found this method to work very well myself. And not just for monologues. Jim Beaver Reply Mark Cipra May 26 6:50 am show options Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays From: “Mark Cipra” - Find messages by this author Date: Thu 26 May 2005 06:50:26 -0400 Local: Thurs May 26 2005 6:50 am Subject: Re: Learning lines Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse “Cassiusw90s” wrote in message news:1v9le.14501 IX4.2961@twister.nyc.rr.com… Cliff: One suggestion by which you can kill two birds with one stone is this: Go through your scenes a couple of times and break up the “lines” into units of intention…that is “What does the character want ” “How is he trying to get it ” “What obstacles are in his way ”. I wouldn’t say this to a veteran but since you say you’re a newbie … This is very important advice. You’re not memorizing the multiplication tables you’re learning a role. The words arise out of wants actions etc. It’s more akin to learning how to rebuild a carburator than memorizing the phone book. - Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - loobyloo May 28 4:07 pm show options Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays From: loobyloo - Find messages by this author Date: Sat 28 May 2005 21:07:54 0100 Local: Sat May 28 2005 4:07 pm Reply