Learning lines
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loobyloo May 24, 9:47 am show options
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays
From: loobyloo
Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 14:47:15 +0100
Local: Tues,May 24 2005 9:47 am
Subject: Learning lines
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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 *
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Jim Beaver May 24, 1:06 pm show options
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays
From: “Jim Beaver”
Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 17:06:59 GMT
Local: Tues,May 24 2005 1:06 pm
Subject: Re: Learning lines
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“loobyloo”
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
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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”
Date: 25 May 2005 12:17:12 -0700
Local: Wed,May 25 2005 3:17 pm
Subject: Re: Learning lines
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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
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Cassiusw90s May 25, 9:19 pm show options
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays
From: “Cassiusw90s”
Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 01:19:57 GMT
Local: Wed,May 25 2005 9:19 pm
Subject: Re: Learning lines
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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
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Mark Cipra May 26, 6:50 am show options
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays
From: “Mark Cipra”
Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 06:50:26 -0400
Local: Thurs,May 26 2005 6:50 am
Subject: Re: Learning lines
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“Cassiusw90s”
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.
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loobyloo May 28, 4:07 pm show options
Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.plays
From: loobyloo
Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 21:07:54 +0100
Local: Sat,May 28 2005 4:07 pm
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