Please use these tips to help you get offbook!
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Newsletter: Working with Actors
Tricks and Treats of Memorizing Lines
By Brian Hampton
Brian Hampton
is an actor, playwright, and producer. He is a member of both the
Dramatists Guild of America and the Actors Equity Association. He is
passionate about theatre, animal rescue, and spreading the truth about Gossip, his play with Pioneer Drama.
Because I often act in my own plays, people always
assume it’s easier for me to memorize my lines because I wrote them. I
wish! Unfortunately, it’s not the case. In fact, it’s just as
difficult for me to get off-book as anyone else — whether it’s my own
writing or someone else’s.
In my over 20 years of acting, I’ve discovered some
great tricks to memorizing lines. Hopefully, these will help you out —
or perhaps inspire you to come up with your own!
TRICK #1: The traditional moving piece of paper. I
bet everyone has done this memorizing trick. You highlight your part(s)
and fold a separate piece of paper. You move it down the page as you
come to each of your lines. You pause while your line is covered, and
then you reveal it to see if you got it right or what you need to work
on. This is the first way I learned. And, it’s very useful.
TRICK #2: Use index cards. Here’s a
technique I use in almost every single show I’m in. Buy a stack of
index cards. First, be sure to number the cards! On one side, write
down the character’s name and his or her line before yours. (Note: If
the line is something short, like, “Yeah!” then write two). On the
other side, write (preferably in a different color ink) your line that
follows. If you need to, separate them into Acts (for longer plays and
musicals). When you’re done, go through them like flash cards until
you’re ready to... brace yourself ... SHUFFLE THEM. Yes. Try to do
them out of order. This trick not only creates memorization but
sharpens your memory recall for your cues.
TRICK #3: Use your voice memo on your phone or any
other recording device. This is especially good for scenes between two
people. Record only the other person’s lines. Read them out loud.
Then give a silent pause in the spot where your line will be spoken. Be
sure to give about 1 ½ times the amount of time for yourself. I like
to slowly (almost in slow motion) “mouth” my line so I know I’m
recording enough space to remember it. That way, if I make a mistake, I
have enough time to fix it before the next line is played. Play and
practice over and over until you can go through the entire recording
smoothly.
TRICK #4: For monologues, do the same thing as Trick
#3 with your voice memo or recording device. This time, though, say
your monologue and act it out. Then play it over and over while you go
about your day. Have you ever wondered how quickly you learn the lines
of a song? It’s because you listen to it over and over and over again.
Do the same with your monologue! It works!
TRICK #5: When you’re at least 90% memorized, ask
someone to “read lines” with you. But make it fun for them too. Tell
them they are more than welcome to act out the other roles. If you wait
until you know at least 90%, it will be way more fun for your reader,
and way more rewarding for you. Here’s a tip for this trick: make sure
you’re ready! Otherwise, it can be frustrating and a real bummer for
you both. Advanced memorizers: when you are 100% ready, ask your
reading partner to say the lines fast, and you do the same. This will
really solidify them and make you even quicker.
Memorizing lines can be difficult. Trust me, I
know! But, here’s the TREAT to your TRICKS. Your true acting choices
emerge once you know your lines. That’s when the real fun of being in a
play or musical happens. Your mind is not thinking, “What’s my next
line?” It’s thinking as the mind of the character you’re portraying.
You are in the moment. And that’s when great acting ignites!
Hope these help! Break a leg!
