At the beginning of the year, our department has one audition after another. The thing that has always struck me about these auditions and become a bit of a bane in my side is how students are perceiving and preparing for these auditions. All through the year I preach how the words are only a springboard for the real meat of the play – and that is the thoughts and intentions between the words. What gets you cast is not about your ability to say the words. What gets you cast is your ability to find and experience SOMETHING between the words. One moment of meaningful silence is more likely to get you called back then all the clever recitations you can dream of. It is not a reading contest!
Students fill the hall on those audition dates, broken into pairs, scripts in hands and rattle the words over and over again as if it were some sad old prayer that might get better the faster and more frequently it is mumbled out. Stop. For the love of Thespis, stop!
If only you were to say but a word or two and look above the pages to truly see who you are talking to – – and then just send them some intention you find in the script. And then, if we could only see that person truly catch it, let it run around their heart a bit and nudge it back to you – – your job would be done. Stop talking!
Read though the script or “side” you are given and find the thing the character is UNABLE to say – – or at least take a good guess on this – and let it not be said loudly!