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 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing |
 Topic: Speed Read Rehearsal( Topic Closed) |
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theactordavid
Lead 
Joined: 5/29/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
 Posted: 8/01/08 at 10:36am |
Interesting point, and worth pointing out to an actor who employs this method. I will keep it in mind. I gave it some thought, and here's my view: I guess that when it comes to blocking, characters are stationary often enough that it isn't necessary to be reminded of it. That is, you enter, cross DSR and then for the next four pages you stand there as the dialogue goes by before you move again. Now, while the recording technique is used to help memorize the lines, the actor does (must?) refer to the script now and then and easily incorporates the few required blocking movements, associating them with key words in the dialogue, and because these movements are infrequent enough, they are easier to memorize without needing to hear "cross DSR" from the tape recorder. This is in comparison to a complicated dance routine, where the "steps" ARE the dialogue, and need to be worked on systematically, a few at a time, over and over, until memorized. All that said, I will admit there have been instances once off book where I have had to remind actors after they enter "And you cross DSR" because they in fact do NOT know their blocking and do not review their scripts enough (it's sadly apparent). So I may be wrong here. But I think it is more about the actor than the concept, since many actors do remember to cross DSR without ever being reminded. Whew! And that horse is barely breathin'...... |
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There are no small roles, only roles with a low line-load and minimal stage time.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com |
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chelserin
Lead
Joined: 3/02/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 47 |
Posted: 8/01/08 at 10:55am |
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As far as Speed through's I have only ever done them as a pickup rehearsal between the first and second weekend of shows. They are always helpful and usually challenging for those reasons people have mentioned before - you learn your lines with the blocking so to take one of those out of the equation makes you think more. For that purpose (pick-up rehearsal or even as warm up before the show) I believe speed through's are very effective and can be hillarious since a lot of lines make no sense without the movement.
However, I agree that when first learning lines and in early rehearsals speed reading would be a bear for all involved.
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jaytee060
Star 
Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63 |
Posted: 8/01/08 at 1:12pm |
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Speed Line Rehearsals. Mmmmmm
I got to thinking how I really felt about this sort of rehearsal and I came up with and interesting and revealing conclusion.
When I am directing, I have always felt that maybe it helps.
When I am acting, I always think its a total waste of time.
I really think that in this case my actor's vibes are correct. But you really might consider asking your cast thier opinion before doing it. It is even a
possibility that it might do certain actors more harm then good. Its at least something to ponder
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theactordavid
Lead
Joined: 5/29/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 44 |
Posted: 8/01/08 at 1:38pm |
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Jaytee - that said, can you offer some insight into why you feel each way depending on your side of the apron? What makes the director/actor in you think it helps/hurts? And what would happen if you were in a play and directing it also? Okay, that last was just for fun. But I'd be interested in the "why" behind your two statements. Thanks for your thoughts.
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There are no small roles, only roles with a low line-load and minimal stage time.
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com |
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jaytee060
Star
Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63 |
Posted: 8/01/08 at 6:05pm |
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OK .. here goes.
As a director, one must wear many different caps. One of my goals/hopes is to have my actors learn their dialogue as quickly as possible. I strongly feel that the two best methods to accomplish this is (A) personal hard work by the actor on his own time and (B) sufficient repeatitive rehearsals with the rest of the cast. Naturally, every one has their own methods to learn lines and "whatever works for you" works for me. As the rehearsal process goes on, we learn lines, not only by memoraization but also by association. i.e. blocking, positioning, verbal cues, etc. Now....... these "speed run throughs" normally occur later in the rehearsal schedule. Often just days or even hours before we open. As an actor, once I have associated my lines with not only verbal cues but also blocking and other mental assistances, these "sit in a circle and rattle your lines" rehearsals can often be confusing, irritating and sometimes just silly.
So, the director in me wants to help my actors in any way I can, but the actor in me is saying "this isn't totally helping me ".
Perhaps the real way to do this is to actually hold a rehearsal as a full staged run but have the actirs do it as fast as they can. With blocking, props, the works. Speak fast. Think fast. Act fast. I don't really think that would be all that helpful either but it sure might be fun.
Damn, what a windbag. Hope this clears up my thoughts for you. But I imagine it just confused you more. LOL
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jaytee060
Star
Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63 |
Posted: 8/01/08 at 6:09pm |
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I ALMOST FORGET.
As to acting in and directing the same play...........unless it was a very small role I would rather eat shredded glass.
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magic612
Walk-On 
Joined: 7/23/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Posted: 8/02/08 at 12:07am |
Hmmm... that's actually how I've ALWAYS done any speed-through rehearsals - blocking, props, everything. Not only does it help cut down on the "cues you could run a truck through" it also helps actors offstage know WHEN they will need to be onstage, and how soon. It gets them thinking ahead to their next entrance, and even if they need to walk on 4 lines early in order to get "in place" by the time their line is delivered, that's okay - it actually helps.
At least, it always did for me.
I've never heard of "speed throughs" just sitting in a circle, running lines. That's actually a new one to me.
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Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness how genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. ~ often attributed to Goethe
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Ray Faiola
Walk-On
Joined: 3/11/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 8/06/08 at 3:03pm |
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We're doing BLACK COMEDY right now. It's a complicated show with a ton of business. Before final dress we did a speed-through. It was very helpful in nailing down our confidence in the words. We also did one before the second week's Thursday show; again, a helpful refresher for the words and, more importantly, the cue pick-ups. We did not do one last week and probably will not do one before this week's Thursday show (we perform Thurs-Sun).
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Ray Faiola
http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com |
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pdavis69
Celebrity 
Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437 |
Posted: 8/06/08 at 3:19pm |
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MartyW and I are currently performing in the Queen of Bingo (yes we are both men). Opening night, the first act lines went haywire and scared the hell out of us. Each night since, while we are having our makeup applied, we do a speed through of act one. We have not had a problem since (other than me forgetting to wear my coat once). The speed through just prior to the show really helps us.
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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse |
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jayzehr
Celebrity
Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537 |
Posted: 8/06/08 at 4:21pm |
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We're opening tonight with Dearly Departed and after dress I'm really regretting not having a speed through sometime in the last week. All of a sudden lots of dramatic pauses are materializing long enough to drive a truck through.
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