An approach to Oral Interpretation

Objective: The student will be able to create a performance that will have full believable characterization, dramatic and impacting moments, and a sense of journey from the beginning of the selection to the end.

Purpose: In analyzing the script, students will find clues about the character, what the character wants, and how the character achieves their goals. Text analysis aids students into being self-learners in creating the perfect performance.

One

The text for an actor is like sheet music to a musician. The text when scored properly and analyzed correctly it gives the actor all the clues they need to create a character.

1. Students should read the entire play first.

2. Look up any and all words you do not understand.

3. Look at the punctuation that the author has put into the script for your character.

“,” Commas mean take a breath

“.” Periods mean pause or possible change of thought

“…”Ellipses means that the character is unsure.

“-“ What ever follows a dash is very important to the character or it is an interruption.

“:” Colon usually means that a list is coming. If your character has a list of repeated words or phrases regardless of a colon or not each item in the list must be different. Colons can also mean that what follows is very important to the character.

“!” Exclamation point means that the character is excited, angry or emotional.

“?” Question mark means that they are questioning someone. In other words your pitch must go up at the end of your sentence for the audience to know that you are asking a question.

Two

Students should score the text once they have looked at the punctuation. Students should make the following marks in their scripts.

/-Pause //-Pause and change of thought///-Major Pause and shift in the play or scene<-Get louder>-Get softer ~-Get faster`-Get slower

ThreeStudents should circle an operative word per word group. An operative word is the one word that we must hear in a sentence in order for that sentence and the next to make sense.

Four

Students should define the Super Objective of the play, Through Line of Action, Units of Action, Objectives, Obstacles, Tactics and Stakes

Super ObjectiveWhat is the overall message or call to action of the play. What does the playwright want the audience to do as a result of seeing the play.

Through line of Action Over all life goal of each character in the play.

Units of Action or beats A major change of thought, action or situation. By doing this you are able to commit moment by moment rather than attempting to act the entire selection at one time.

Objective: System of wants and needs of a character from unit to unit. Objectives should be written so that the actor can physically see the result of the objective.

The way to write an objective is:

I must “verb”-”receiver”-”desired response”

abash assure attack accost

avoid dominate pacify force

insult deter coax chastise

flatter torment urge violate

delude caress irritate awaken

cheer follow survive trick

subdue endure appease excite

assist warn astonish advise

Verb List

An entire list of verbs is available.

ObstacleThe thing that stops you from getting what you want. In every scene there is conflict.. You must figure out what stops your character from getting what they want.

Tactic The way the character goes about overcoming an obstacle in order to achieve an objective. Tactics are verbs or actions that you do to get what you want.

StakesHow important is it to your character to win your objective. The higher the stakes the more exciting the scene is to act and to watch.

This unit is designed to give you the performer a different approach to getting the most out of the text and to create and sustain a believable character.

Certain materials are used under the “fair use”

guidelines all materials are protected from further use.

2004”The Perfect Performance