Uncover the poetry in the words

"Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words."
[Robert Frost]

Acting brings the words to life. While the words hold the life of the story.

Emotion is married to the words, causing behavior… the words then transcend their letters… they are alive.

Actors must honor the words by going inside them.

The actor’s process with a script can be likened to a maple tree giving off sap: it is boiled down to syrup, then boiled down to candy.

The first reading of a play is the broadest interpretation—the sap. You read it again and distill it down to a specific interpretation—the syrup. Then you distill down your character’s needs conveyed in words—the candy.

Compressed. Condensed. Alive with flavor.

In Judith Weston’s book, Directing Actors, she reminds directors to go back to the script when they’re feeling lost. Find the indicators--the words in the script. They will be the keys to help you unlock the story.  

It’s in the words.

The novice actor tends to run over words, fearful of meaning, fearful of how they might be affected if they get in close. This will cause the actor to keep the words general and go for an affect or attitude—keeping the meaning at a distance.

Or an actor might clutch their words, hoping the words will make their acting happen, wringing the words dry by attempting to emphasize them the right way…

The right way is discovered through the meaning. 

The word is a carrier, it carries a message but even more…

The words are alchemical.

The word transforms as it is released and continues to transform as it enters the other character’s air space.

A character sends their words to another character, “I can’t do this anymore.” A wife sends to her husband, “I can’t do this anymore.” An actor to an actor, “I can’t do this anymore.”

Each word in the script holds a piece of the story.

The story has an intention, the intention has a destiny— 

There is a moment, a split second, when the meaning of the word is met and passed from one to another—an instant transformation!

When actors work with words as poetry,

Every word conveys meaning. 

The actor’s words fuel their character...

Will you heal this?
Can you right this?
Can you give me…?
Find me!

The actor breathes life into those words…

The words she speaks are sweet, even syrupy, but have a hidden barb. 
His answer has texture; a color, a softness. 
He pours hard liquor—she swirls her glass, the ice chinks.
A long pause, then they look up at one another as if for the first time.

...then lives in the poetry

“Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” 
-Shakespeare

Join us in the poetry of acting.

“Acting is doing.”
Uta Hagen, Respect for Acting