2. ACTING IN A FORMAL PLAY
Understanding the Script
Auditioning and Rehearsing
Analyzing a Character
Understanding Relationships
Among Characters
Developing a Character’s Voice
3. UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPT
The theme, or meaning of the play
The relationships among characters
The mood or atmosphere of the play
The setting of each scene and act
The sequence of events
The climax, or highest point of interest
4. AUDITIONING AND REHEARSING
Participating in Auditions:
Practice reading the part aloud, not silently.
Think about how the character should look
and how you can make yourself look more
like the character.
Think about how the character would sound,
and practice reading his or her voice.
6. ANALYZING A CHARACTER
An author may reveal the motivations and
personality of a character through:
Stage directions that say what the character
looks and sounds like
What the character says and does
What other character say
7. UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
CHARACTERS
What is your character’s place in the total
play? Is he or she the protagonist, the
main character, in the play? Or is he or
she the antagonist, the main opponent of
the protagonist?
Ifyour character is neither the
protagonist nor the antagonist, what is
his or her relationship to these
characters?
8. UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
CHARACTERS
What is your character’s relationship to
minor characters in the play?
If there are family relationships, what are
they like? Are they tense and distrustful?
Supportive?
What is the background of these
characters’ relationship? Why do they like
or dislike one another?