The document provides guidance for acting in a formal play. It discusses understanding the script by analyzing elements like theme, relationships, and sequence of events. It also covers auditioning by practicing reading aloud and considering a character's appearance. Additionally, it discusses analyzing a character through what they say, do, and how others describe them. Finally, it addresses understanding relationships among characters by considering a character's role and connections to other characters.

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.

5. ATTENDING REHEARSALS

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?

9. DEVELOPING A
CHARACTER’S VOICE
Projection
Rate
Pitch

10. -.xxf.-