Acting Script Analysis: What Actions or Reactions are Explicitly Indicated?
All month, we will be answering the question, “Why am I saying this?” The one thing I work on with students most is knowing why they are saying a line. Rather than memorize lines, we learn lines, we learn why a character is saying the words they have been given.
Click here to read Part I and Part II
There are two varieties of stage directions. One is an instruction to the actor from the playwright. These might be found after the character name and before the line:
BOB
(Setting his fork down deliberately)
If there is one thing we do not do in this family, it is discuss things like this at the dinner table.
Another variety of stage direction is action included in the script that is from the original production. For example,
Bob walks in and stands behind the chair, looking upstage out the window. After a beat, he turns around.
“Setting his fork down deliberately” might signal to the actor that Bob is upset but not out of control in his anger. “Looking upstage,” or other reference to a precise location is frequently an inclusion from the original production, unless the window being upstage is central to the plot.
So here’s the deal. Stage directions are mostly meant as a guideline for reading and understanding the play. There are times when stage directions are as important as the lines, themselves. It’s usually pretty easy to tell the difference between the two. Regardless of whether they are guidelines or unspoken lines, it is important to read and understand the stage directions.
It is a frequent pitfall I see when a student starts new material. They ignore the stage directions and then don’t understand why they say a line. Let’s return to the example from Part I, “Hey, are you heading out?” Here are two stage directions that might precede that line:
- “Bob picks up the important folder with secret information and briskly tucks it into his briefcase, dropping his keys. Susie turns and sees Bob, with the file in his hands.”
- “Bob flips through a take-out menu, then stands up and grabs his keys out of the drawer.”
How does Susie say the line “Hey, are you heading out,” following the stage directions in example #1? What about following the stage directions in example #2?
Every word you utter on stage has meaning. Become a detective to understand your lines. It will yield characters that are bolder, richer, and more full of life.
Check back next week for Part IV- the Finale!
In the meantime, if you need coaching on your monologue, or would like to work on your script analysis skills to improve your confidence with auditions, contact me. I offer individual coaching in-person in the Louisville, Kentucky, and online through Skype or Zoom. I’d love to help you grow as an actor!