Soyun Jeong/Assignment 3/ Tue 11am

 

How would you prepare for a part in a play?

 

201203187

Soyun Jeong 

 

As a member play and musical club of the collage of English, Spirit of Art, I had a chance to take a part in a play last year. It took almost four months to prepare for the play, because there were so many things to work on. It is obviously a very difficult job to prepare for a part in a play, but once you have done it, you will surely feel that you learned a lot from it. In order to prepare for a part in a play, you have to analyze your role, practice acting with others, and get ready for the actual performance.

Before starting the actual practice on acting, you must analyze your role first, so that you know exactly how to portray your character. To analyze, you have to read your script thoroughly for many times. Even more than you think it is necessary. While reading, you have to first analyze the whole plot, and know what is going on in the play. It will make you understand the background of your character better. After that, you have to think about the characteristics of your character, and relationship between other characters and your character. Lastly, you should consider how to apply your analysis to your acting. You have to understand every feeling your character would have in every scene, you must be able to picture how he or she will move in certain situation, and you have to know how that person will interact with different characters in the play.

When you start the practice, you have to go through step by step procedure, because you cannot act perfectly from the very beginning. First you have to practice reading the script with the other actors. In this stage, you decide the tone of your speech and the emotion you want to express in your voice. Second step is to practice the play with action. You have to decide your position and movement. You need to also figure out how to use props and how to interact with other actors. After that you should add more details, such as facial expressions and small gestures, so you look more realistic. Once everything is in order, you have to start memorizing the script. It may sound difficult, but since you have been speaking out your lines for many times in the practice beforehand, it will not be as hard as you fear.

Lastly you have to get ready for the actual performance. You have to go through the dress rehearsal one or two days before the performance. In dress rehearsal, you dress up, use the prop and do everything else just as you would in the real performance. This is a good chance to actually feel how the real stage will be. Before the play you have to control your mind so you can calm down and not be nervous.

You have to go through many steps in order to prepare for a part in a play, such as analyzing your role, practicing with your fellow actors, and getting ready for the performance. It may sound like a lot of work, and it definitely is. However, once you have done all this, you will see that those experiences made you shine not only on the stage, but also in your real life.