It's really coming down to the wire now. I perform my monologues this coming Friday. For the most part, I'm memorized and have the character development down as well. But still, I'm uncertain. Did I do a good enough job? Is there more that I can do? I guess I'll find out when I perform for my advisor.
I've also updated my method into a checklist. I'm not sure if it will be helpful, but at least it makes it easier to understand.
1. Read the script more than once to get a sense of the character.
2. Delve into the character's history, both prior to the play and in the play. BE THOROUGH.
3. Ask yourself, "Who am I? What are the circumstances? What are my relationships? What do I want? What is the obstacle? How do I get what I want?"
4. Use your imagination to envision the world of the play (what it looks like, sounds, smells, feels, tastes).
5. Identify how your character is feeling (happy, sad, angry, scared, disgusted). Use times when you've felt this way to generate those feelings.
6. Imagine yourself not playing your character, but BEING your character.
7. Be aware that everything you do (gesture, task, word, expression) needs to be done for a purpose.
8. Keep a sense of your body in terms of energy and posture. Depending on how you want others to perceive you, you can release positive, neutral or negative energy. You're either sending energy or receiving energy.
9. Drill yourself in your presentation until it becomes instinctual and you can perform it without thinking.
This is what I've been training for. This is what I do. I don't know if there's more that I could have done; it's a safe bet that there is. The good thing is that my method appears to work, at least in theory. I'll know for certain if it actually does work when I perform my monologues on Friday morning. I can only do the best that I can, and hope that my best is good enough.
YOU ARE READING
The Senior Capstone Project Journal of Aaron J. Holt
Non-FictionUpon completing his senior year at the University of Minnesota, Aaron J. Holt put his theatrical skills to the test. Tasked with creating his own character development method, Aaron drew from various methods. Then, to prove that it worked, he had to...
