Makes Me Go Hmmmmm....

One of the things I encounter in theater that makes me raise an eyebrow, ala Mr. Spock, is the first rehearsal and read through of a script. What makes me go "hmmmm" is when people try and "perform" during this first reading. Why does this make me squinch my face like our favorite Vulcan? Well, I wonder how anyone can perform before there has been any rehearsal, any character development and any character interaction.

First off, I feel that you are doing yourself a dis-service by performing at the first read through. The time for exploration is coming and trying to guess how to react to a moment (which is what you are doing) is kind of setting back the exploration process because you may get stuck on a certain interpretation and have to force yourself to do something else, later, if it doesn't work.

But mainly I feel that performing during the first read through is rushing the process. We have time to develop and mold the show, why perform it right away?

Give yourself the freedom to really listen to the script during the first read through. Get with the flow of the show, the feel of the words, the flavor of the meaning. I don't care if you have possibly done the show before! Have you done it with this exact cast? If yes, then why the rehearsal! :) If no, then experience what is being brought to it!

Save your performance for an audience!

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