UNIT 7

PERFORMANCE ASPECTS: SELF PREPARATION, COMMITMENT AND TOTALITY

TIME ALLOCATION: 2 X 1,5”

MEDIUM: ZOOM AND HANDOUTS

BACKGROUND:
Play performance is total engagement. This unit will talk about the play performance, commitment and
totality in an actor’s perspective. There are some hard works to do in engaging oneself in play
performance. This unit will discuss some important aspects in Play Performance.

SELF PREPARATION
Before joining or volunteering yourself to a play there are some points we need to consider.
 Interest
If you have an interest, you will force yourself to bring out all your potentials in a play project. It all
starts from this basic capital: your self-driving factor.
 Capability
An actor should have some basic capability such voice, sound production, acting sensibility and
good script interpretation. Yes, there are plenty of trainings and rehearsals taking place that will
sharpen some shortages. The capability in memorizing lines of a script is required.
 Sacrifice
Do you have time and inner force? If you are too busy, forget it! Play performance is a team project
as you will be dealing with other actors in an assemble. If you do not have enough time to join all
process to performance, you should not participate in the project.
 Energy
A play project will reduce your sleeping hours. Some preparation and rehearsals may be over
midnight. Energy will play the important parts in marathon sequence especially for those who
involve in key positions.
COMMITMENT
For the very first time we decide to join a play performance project, we should agree to all rules and
commit ourselves to all clauses in the project. Play performance is a colossal project, we need to engage
fully and give out all we have to make it successful. There are some personal commitments required in play
participation:
1. Understanding the project and your self
It is a professional and commercial project? Is it a charity and educational play? What should I
prepare and expect from the project? It is usually an initial information and short briefing on the
details of the project. Engaging ourselves in the play project means we have to understand which
parts and portion we should give to. A charity play will not grant financial honor. If we are half-
hearted, it is better we do not participate.
2. Preparing and Training your self
Spare your time in perfecting your self-based on your role in the play. If you are a technical crew,
make sure you create listing. Find resources and references that enhance you in the advanced
stage. You can also interview or discuss your role with experienced actors or do a survey. You
should also train yourself before and after rehearsals.
3. Total Engagement with the project
Knowing other actors and crews is a must. Play performance is a team work project, not a solo act,
so that you need to involve yourself with others to build and blend chemistry. Do not skip
rehearsals. Spend more time in improving your lines.
4. Feedbacks and Follow-ups
Rehearsals make actor better and better. It is important to search for feedbacks and make
proportional follow ups based on others’ eyes. We should bear in mind that the spectators are
those who watch the performance. If we perform in limited audience (for example for class
examination purpose), we will not that worries. When we take part in a commercial performance,
we need to do extra efforts in fining the performance as people pay to enjoy a good play.
5. Be Ready for the D-Day
When a play is not performed yet nor ends a roadshow, commitment is still alive. We should keep
the energy and spirit consistent. Consistency is the key point in marathon show. Once we commit,
we should keep it until the final show.
TOTALITY
What is called totality? Give all what you have. Time, energy, commitment and potentials. We should be
100% and more in any department we get involve with. Enrich the role we play and improve all the time to
its finest. Engage in discussion and work shop the project may have. Find other resources and be open to
any critical and constructive feed backs and criticisms. Do survey and fill out any gaps and shortage. Totality
make you shine.

EXERCISE
Read and perform the monologue based on your best interpretation:
Midsummer Night's Dream
Puck, the mischievous fairy from Shakespeare:
"Thou speak'st aright;
I am that merry wanderer of the night.
I jest to Oberon and make him smile
When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,
Neighing in likeness of a filly foal:
And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl,
In very likeness of a roasted crab,
And when she drinks, against her lips I bob
And on her wither'd dewlap pour the ale.
The wisest aunt telling the saddest tale
Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me.
Then slip I from her bum, down topples she,
And “Tailor!” cries, and falls into a cough,
And then the whole quire hold their hips and
laugh,
And waxen in their mirth, and neeze, and swear
A merrier hour was never wasted there.
But, room, fairy! Here comes Oberon."

Desdemona in Othello

"My noble father,

I do perceive here a divided duty:
To you I am bound for life and education;
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;
I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,
And so much duty as my mother show'd
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord."
REFERENCE
BBC Bitesize. Selecting a genre and performance style. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/
zmn9382/revision/2
Monologue Examples in Literature and Film. https://examples.yourdictionary.com/monologue-
examples.html
Shakespeare, William. Midsummer Night's Dream.
…………………., Othello.