Actors and Thought Work

Well.

Don't we all love to be given these...

Not.

Most of us are aware, globally, of the 'no no' that is giving an actor a line reading, either director to actor, or actor to actor, or teacher to actor.... 

Sometimes we do need it. Ask for it.  Just to speed things along.

Sometimes as a standby or cover, we choose to slip into the rhythm of the actor in a role to keep the pacing familiar.

But sometimes we don't.

And when we are 'given' a reading, whether because we request it, or it is simply hurled at us in rehearsal, we have a thought about it. 

And that thought generates a feeling.

'I hate saying it that way.'

'That doesn't work for me.'

'That is inauthentic.'

'This director is asking for a result, not my instincts.'

'Thank God I know what they want!'

'I can do that.'

'The director is in a rush and I wasn't getting there fast enough.'

There are as many 'sentences in our heads' as there are actors who receive the line reading.

You can't be in the business for long wi...