From: HobgoblinH-AT-aol.com
Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 12:12:07 -0400
Subject: PUPT: =?ISO-8859-1?B?UFVQVDogUmU6IKBXcml0aW5nIGZvciBwdXBwZXRz?=


About the memory problem and scripts versus improv: I know these two apparent opposites are not mutually exclusive; any actor does. However, memory is certainly not my strong suit, and so I have found a way to use my kenetic memory to solve the problem. As a musician, I have a well trained kenetic memory. The more recent scripts I am using are rhyming scripts, some with interlocked rhymes, which helps-- so long as I can remember the first line, I can say the second and so on. Rhymed scripts have an appeal to the audience from the first, because rhyme is pleasing to the English-speaking ear, especially if you work in internal rhyme as well. 

To memorize them, I tape them and play them in my car, because I do a lot of driving. The distinctive voices are on the tape. Music cues are included as well, for mnemonic purposes. Gradually, after playing them all the time, I start trying to say the lines before they happen, and feel a thrill of positive reenforcement  when I get it right. This obviates reading and visual memorization completely. Gradually I can say the whole play right in advance of cue. The rhymes, of course, also help with memorization. I might add that if the whole play were to be sung, that would make it even easier, because remembering a song is a piece of cake to a long poem. But that's for other puppeteers with better singing voices. 

Now, about the improv thing: Even though these plays are memorized and rhyme, we improv in much the same way we always do, for bits of funny biz. We are even getting better at improving in rhyme. However, when you break away from the script, you have to hold a marker in your head to pick up where you left off.

My ten cents,
Alice (Awake now) 


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