Skip to main content

Theatrical Tuesday - Cold Reading

TuesdayIn theatre, it's quite common to have to read something aloud that one has never laid eyes on before. This is called Cold Reading. The most common times it happens is the first time one gets a script or at an audition.

It's can be a bit uncomfortable. Often, I've felt as if I'm being scrutinized on how well I step into a role I've never seen before. I might not know anything about the character.

This happened a lot during my 9:00AM Monday class that is now complete. We would be given a play to read and I often didn't know anything about it or its characters. I'd get barely a moment to skim and try to get a sense of what the character was about.

Professional actors probably have to do this regularly. It's almost like presenting something you haven't researched. In my limited experience, it's common to do some parts of the read through well and some completely wrong. A good director will help one get the tone right.

I've gotten to a point in my life where I didn't get too uncomfortable about it, but that may have been because the stakes weren't overly high. It wasn't as if I was trying to impress anyone or ensure my bills were going to be paid. No, I was just trying to get the marks I needed for the course and to stave off boredom while others read. It also let me recapture some of my old acting days.

I'm not sure if I will act in the future or not. It's possible. My main focus is writing and I don't see that changing in the immediate future. Stranger things have happened though.

Speaking of my writing, I've made many of the changes I've been wanting to on this site. Many items have been moved under a new portfolio section. I will be filling that out more in the coming months.

School is optional today and I'm thinking about staying home to work on my condo now that my homework is done. I can also use some time to look over notes for my Thursday class that has a quiz. I want to work on my accent wall today and do some painting on the weekend. Plus, it's too gorgeous outside, I need groceries, and my skateboard is available for pickup after 1:00 PM.

R~

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Gauntlet That Was October

I had a lot of things happen in October. I watched Frankenstein in the cemetery with friends. I had tea with a friend. I started a new sport: curling. This is really fun and I'm enjoying the level of activity it provides and all the strategic elements. I'll do a separate post on it soon. Unfortunately, soon after my first game, I came down with Covid and so did the friend who I had tea with, so I think we both caught it at the place we went to. That wasn't fun. I already posted about that. I was fortunate to be free of it in time to attend Can-Con where I took in lots of panels, saw some of the wonderful writer community, bought many new books, and volunteered to help out in the rooms. The following weekend, I went to the livestream for Danielle Allard's new album release, followed by the in person release. As part of this, she has a 6 video series that releases every Sunday on her YouTube at 1:15 PM EDT. Video number 2, Falling Into Place, is one that I feel fortunate

2023 - Week 40

I felt a touch rough on Monday. After exchanging some shoes, I needed electrolytes. The heat with the egg thing made me a bit nauseus. I had lots of fluids before having noodles for dinner. That made me feel better. When Tuesday came about, I was looking forward to what I might be learning at GSL curling in the evening. I was also excited to being on the ice as a break from the unseasonal heat. It's spooky season! It's supposed to be a cool and cuddly time. We should be wearing hoodies (or bunny hugs if you prefer). Instead, I was sweating in jeans as I simply walked from my condo building to my car. Wednesday's plan was streaming, but I also hoped to fit an exchange at Home Depot in as I got the wrong shelf size for a project. Really, my original plan for something didn't work, so I was choosing to go a different way. I did stream, but I didn't get to Home Depot. Thursday featured work followed by packing for my spooky weekend away with friends. I got my oil and my

The PWHL

I've gotten my season tickets for the inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League. I had put my deposit down as soon as it was open. Am I a hockey superfan? No. I enjoy hockey. I started watching it quite a lot during my divorce. I also used to practice my slapshot against the foundation of our house when I was an angst-filled teen. I care about women in sport having amazing opportunities like this. Anyway, some people in the comments section on the posts are truly something. The league posted the schedule, which was more of a calendar without time blocks listed. They happened to post that on the day that priority purchasing was opened for the season tickets.  So then there are a bunch of people who didn't put deposits down that were complaining they can't buy tickets yet. Makes total sense 😒 And then there were a bunch of other people complaining that nothing has been announced on the streaming and televisation of the games. Some were even suggesting th