whats and easy way to memorize the lines of a play?

Question

i need help memorizing 60 lines fomr the play Macbeth by shakespeare

Answer 1

The technique I used for memorizing lines was to tape record everyone else's lines and leave my lines out so that I'd have to speak them as I practiced. I actually wound up memorizing entire plays this way.

If you've got a speech to memorize, you could still use the tape recorder and just record bits of your own speech as cues. When you think you finally have it all, just hand your script to a friend to test you.

Answer 2

There is no easy way to memorize lines.

That's the first thing. Now that we have that out of the way, there really are methods for memorizing. When I was younger I just got a friend to hold the book, and feed me lines, and I would say them until I got them right. This works when you're young and your mind is pliable, but it hasn't worked for me since I was in my early twenties.

My girlfriend, who is a pianist, showed me how she memorizes music. She starts at the end and works forward to the beginning. You can do the same. It doesn't take long to memorize one line, and as soon as you've done that, you can do the line right before it. That way, you're always working on the line right in front of you, never worrying about what comes next. She taught me that method when I was in a performance of Macbeth, and I had an entire scene committed to memory in a single evening.

I shouldn't have to say this last bit, but considering the actors I know, I'm going to say it anyway: shut off as many distractions as you possibly can while you're memorizing. You may think the stereo stops you from fretting, or the TV makes a good break, but if those are on you can't really dedicate your whole brain to what's going on. You can't stop traffic noises or your cruddy roommate rattling in the kitchen, but any distractions that you can shut off, do so to clear the space you need in your mind.

Answer 3

Even though 60 lines is relatively short for some performances, Shakespeare is hard to read and sometimes hard to comprehend. Everyone has different methods that helps them. I've been acting for a number of years in various musicals and a few plays, and I have learned multiple ways from books and teachers.

If you record ALL of the lines, or at least the lines useful to you, play it at night (with ear phones) when you are lying in bed before you go to sleep. This is proven to work for memorizing lines and for tests. Actually writing your cue line and your own line helps. Just like studying for any subject, when you write or talk it out, you focus on the words and you learn them a lot faster. Walking, or pacing, around while saying your lines with someone is another way. And yes, pacing actually has a significance, it keeps you focused. If you don't have anyone to run lines with, then like someone suggested record your lines into a tape recorder. This is probably the easiest and most effective way for most young actors. Use your cue line and leave time for you to say your own line in between cue lines. Watch your facial expressions and how you react in the mirror. Stick a picture of the person which you have dialogue with on the mirror for more realism.

I hope you find some of these methods helpful. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

If you are a kinesthetic/visual learner

Write your lines repetedly, one by one on a piece of paper. Once you have a line move on to the next.

If you are an audial learner

Have a friend read a little bit of the line at a time. repeat back after them. Stay on that line until you can get through the whole thing, without any help, and move to the next.

Both work for me, but different people memorize things in different ways.



Hope this helps!

Answer 5

for me, the easiest way to memorize lines is to basically read the play a couple times. Not only is it entertaining and a good way to understand the play, but the repetition helps the lines stay in your head.

Or you can read your lines aloud and repeat them that way. But in doing this be sure to read the lines and "act" them to yourself( so you automatically say the line that way) and it also helps to read not just your lines but the others in the scene as well, that way you know what line comes when.

it seems like more work, but it really isn't

Answer 6

Read the entire play as many times as possible. The more familiar you become with the SCOPE of the thing -- the sequence of action, the characters, etc. -- the easier it will become for you to lock in the specific lines you need to memorize.

Answer 7

This can be a bit tedious, but I find that it helps to write out all of the lines. You should start with your cue line (the last line or two of the person speaking before you) and go to the end of your line. Do this for all of your lines.

Answer 8

You have a difficult job ahead of you. First of all Skakespeare is a very difficult read and you have poetic lines coupled with hidden messages and language that is difficult. You are going to have to stand in front of mirrors, dance in front of windows and shout these lines out - you have to HEAR yourself speak them. Learn them in phrases. If there are lines that rhyme, make sure you learn it all together. Don't break them up. Then find yourself a partner - the only way you are going to really understand the breath of his work is to have someone else kicking it with you.

Answer 9

ugh, Macbeth is brutal for lines (I played Lady MacBeth) What you can do is find key words in each line that help you remember.
And BREAK IT DOWN into small sections and you should be find and just go over it over and over again!.

break a leg.

Answer 10

first of all, know what you are saying, that makes it easier to memorize, then say each individual line over and over out loud until you have it, then start piecing the lines together, until you have the whole thing, its tedious but it works.