memorizing lines!?

Question

I am playing Puck in a midsummers night dream, for this youth thingy, im 14, and i have to memorize all of my lines this week, im having trouble, when i memorize a scene and move on, i forget the scene before... any tips??

Answer 1

~Read it through aloud and then grab a piece of paper and cover all but the first line and repeat that line over and over until you have it down then move the paper down to expose just the first two lines and again repeat until you have both of the lines down and continue this until you have covered all of the lines. This works amazingly well.

~ Write out all of your lines over and over until you think you can't write it anymore and then write it some more.

~Speak your lines aloud as often as you can. When you are getting dressed in the morning, when you are falling asleep at night, anytime and anywhere you can.

~Record yourself reading the other person lines. Mouth the lines when it is your turn so you get the timing right and then use the recording to practice with.

The secret to memorization is to tap into all of your senses that you can. By writing, hearing, speaking etc you are helping to make an imprint in your memory. If you do all of this you will be surprised how easy it is to memorize them.

Answer 2

First, Congratulations on getting cast! Now the work begins, huh?

Although it may not feel this way right now, You're Lucky!, because you're "reciting" Shakespeare, and he Always wrote with a Poetry that has RHYTHM.

Soooo, MY secret in learning your lines... SING THEM !

Yes ! You're young. You know what music you like. Make up a TUNE to sing the poetry. One speech - one song. It can be sing-songy or sound like a nursery rhyme. It can be hip-hop or grand opera! Whatever you Know!!!

The song doesn't have to be GOOD, it just Has to be YOURS!

If you need to plant other people's lines into your song, that's ok too. It can only help you get through a scene.

Now, you've got to place the tune Very Firmly in your mind. If you could write music on paper, you should be able to write each note clearly, firmly and definitely. It needs to be That Firmly set in your mind.

If you really do this, you'll be AMAZED at how quickly and easily the "lyrics" will come to you.

I've done this with MIDSUMMER, with AS YOU LIKE IT, TWELFTH NIGHT and even THE TEMPEST.

Now... to make myself perfectly clear, you sing your songs TO YOURSELF. Your director will get a little nervous if you start singing your lines in rehearsal, although, with Midsummer, how wrong could a singing Puck be? LOL

Have Fun ! Be Great !

Answer 3

Love Puck, so congrats. Repetition really help. just learn all your lines for one scene, move on and then go back to that first scene...ect. Just go through all your lines first and then have someone else read the other peoples lines.

Answer 4

The library may have a recording of your Shakespeare play. Go to the library, check out that recording, and listen to it over and over and over. See if that won't help.

Answer 5

Have a look at this page link on my site for new and aspiring actors. http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/memorize_a_monologue.html .
It's a method I use to memorize lines.

Good luck!

Tony

Answer 6

the only thing i could think of is practice makes perfect..but you could break it down to make it easier and watch the movie or even have people act out scenes with you...and then if that doesn't work just be honest with your director..hope that helps

Answer 7

read my profile and contact me at my aol address and I will send you two pages of tips on memorizing lines.