Memory and the Actor's Mind

What is the connection between an actors mind and memory, or between any of our minds and the ability to retain words, thoughts, or motions? How do actors learn not only to memorize their lines but to connect with their characters and with audiences? Two experts in these areas Dr. Oliver Sacks, professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia, and Michael Boyd, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company discussed the concept of memory and the actors mind in a forum moderated by Columbia President Lee Bollinger. Every Actors Panic Every actor has felt it, that sense of panic rising as he or she looks at all the lines waiting to be memorized, that must be word perfect for the attentive audience scowling just a few feet away. Michael Boyd can do you one better. A few years ago the RSC committed to staging all of Shakespeares history plays over a three-year period involving 30 actors. About half-way through the effort, they revived four of the first plays they had produced more than a year earlier. Each actor had played multiple roles with thousands of lines, according to Boyd. This process started with the actors going through their lines, panicking, he recalled. The cast gathered in a rehearsal room and tried to say their lines as best they could. The result? It wasnt very good, Boyd said. Broken Bits of Memory Then they staged the scenes. It was only in a rough way, no sets, no costumes. The actors merely put the plays on for themselves, and something magic happened. It was very nearly word perfect, Boyd said. Boyd believes the lines were there all along. Broken bits of memory, he called them. They were waiting for more than the actors merely reaching into their minds for them. It required a combination (of memory) with the emotions and movement, Boyd said. Then when they added an audience for the actors, and they were required to communicate with someone, it was absolutely pitch perfect, he said. Making the Lines Your Lines Boyd spoke of taxi drivers in London, where the streets are a spaghetti bowl of curves and confusion evolved over centuries. Yet cabbies, to get their permits, must pass an extensive test proving they have acquired what is called The Knowledge, that is a mental map of every corner of London. If the test is done in a class on paper, the new cabbies cant do it, but put them in the cars and the knowledge flows through them as they recreate in their minds the routes they have driven and the cues they have internalized.

Oliver Sacks says it is this internalization process that makes the difference for actors in memorization. Sacks is a world-famous author, having written The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and he is the inspiration for Robin Williams' character in the film Awakenings. He recalled spending time with Williams and noting, after a few days, that the actor was unconsciously mimicking Sacks particular facial and body movements. The journey has to be played out . . . and internalized, he said. The Role of the Role Both Boyd and Sacks agreed that when it comes to memorizing and improving memory actors have an advantage because they are adopting a role to play. Boyd said actors are generally open to new emotions and new experiences. As such, by identifying with the character they play, they can get in the zone, where something more than memory is going on. You are not trying to recall what you are doing, Boyd said. You are simply in the act of doing it. Sacks tied the concept back to that of memory and motion. Roles give coherence to what the actor is required to memorize; they give cues, as movement does. The lines would have no coherence, no narrative sense, would not hold together unless related to a role, he said. Memory Helpers Summarizing the experts, for help in getting in the zone when it comes to memorizing your lines:

Motion Give yourself physical cues, particularly your required motion on stage, so that your brain is being helped in recalling stored information. Communication The requirement to communicate to an audience prods your brain. Say your lines aloud to someone, even in early stages. Internalization Make the lines your lines. Become that character you are playing in the situation the character is saying those words. How do those actors and actresses memorize hundreds of lines? How does someone commit all those fancy Shakespearean lines from Hamlet to memory? Memorizing lines takes practice and constant repetition. However, there are a few ways to make the memorization process run smoothly and quickly. Read Out Loud (And Repeat, Repeat, Repeat): For most performers, there is no short cut to memorizing lines. To learn lines, an actor must recite the play out loud, over and over again. Most rehearsals encourage this by running through the lines or having a read through. By the time opening night arrives, most actors have spoken their lines hundreds of times. In addition to constant repetition, consider these supplemental techniques:

Listen to Your Cast Members: Sometimes inexperienced or poorly trained actors spend rehearsals staring blankly at fellow performers, waiting patiently to say their next line. Instead, they should be listening attentively, responding in character at all times. This will not only generate a better performance, it will also help the actor learn his lines because the context of the dialogue is absorbed. Pay attention and the other persons lines will serve as a cues or memory triggers during the performance. Record Your Lines: Because there is often not enough rehearsal time, many performers find ways to listen to the plays dialogue during everyday activities. Turn your work-outs, chores, and recreational activities into a read through with the help of your headphones or your i-pod. Aside from constant rehearsals, this method seems to be the most popular way to memorize lines. Use a tape recorder or better yet an MP3 player to capture the lines from each relevant scene. Some actors prefer to record the lines of all the characters, including their own. Then, they not only listen intently, but they speak all of the lines. Others opt for recording the lines of fellow cast members, but they leave a blank space so that they can insert their dialogue while listening to the recording. Monologue While Motoring Personally, I have found the freeway to be to best place to memorize lines. I mastered all of my Shakespeare monologues driving back and forth on Highway 128. If your commute to work is twenty minutes or more, then your automobile can become a makeshift rehearsal space. For one, its a nice private place to listen to your recorded dialogue. Then, when you have the basic dialogue and monologues down, you can perform as your putter your way through traffic. The acoustics in your car might be lousy; however, its a great place to guffaw, growl, or shout your lines, getting them nicely solidified in your memory banks. Hopefully, your carpool group wont mind! Get Up and Move! Whenever possible, incorporate your stage directions while you say your lines aloud. According to a scientific study conducted by psychologists Helga and Tony Noice, the combination of movement and speech strengthens a persons ability to recall the next line. Heres how Ms. Noice explains it: Memory is aided by physical movement. In one study, lines learned while making an appropriate motion e.g., walking across a stage were more readily remembered by actors later than were lines unaccompanied by action. So, during the early stages of learning the script, make certain your join the words with appropriate movements and gestures. Of course, this tip might not be helpful if you are playing the paralyzed protagonist from Whose Life is it Anyway. But for most roles, the Noice team has provided excellent advice! Think Positively and Dont Panic! Dont let the butterflies in your stomach torment you too much. Most thespians experience stage fright minutes, hours, even weeks before opening night. While a certain amount of nervousness can get the adrenaline going, too much anxiety over lines might hinder an actors performance. Actors forget lines now and then. It happens. When it happens, however, most of the time the audience never notices. Forgetting a line is only disastrous if the performer breaks character.

So, if you forget a line in the middle of your performance, dont freeze. Dont get flustered. Dont look out to the audience. Dont call out, Line! Stay in character. Keep the scene going to the best of your ability, and with the help of your fellow cast members you will get back on track. Take solace in the fact that if you forget a line once, you will probably never forget that line ever again! Sometimes embarrassment is the strongest and toughest method of memorization!