A thing I will never comprehend is the actor–and there are lots of them out there–who doesn’t read. Truly, it boggles my mind. It’s not that I dislike anyone that doesn’t like to read, I’m not passing judgement here. Several of my actor friends don’t read. But I feel it’s akin to a sculptor who won’t wield any clay. Or a swimmer who doesn’t get in the water. It doesn’t make sense to me. Language, story, character is, well, what we DO. And it all comes from the text. While I feel it’s elemental to our craft, it’s also a matter of practicality. First rules of auditioning: Read the sides. Read the script. Read the notes. Reading! It’s what’s for dinner!
Myself, I go on play-reading binges. And every audition season I kick myself because it always goes something like this: Seasons are announced. I have no monologue in my repertoire suited for any of the plays. And/Or, I’ve never heard of the plays so I wouldn’t know what to perform anyway. I PANIC and start scouring the internet, the library, the used bookstores and do nothing but read for about 6 days straight. That’s before I start memorizing anything. And then there are those rare theatre companies that throw a curve ball and want adapted literature as a monologue. And that’s really when I go, Fuck Me, I haven’t made time to read a real book in at least eight months!
I kick myself because that is a stupid amount of stress in a one-to-four-week period that could have been avoided had I picked up a play or two instead of watching a couple more episodes of whatever, three weeks prior. When I work long weeks, be it a show or the day job, sometimes the last thing I want to do is have to concentrate on anything. But really, it probably wouldn’t have killed me to take a half an hour out of each day.
…I say “every.” The binges only started recently, when I moved to Seattle. I used to be smart. I chose to be proactive about this aspect of my career, and I used to read in what is called “Spare Time.” (It’s a magical, elusive thing.) I’d check out three or four anthologies of assorted playwrights and genres from the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries which would keep me going for about a month. Though, NYC helps foster reading when one spends at least 35% of one’s time on a train underground with nothing to do and no control over the vehicle.
I started a collection of notes and photocopied selections which I could potentially use in the future. It was a great system for me.
Then I got busy. Non-stop projects for a solid year, in the midst of moving, breaking up, moving again, getting together, breaking up again, moving again, drama drama drama, and oh yeah MOVING. AGAIN. By the time A Chorus Line was in production, I was pooped. BRING ON THE PAJAMAS AND NETFLIX, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Enter Arrested Development, The Tudors and most recently/obsessively Battlestar Galactica. And I felt suitably distracted and entertained. But I haven’t read a new book or a new script in my spare time since March. It’s time for that to be remedied.
I also want to say, I get high from education. Reading feels good. My vocabulary flourishes, my mind engages, I feel more focused. I feel inspired. It enriches my perspective on literature, history, philosophy, life, art, love, humanity–all that BIG GOOD STUFF. And I come away cultivated. Brightened. Connected to that BIG GOOD STUFF.
So, go pick up a script. Or a book on poetry. Or a short story. Enrich your perspective. It could do something for your career. It could do something for your soul. It has for me!
x Jennifer