NOTES on preparing for reading aloud

1] ANALYSIS: Dramatistic (includes Modal)
What does the story tell you?

Seven important questions (1 and 2 are Modal)
1-Who is speaking? (Speaker Mode: nature of speaker)
    (Speaker mode deos not change)

    Epic: 3rd person generalized narrator
    Lyric: persona very much like the author
    Dramatic: defined character (1st person narrator)

2-To Whom are they Speaking? (Audience mode; who is
    addressed at any one moment; can, does, should change)
    Epic: the audience is addressed that moment
    Lyric: moments the speaker talks to self
    Dramatic: character in story realm is addressed

3-Where is the speaker speaking?
setting: where narrator is; where characters are

4-When is the speaker speaking?
    Epic: actual present
    Lyric: timeless present; flash of insight
    Dramatic: virtual past

Note on Where and When; manipulation of time/space
Shells of reality
 
You are in front of classmates, but:
   |--you are a narrator talking to particular audience, and:

        |--narrator becomes chars and shows past actions, and:
             |--narr can show internal thoughts and emotions

5-How is the speaker speaking?
styles of language, grammar, vocabulary; imagery, repetition

6-What is the speaker speaking about?
themes, ideas, events (the plot)

7-Why is the speaker speaking?
purpose, motivation for narrator to tell stories
why characters say what they say to each other

2] PERFORMANCE ANALOGS
VOCAL ANALOGS
    how do the characters speak?
    what is happening in the story?
    fast rate: increased tension, fear, character type, glee, climax, etc.
    slow rate: calmness, tension, character type, ominous tone
    quality, beginnings and endings, etc.
    high pitch: char. type, fear, excitement, climax
    l ow pitch: mood, character type, beginnings and endings

PHYSICAL ANALOGS
The characters
    look for character descriptions
    look for adjectives describing action, appearance, voice
   
what do the characters look like?
    stance: how do they stand?
    posture: how do they hold themselves
    walk: how do they move?
    gesture: anything they do habitually?
    focus: where do they look?
    staging the plot (what is happening in the story)
    where to begin: positioning, levels, focus
    when to move: transitions in time and space
    - transitions in mood
    - definition of speaker
    - transition of speaker
where to look: creating the story realm
    - focus points on story places
    - "seeing" is creating
where to look: creating the speakers
    - 90 degrees: body or head for speakers in dialogue
    - 45 degrees: narrator, storyteller
    - open focus: to show "storytelling" (narrator), create rapport with audience
    - closed focus: to show characters in the story realm
dynamic movement: creating the action
    - action in text suggested through gesture and movement on stage
    - rate and degree of movement should be relative to plot
gesture: different from mime; suggestion; augments spoken language
mime: is a physical language; supplants spoken language

What can you fill in?
decisions
: interpretation
    - make dynamic choices
    - dynamic choices are more engaging
    - a more engaging performance is more persuasive

3] THE REHEARSAL
Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk: get up; use space, body and voice
    try your vocal/physical analogs
    map out action in space
    "see" the story realm with focus
    work transitions for maximum effect
    - dynamic changes are more engaging
    - engaging performance is more persuasive

Shaping: beginning, middle end
    Beginning and endings powerful
   --plan for them
    what is happening when?
    who is speaking to whom?
    when does the story change?
    consider "emotional graph" of entire work
    be sure overall shape is dynamic

4] THE PERFORMANCE
Before the beginning
appropriateness of the literature
    - does it fit the assignment?
Written justifications:
    - does it fit the assignment?
Your turn to read:
    - are you prepared?
    - show enthusiasm in coming to front of room
    - set the stage to your needs
    - collect your wits

THE BEGINNING
the introduction

    - make the audience want to hear the story
    - set an expectancy
    - be at ease, book closed, normal voice
    - give the Title/Author
    - step back, head down, count to three
    - (breath; relax shoulders, knees on exhale)
the initiation
    - step forward, open book,
    - have opening energy and focus
          with which to begin
    - hook us with the start, be bold
    - start in a purposeful stage location
    - hold the book in an appropriate manner

THE MIDDLE
    sustain the energy of the piece
    vary the intensity as the energy changes
    make character changes clean
    - use focus points in the room
    use creative staging to communicate meaning
    - use the space
    - use levels
    remember to use physicality
    - gesture to create character
           or to emphasize
    - use focus to define the "story realm"
    sustain through mistakes: don't apologize

THE ENDING
    know the ending well
    bring the story to a clean ending
    hold the ending energy
    - give audience time to
           finish their aesthetic response
    release the energy
    close book, head down, step back
    don't look vulnerable or ask for approval
    be confident as you await our comments