Many times, when you talk about acting exercises, actors immediately conjure up visions of roaming around a stage as an animal or moving according to a specific purpose. While this form of acting training is valuable to strengthen the physical actions of an actor, in order to be a well-rounded performer you must engage in speech exercises.
The advanced acting exercise, “Examining Speech” is used to strengthen an actors’ ability to identify, study and reproduce a individual speech quirks.
This acting exercise may be performed alone or in an acting class. Make sure that when you perform this exercise, you do not rush through it. Take your time through each of the steps, and open your mind to chances and bold character/speech decisions.
Selecting a Manner of Speaking
Select a script or monologue that features a character with a much different manner of speaking than your own. Do not choose a scene or monologue that may be easily reproduced (such as Forest Gump), but rather select material that will be challenging for yourself or for your actors.
While you may use scripts or written monologues, this exercise is best done through the use of actual actors speaking, sound recordings or through films.
Study the Speech Style of the Character
Once you have selected your materials, begin by studying the speech style of a particular character. Make sure to use a notebook to take notes. How does the character use the English vocabulary? Does he properly pronounce all words? Geographically, where is this character from and how does his physical location alter his speech style? What sounds does the character emphasize, and what sounds does he drop from words? Try to outline as much about the speech style of the character as possible.
Perform the Material
After you, or your actors, have spent as much time as needed to prepare the scene and study the speech style of a character, you should then perform the material. If you’re auditing an actor’s performance, take note of the sound quality, accent and delivery style. While an actor may not replicate the speech style perfectly, make a list of the actor’s strengths and weaknesses and where he could improve.
If you are performing the material alone (i.e., you are doing this exercise as a form of self-study), record your performance. You may record yourself using a video camera, or a sound recorder; however, when reviewing your performance, use a critical ear just as if you were auditing a person you do not know.