Memorization tips for older performers?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 9:18pm

An older girlfriend of mine has recently been cast in a play after having not performed in probably close to a decade. She's finding (after just a couple of weeks of rehearsing) that age (she's in her 60s) has suddenly played that funny trick and she's having a very difficult time in memorizing her material.

Do any of you who are teachers, performers have any good suggestions I can pass along that may be of help to her? Obviously, repetition is the key remedy, but any other tricks to aid in memorization would be incredibly helpful to her.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 9:30pm

I think writing and saying small chunks is helpful. Once you've got a few sentences down, string them together so you get the flow.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 9:32pm

We didn't need memorization, we had FACES then!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 9:34pm

Right Joe? I laughingly kidded with her that she could try to find that old ear plug they used to feed Mary Martin her lines during LEGENDS!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 9:39pm

From what I hear MB Angela Lansbury has need of that earpiece for the next few months.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/3/07 at 11:25pm

DEUCE is now using teleprompters. Apparently that's how Ms. Lansbury is used to working now.

That's what they get for stunt casting TV stars!

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 3:06am

For longer lines, it helps me to write down the key points of the speech, monologue, whatever. Then I think "This is what I need to make sure I talk about" and go from there.

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 3:09am

maybe this is me being crazy, but i've always found that memorizing lines right before bed works best... i've also hand written all of the lines and at one point made flash cards (kind of like a fill in the blank) if that helps...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 8:55am

In all seriousness, I have an older friend who's taken to putting her lines on tape and sleeping with it running. It works for her!

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 9:13am

I have the worst time memorizing lines, and the thing that helps me is that I put them on tape with the other lines in between my lines, and then play that in the car while I am driving. I commute all over tha place and spend a lot of time in my car. It may help to have someone else read the other parts lines while who ever is learning the lines records their own lines. I would actually say the lines in different voices to know the difference between other peoples lines and my lines. I know I sound freaky but it worked for me.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 9:59am

I have found that with longer monologues and passages of dialogue, a first key step is to be able to put it in my own words to create triggers. Leaving ample time in your memorization sessions allows you to take a break and come back to it. Some folks like the 'run up' approach of memorize a line, then repeat that ilne and add another, repeat those two and learn the third... with an end result of a great first act and a weak second. Work on it out of order, and get the shorter passages in the can first. It will build confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment. Finally, the best time for meny of us is before we go to sleep. I have found that passages that I simply can't get are there in my head when I wake up. Don't laugh, but I have actually worked to memorize stuff in the car, pulled over in a rest area on the Palisades and napped, and it was suddenly there!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 10:41am

In all seriousness, in college I had four shows in rehearsal simultaneously, one of which (Ionesco's "The Lesson") required me to spout PAGES of non-sensical monologues. I ended up taping a read-through and playing it over and over, asleep and awake. I can't say I ever got it 100% memorized, but it did help.

[kelleymd]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 10:51am

For any lengthy monologue (or dialogue for that matter) be sure and practice "pickups" (lines interspersed throughout the scene)so you are not dependent on the habit/flow of the sentences to keep you on track. You should be able to start cleanly from any line at the beginning, middle or end of the scene without depending on the previous material to "get you into the flow." Select a few key phrases/lines and practice starting cold from these points so that you have well-rehearsed points of reference. Also, while rehearsing take turns intentionally dropping lines to force the other person to seamlessly skip ahead and restart the flow.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 10:52am

I will ask my friend Angela Lansbury how she remembers her lines...

[WOSQ]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 11:45am

Set the hand movements and then set the words to the hand 'choreography'. Or for that matter set key words to foot positions just as if it were a song and dance. Expanding it further, set the words to the blocking.

Pavlov's Dog; if you're DSL and your right hand goes to your hip then there is only one possible line you associate with that.

My last show that I did professionally there were so many rewrites and cuts that I taped the script pages to the floor and read the suckers. (I had better vision then and was on an 8' high platform so the audience couldn't see.)

Do you have any idea how many people write key words especially to lyrics on their hands? Loads.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 12:02pm

There is scientific evidence in support of memorization at bedtime! If I remember properly (!), it has something to do with concentration followed by immediately shutting out all external interference and just letting the neurons talk among themselves.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 1:21pm

I use a combination of things---I record the read through, and I make cards with my line on one side, and my cue on the other side.

[QueenS]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 2:07pm

Um... can we back up a second, here... "Stunt casting TV stars."

?!!???!

Is that a joke that I missed? I'd hardly call the return of one of the greatest stage and screen actresses as stunt casting. Even if she did also have a hit tv show.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 3:00pm

Rath was joking.

Yes, bedtime memorization is the best.

I actually just heard a story about this first hand (older person memorizing lines). The first step is to take your time and not get flustered. If everyone is learning lines before you - don't take it to heart. Also, speaking with the director privately about line trouble due to age so the director understands you are working slowly but surely. Then any other methods that you used to do to memorize lines. But you can't learn them while you are stressed that you won't be able to learn them.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/4/07 at 8:06pm

Slightly OT - but I was in awe of Hal Holbrook when he returned to do his Mark Twain one-man show at the age of 80. He has over the years learned a huge repertoire of Twain works, and is able to choose which pieces to do on any particular night. So he has not only learned a "script" - he has learned multiple "scripts" which he can re-assemble at will. My hero!