1. Speaking the Lines
Combining Volume, Articulation, Pace, and Breathe Control to Create Stress and Emotion

2. Rule 1: Know the Meaning
It is essential that an actor know what the words he is speaking mean!
Literal meaning
Fit into motivating force and beats
Example from Romeo and Juliet:
Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore are thou Romeo?

3. Rule 2: Find the Operative Words
Operative Words: the words that are emphasized, or stressed, to build the true meaning and effect of the line.
Practice from Cyrano:
Roxane: His forehead shows his genius and his wit,/ He’s young, proud, noble, brave, and fair-
Cyrano: (getting up, very pale) What, fair?

4. Rule 3: Find Focal Points
Focal point: the key idea of an entire sentence or line.
Most lines will have more than 1 operative word
The focal point is the most important operative word
Practice from Cyrano:
Lise: (offended) My eyes, with haughty glance,/Know how to conquer any lover rash/Who would assail my virtue.
Cyrano: Eugh! Your eyes,/For conquerors, seem of yielding spirit.

5. Tips to Find Operative Words & Focal Points
Look for contrast.
Practice from Cyrano:
Cyrano: Well, yes, tis’ my weakness./To displease is my pleasure. Hate I love./My friend, if you but knew how light one walks/Under the fusillade of hostile eyes;/What pleasant little spots upon one’s doublet/Are made by envy’s gall and cowards’ spittle!—
Cyrano: You fear lest by yourself you chill her heart?/Shall we not join your lips and my fine words?/And very soon you’ll fold her in your arms.

6. Tips to Find Operative Words & Focal Points
Look for other forms of figurative language.
Cyrano: … Well: I was marching all alone, to meet them,/The moon shone in the sky like a great watch,/When some watchmaker, suddenly, with care,/Starting to draw a piece of cloudy cotton/Across the silver case of this round watch,/The night became the blackest ever seen;/And as there are no lights upon the quays,/Good Lord! You could not see beyond—

7. Formative Assessment
With a partner, choose just 4 lines from a section from Act 2 with dialogue between 2 characters.
Write down the selection, citing page numbers.
Identify the operative words and focal points, explaining your reasoning.
Practice saying the lines using good volume, breathe control, pace, and articulation.
Perform for the class 