Fool: Operative words

While I’ve been on vacation visiting my husband, it’s been good to keep a few things in mind while practicing my lines and reviewing beats of the play. Bo has given us some great notes during rehearsal that have definitely helped our performances grow stronger.

Picking Operative Words is one of the first things you do as an actor when you're diving into the script. But sometimes the choices that make sense in your head don't come out as clearly as you think, and that's where the director comes in and helps to clarify your intentions. So occasionally Operative Word choices in lines will change. For example: I have a line early in the play when I'm arguing with Eddie where I tell him that "I'm not goin' back to that idiot trailer is that's what you think." I had been emphasizing idiot in the heat of the moment, but Bo corrected me and asked me to emphasize trailer because it's more clear that way, and it's also the first time we hear that word mentioned in the play, so it's important to lay that groundwork for later. It can be a challenge to alter your Operative Word choices after being memorized, but luckily it's not at all too late in the game and I've had a little break to go back over the script thoroughly.

Another useful rule in choosing Operative Words for your delivery is to emphasize repetition. (Examples in our script include words like: torchure, disappear, story). Any time there's a significant, unique word repeated in the script, it's wise to give that word importance because the playwright chose his (or her) words for a reason. May first says "torchure" in a very threatening way, and then later in a moment that reveals deep pain, and it's important to emphasize the variety. Then Eddie uses the word later in a sarcastic, teasing way, and it assists the actor to use the knowledge and significance of Sam Shepard's word choice to his advantage!