text and actor

 monologue

actor's text

5Ws [ who, when, where, why, what ] Character's History (biography = playwright + you -- create).

inner monologue

subtext

1. Who am I? The kind of person you are. If it is yourself, then you know the answer in the fullest way possible. If it is a character, then you must decide on the background, influence, education, experiences, likes and dislikes, relationships, and inner and outer characteristics. These decisions must be PERSONALIZED and PARTICULARIZED. You must know and understand and IDENTIFY yourself with your character until you can fully believe yourself to exist in her shoes.

2. Where am I? What kind of place is it? What are the colors and textures? What kind of furniture? What does it mean to me? What are the objects in this place? How do I feel about them?

3. When is it? Time of day? What year? What season? Why now? What has happened previously?

4. What do I want? This is your ACTION.

5. Why do I want it? This is your OBJECTIVE.

6. How will I get it? By DOING WHAT to the other characters on stage with me?

7. What must I overcome? This is my OBSTACLE. An obstacle can be an INNER OBSTACLE -- something concerning the inner life of your character, and/or an OUTER OBSTACLE -- something that stands in the way of your character's action.