I’ve chosen “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot, one of the great dramatic monologues of all time, as my monologue for my acting class. We had our second meeting last night – I am really into this class – and I read parts of Eliot’s masterpiece poem.
Christine Decker, our gifted actor/teacher suggested I read a shorter part, and savor the language more. She said I didn’t need to emphasize the rhymes, let the words speak for themselves. She said I need to slow it down and “taste” every word.
I can speak easily in public, but I’m not comfortable reading text in public. I just don’t feel comfortable.
This is one of my favorite pieces of writing, the piece speaks powerfully to love, aging and life Eliot understood that it takes some courage to age well, you have to dare to eat the peach and step into the water.
I usually cry when I read this work, and I guess I did tear up for a second in the video. But I’d love some feedback on how you think I did and what I can do to be better. I am not looking to act or be an actor, but if I do something, I would rather do it well.
I hope to be reading this work well by the end of class.
You can post your comment right at the bottom of this post, you can post a comment on my Facebook Page – Jon Katz – or you can e-mail me at [email protected]. I might not be able to respond to all of your messages but I will read them.
Some of you might be surprised that I am asking for advice, but the truth is I value advice – it has saved my life in many ways. Advice that is requested is precious, I find unwanted advice to be intrusive at times and presumptuous.
There’s a reason for that. I want to make my own decisions and learn to take my own advice. Part of that is knowing when to ask for advice, and when to not.
So if you have any thoughts about my reading of the monologue, I would welcome them and thank you. I think Acting Class will help me to think creatively and perhaps open up in public more. That would also be good for my writing.
Well, when you first posted the poem, I read it through arefully three times in attempt to understand what he was saying. It was not magic for me. It sent me scurrying to Google to have a n understanding of the sense of the thing.’ I read pages of detailed analysis Not an easy portrayal of his angst I think, maybe because pf the scattering of images so there is no discernable sense to be had, at least for me. I thought, “well now, we’ll see if Jon’s reading can put some sense and understanding to the words.” So that is my challenge to you: bring understanding to this sprawling
verbiage so there can be comprehension of the words for the listener. As tp upir [resemtation. there is a regularity of sound–nothing grabs me. I realize this is more of a critique of T. S. Eliot than of Jon Katz. For comprehension, would suggest selecting a different monogologue. How about soe obtuse Emily Dickensen? Well, Jon, not much help here as to critiqu7e of delivery. Even after reading pages detailing his every image, it still leaves me unimpressed. Congratulations in your new creative endeavor. Nice to hear your request for advice. I will follow your posted progress with interest.
Thanks Vella, I’m going to stick with T.S. Eliot, my inclination is to get better rather than run from it, but I do appreciate your comments.
You have a lovely timbre to your voice Jon, just right for public speaking or reading aloud. Maybe though you could slow down a bit from your normal conversing speed, and let people relish the words as well as your timbre. Hope that was helpful xx
Very helpful Pauline, thanks..
Jon… could you memorize part of this so that you would be looking at the audience rather than the paper? That way the passage would come straight from you to them (us) and be more powerful. I’ve carried that poem around most of my life, as well. Good gig for you, great to keep on with new creative explorations. Never stop!
I’m not sure I can memorize it Emily, but it will be good to try…thanks..
Hi Jon. Your reading is very clear. But to me hearing it I’m not getting the emotion and depth that this piece means to you. Your not crying while reading is great so you can convey the words. As your teacher said to taste the words, savor them, ingest them deeply so they can be infused with meaning and depth to be felt by the audience. I’m hearing your words but not what they mean. It may be reaching into your “gut” to get the feelings but also you controlling and shaping them for the audience to hear and feel. I’m glad you’re enjoying the class and I feel like it will have lots of great benefits for you. I know my acting classes have helped me in many ways over the years. Break a leg!
This is great advice Vicki…
Jon, I am a Civil Engineer (boring) from South Africa a couple of years younger than you. I admire your courage in taking the acting classes, but I must say that your monologue was a reflection of me – very little emotion, Put your heart and soul into it! Express the emotion in every word. I cannot do it, but my daughter and two granddaughters are born for the stage and are very dramatic in their presentations. You have it in you, just let it burst forth – you may surprise yourself.
With best wishes,
Guy
Thanks Guy, I appreciate this…this feedback is helping me…I will read the monologue again in few days..
(Disclosure: I have a hearing loss and use hearing aids). Your opening remarks were natural and spontaneous, and even though I have a southern ear and you have a faster Yankee clip, I was able to hear every word. The reading itself, however, did not seem so natural and I could hear only maybe 50% of it. I cannot explain why, but perhaps your teacher can.
Jon, thanks for inviting comments. I did not understand all of what you were saying until I went and looked at the written words. I would suggest that you enunciate each word, speak slowly, and leave spaces in the togetherness of your thoughts.
Thanks
My main reaction is that you are reading the words, but you are not IN the words. Perhaps having someone in mind you are actually speaking to would infuse the words with more of your self. In other words, is there any way to make them YOUR words, reading them as if YOU wrote them, rather than you reading words that someone else wrote. (I took an acting class once and was told to take a slow, full breath after every single line when I was practicing, just to get myself to be IN EACH LINE, rather than reading the piece through to the end. It really helped!) I’m glad you’re exploring and taking risks and looking for input. Wonderful!!
Very helpful Ed, thank you…not in the words true..
you are not experiencing the content… you need to own the content as if you wrote it and express your feelings in your yoice and delivery… make it sound authentic & real (be an actor) and not with a newscaster style of reading/delivery… FYI… Marie is too much into you to offer constructive criticism… is too sensitive about feelings… I have no conflict of interest… 😉
Thanks Bob…good thoughts..
You have a good voice. You need to make more use of it to portray the emotion of the words which you are speaking.
I know you feel it! Let your audience feel it too. This taping makes it sound as though you are just reading it (which I know you are.) You are capable of giving us so much more.
Wonderful that you are taking this class!
Thanks Cynthias, so true…
What about taking a semi- deep breath every two sentences or so, to slow down your reading tempo a bit?
I will put in my two cents and hope you don’t mind. I don’t want to hear you read it, I want to hear you speak it. Smooth out your voice a bit and let the emotion come thru. Don’t be a writer on this one. Be a public speaker. Blessings.
Good and helpful thoughts Patsy thank you..
A piece like this can be read slowly…pauses are absolutely permissible…it gives the listener a chance to savor the words and the images evoked…a slower delivery allows you to taste each word…the exercise becomes like a reverie rather than a performance….just my thoughts. Love that you are doing the acting class!
Good thoughts Nova, thank you..
My thoughts are an echo of so many above. You need to be in the words, they need to come out as your own, that you are the speaker of the poem. As if you wrote it yourself, you ARE J. Alfred and are talking to Maria telling her these things. And keep it short.
My thoughts too are the echo of previous comments about slowing down and pausing. Can you color the words with the emotion you feel to try to convey that to your audience. Your voice is nice to listen too. I want to feel what you do. Keep up the good work and the bravery to ask for feedback. Good for you.
I love what everyone wrote. I can only add an amen to each one. You have an awesome voice and I for one would love to hear you speak those words with feeling. I know it will be 100% more emotional, which is what acting is. Right? I have enjoyed your blog for a long time. You are kicking behind.
Jon, an actor makes the lines come alive by putting emotion into each thought – the voice of an actor puts a sigh, a whine, a howl, a bit of steel or a yelp into the delivery of each line. Take just one line at a time in your practice an see what emotion you can put into it in the delivery. Do it in front of a window or a door and imagine it is someone you are trying to convince with this one thought! Your off to a great start.