What’s Your Objective?

As we each took our turn standing up and to perform our monologue, we knew the question was coming. We recited our words, added facial expression, inflection, and gestures. Some of us chose to sit in chairs, others stood, others paced back and forth. We each had a story to tell. We finished, the class applauded. Then we looked at Jeff and waited expectantly for his comments. Without fail, his reaction was the same. He would smile sincerely, tell us we’d done well, but then ask the zinger question.

“So what was your objective in this scene?”

I love every class here. I’m not just saying that. I really do enjoy each and every one. But our Acting class is something special. Maybe its because that’s where I’ve had the most prior experience, so I feel most comfortable there. Whatever the reason, it’s definitely one of my favorites. Jeff Bender teaches this 90 minute class on Friday mornings.

Jeff is also the Headmaster of the Conservatory. He’s the one that got it going in the first place, and we are all eternally grateful! He’s had loads of experience himself as a performer, at Sight & Sound but also many other places. In fact, he actually crafted our schedule after his own experience at a two-year conservatory at the beginning of his career. It was an apprenticeship based program in which the students took classes but also got to perform in professional quality shows as part of their education. Sound familiar? :)

His class is fun, but is NOT easy. He has a way of being very stern, but not the detriment of our morale. That’s exactly why I appreciate his guidance. He’s not going to let you settle for mediocre. He acknowledges our talent, and that’s why he demands our best.

"Objective" is another way of saying "want" or "need." As human beings, everything we do is driven from the fact that we're trying to get what we want. That may sound crass, but it's true and it's not always negative. I think that its true even when we're being changed by the Holy Spirit. Because, Lord willing, His desires become our desires, so our actions are still being driven by what we want! When we're acting a scene, we have to discover what our character wants or needs. Is it recognition from someone else? Is it a feeling of safety? Or acceptance? And then we behave in such a way to get it. 

With Jeff's guidance, we're able to clarify our thoughts and thoroughly answer that question “what’s my objective?" And that's when the magic happens. When they first give their monologues, my classmates will perform the way they've practiced and…well…it’s good. It’s typically well-memorized and well-thought-through. But then Jeff starts digging. He keeps asking them who they’re talking to, why they’re saying what they’re saying, what's at stake if they don't get what they want. He encourages us to experiment with different objectives.

I've found that performances that at first were “good” begin to expand, grow, become fuller and deeper. And suddenly I’m getting chills or moved to tears. Amanda really does sound like an unforgiving daughter. Abby really seems like a desperate mother. Wes absolutely convinces me that his heart is broken. It’s an incredible thing to watch, and even more to experience. As I delivered my monologue a second time, with a clearer objective, I felt the tension inside my heart as my character desperately tried to get her father to understand her. 

Above are pictures of Abby, Ellie, & JT performing their monologues.

One of the key things we’ve learned from Jeff is, “NEVER play an emotion. ALWAYS play an objective.” As performers, we can’t simply think “Now my character is happy” or “Now they’re sad” or “Now they’re angry.” That leads to generalized acting that, though it can be good, isn’t nearly as strong. Instead, we must discover what our characters want at the very core of who they are. By piecing together information from the script as well as our own lives, we can begin to peel back all the layers and understand what it is that they need. Once we’ve found that, and start to play it, everything else falls into place.

If my character wants to convince someone in authority that she is truthful, because if she doesn’t she’ll lose her livelihood, all of the emotions and tensions involved in that will come. I don’t have to think “now act scared, or shocked, or despondent.” Those emotions come along as I stick to my objective: convince them I’m honest.

The cool thing about this particular skill is that it doesn’t just apply to acting class. I’m finding that the idea of “playing an objective” crosses over into many of our other classes. In Singing for the Stage our vocal teacher asks us why our character is choosing to sing a particular song. In Improvisation we’re given an objective and asked to build a scene around it. I’m so excited to be given this foundational block and to continue building on it.

Jeff giving JT some direction in playing his objective. 

All of these new things I’m learning are inspiring me. I know it will help me to be a better performer in the future. But my heart has always been to teach. I’m finding that as I take notes during class, the forefront thought in my mind is, “How would I convey this to my students someday? How could I phrase this, or apply this, to help them in their performances?” I don’t know exactly what my future will look like, but I do know that it will always involve both teaching and theatre in some form. And as I’m having talented teachers pour their knowledge and experience into me, it’s making me so excited to get to do that for others sometime in the future!

In other news, we've completed the first month of our show run! We students are settling into routine and growing closer as a group. We've had our ups and downs as personalities inevitably collide, but I've been so encouraged by everyone's attitudes. Each of us genuinely desire unity within our group. We want to speak well of one another and encourage each other to grow. We haven't done that perfectly and we know won't in the future either. Nevertheless, it seems we've been able to cultivate an atmosphere of grace between ourselves, and it's such a beautiful thing to see.

This Sunday was a particularly lovely day. The weather was in the low 70s, so after we finished at our different church services we all met up at Lancaster County Park for an afternoon of picnic lunches, sunshine, and hammocking. Because our schedule is so packed, we don't get much time to hang out simply as friends. Our Sunday afternoon was wonderful for that very reason. 

That evening few of us headed to the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre to see their current show My Fair Lady. We get the whole dinner and show for free since we're Sight & Sound employees. I'm tellin' ya, these perks can't be beat! A free meal and a professional show? Yeah, I'll be there. ;) It was a great way to close out a restful day. 

We're creating some very special memories here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. And developing some friendships that I know will be life-long.