Discovering vulnerability through Hermione

Task: Performing Hermione's Monologue, The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare, act 3, scene 2
Space: Studios, Toi Whakaari; NZ Drama School
Time: 30 April-23 May 2012 (Advanced Skills block)
Guides: Jonty Hendry, Tom McRory, Jon Hunter, Classmates; Today with coaching from Shannon Friday

Since what I am to say must be but that

Which contradicts my accusation, and

The testimony on my part no other

But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me

To say, "Not guilty." Mine integrity,

Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,

Be so received. But thus: if powers divine

Behold our human actions, as they do,

I doubt not then but innocence shall make

False accusation blush and tyranny

Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know,

Who least will seem to do so, my past life

Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,

As I am now unhappy; which is more

Than history can pattern, though devised

And played to take spectators. For behold me--

A fellow of the royal bed, which owe

A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter,

The mother to a hopeful prince -- here standing

To prate and talk for life and honor 'fore

Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it

As I weigh grief, which I would spare. For honor,

'Tis a derivative from me to mine,

And only that I stand for. I appeal

To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes

Came to your court, how I was in your grace,

How merited to be so; since he came,

With what encounter so uncurrent I

Have strained t' appear thus; if one jot beyond

The bound of honor, or in act or will

That way inclining, hardened be the hearts

Of all that hear me, and my near'st of kin

Cry fie upon my grave!

I chose this monologue to explore when fight and vulnerability meet. I have no problem with vulnerability when it coincides with low energy, defeat or being victimised but, my research is on staying open within that vulnerability. This is exactly Hermione.

I think if I was to be cast as anyone in The Winter's Tale it would be Paulina. She fights overtly from the earth, with fire and will. Hermione's fight is from her heart and her honor. In this monologue she is standing before an entire court and her husband, maids and knights, towns people, every one. She has had everything taken away from her; her new born baby, her sick child, her love, her reputation, her crown, her queen's garments. All Hermione has to fight with is herself and her honor; and she is tired.

Today I managed to catch up with MTA (directing) student, Shannon Friday who is also a lover of Shakespeare. I managed to catch her at a time when she was free and took the opportunity to have her look over the monologue for me. Lucky me!

I talked through with Shannon about my objectives and tactics and how I was wanting to explore the emotional connection in a more successful way. Previously I had been trying to concentrate on standing, strong and open while driving for my objective. Shannon set up three chairs in a line, leading towards her (she acted in place as Leontes). Shannon requested that I use the chairs as tactics through the monologue, choosing to walk to one or back to another. This exercise helped to me understand Jonty Hendry's exercise of making tactics clear by adding "it's not that, it's this" and 'I'm here and you're there" to monologues. Using the chairs gets me better results because I use my body to respond to the impulse for the tactic change rather than thinking it which I seem to do when speaking the words.

We also used the wise teachings of former Head of Voice, D'Arcy Smith. Shannon led me through the exercise of "whispering the text" I whispered lines of the monologue and she had me repeat different words following her questions and prompting, "Behold- when was the last time you were held? When was the last time you held something beautiful? When was the last time you needed to be held?". I began to colour the words with even more emotion connection and memories. Hermione is using memories throughout this text in an attempt to lure Leontes back to himself- remember who I am, remember our child, remember when we were happy.

I'm really excited with the discoveries I am making and where this monologue to taking me. My goal is to be able to present it openly and truthfully and I am beginning to feel like that isn't so impossible.

Thanks Jonty, Tom, Jon and Shannon!!!