Whats the best way to learn lines for a play?

Question

Whats the best way to learn lines for a play?
I have to learn a part for an amatuer play called Trap for a lonely man , but I am having difficulty learning all my lines. I have tried taping parts of it, which does help. Certain bits are easy but others are quite hard to remember. We have had several rehearsals and now its time to do it without books !

Answer

Just keep at it. Once you start rehearsing without the scripts, youll probably realize you know more than you thought you did.brbrKeep using your tape. Go over your lines in your head between rehearsals. Spend more time working on the lines. Work on your lines alone, just before you go to bed. Some studies show that sleep helps solidify learning.brbrTry to associate what youre doing on stage action, moving around, etc. with your lines. That way youll have an extra point of reference.brbrFor each scene, think about what the scene is about. That will help your lines make more sense to you. What is your character trying to accomplish in the scene? What are the other characters doing to help or hinder your characters actions? That will help you put your lines in context they arent just lines, you know. Theyre coming from your interactions with the other characters in the play. What are those interactions supposed to be like.brbrAnd concentrate! You have to be paying attention every second on stage, even if you dont have any lines for several minutes. That way, you wont miss your cue.