What can the actor portraying the character below for the Stanislavski's step Scoring the role

Question

For my monologue, I chose the character Mandisa from the Showmax series, The Wife. Mandisa is a vibrant extrovert—brave yet scorned and resentful. She has fought hard for every good thing in her life. Mandisa is the long-time girlfriend and “baby mama” of Nqoba Zulu. She has been exposed to the harsh realities of the sex work industry and yearns for the acknowledgment of being the wife of a man with whom she has been in a long-term relationship.

I have watched all the seasons of *The Wife*, and in each one, I only saw Mandisa’s family once during the ‘inhlawulo’ ceremony, which refers to the damages paid to a woman’s family when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock. This leads me to believe that she has lacked family support and guidance since childhood.

As a result, she learned to be independent and navigated her way into the sex work industry to make a living for herself. Throughout her journey, she has had to confront clients who refused to pay her after their encounters. It was during this time that she met her boyfriend, Nqoba, and experienced unconditional love for the first time. She fights diligently to preserve that relationship.

Step 5: Scoring the Role

Stanislavski recommends that you score your script and accompanying notebook much like a musician sits down and notates a musical score, with important things like "super objective" at the front, probably in big letters. Then each scene has its own means of being highlighted. You take each of the ingredients listed in this chap- ter and find a way of notating them, perhaps drawing a line where each beat begins and ends for you, so that what emerges is like "a long catalogue of minor and major objectives, units, scenes, acts" designed to "draw the actor as a human being closer to the real life of his character or role." Many actors end up doing a great deal of scoring in their heads, but I recommend that you do it on paper at least a few times, to lock it in place for yourself. It also takes a while to work out your own codes, to determine how best to lay out information for yourself.

The score relates to the acting journal and may be combined with it. While no one else should tell you how to prepare a document this personal, and a great deal of what you write may be virtually incomprehensible to others, there is enormous value in the process of writing (sketching, drawing, coding) it down. Actors who score go back over and over for help and inspiration from the document. And, of course, it is one more way of making a very elusive art form recorded and concrete.

Answer 1

To effectively score the role of Mandisa from The Wife while applying Stanislavski's method, you can break down her character's journey using several key components. Below is a suggested format to help you chronicle Mandisa's super objectives, objectives, beats, and emotional shifts.

Super Objective

• To be recognized as Nqoba's wife and to find a sense of belonging and value in her relationship.

Thematic Layers

• Independence vs. Dependency: Struggles with the duality of being fiercely independent while desiring partnership and validation.
• Resentment vs. Love: Balancing her feelings of bitterness about her experiences and her deep love for Nqoba.

Scoring the Monologue

1. Opening Statement/Introduction (Beat 1)

   • Objective: Establish Mandisa's vibrant personality and bravery.
   • Inner Conflict: Hint at her resentment towards societal perceptions of her life.
   • Emotion: Energetic, bold, slightly defensive.

2. Reflections on Family and Background (Beat 2)

   • Objective: Express her feelings of isolation and lack of familial support.
   • Tension: The contrast between her childhood experiences and her attempts to create a family with Nqoba.
   • Emotion: Vulnerable, longing for acceptance but maintaining strength.

3. Describing Her Life Choices (Beat 3)

   • Objective: Justify her decision to enter sex work and convey her determination.
   • Internal Struggle: Battle between shame and pride in her independence.
   • Emotion: Defiant yet introspective, fluctuating between anger and empowerment.

4. Meeting Nqoba (Beat 4)

   • Objective: Illustrate the transformative nature of her relationship with Nqoba.
   • Change in Tone: Shift from battle-worn warrior to someone experiencing genuine love.
   • Emotion: Joyful, hopeful, yet tinged with apprehension.

5. Desire for Acknowledgment (Beat 5)

   • Objective: Convey the urgent need for validation and recognition from Nqoba and society.
   • Emotional Pinnacle: This is where her vulnerability peaks—she demands acknowledgment of her sacrifices and love.
   • Emotion: Passionate, desperate, raw—teetering between hope and despair.

6. Resolution/Conclusion (Beat 6)

   • Objective: Reaffirm her commitment to being with Nqoba while stating her hopes for their future.
   • Final Reflection: Emphasize that though she has fought hard for her life, the fight is worth it if she can find a place beside him.
   • Emotion: Resilient, hopeful, mixed with an underlying fear of rejection.

Notes and Sketches

• Under each beat, jot down physical actions, vocal intentions, and emotional cues that you plan to incorporate.
• Consider using visual aids (symbols, colors) to represent different emotional states, or even sketches to illustrate physicality.
• Make a note of specific lines that denote a shift in her emotional landscape.

Example Format

| Beat | Objective | Emotion | Notes (Actions/Vocal Cues) | |-------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Beat 1 | Establish vibrant personality | Energetic, bold | Open arms, direct eye contact | | Beat 2 | Express feelings of isolation | Vulnerable | Softening of voice, lowering tone | | Beat 3 | Justify entering sex work | Defiant | Assertive gestures, strong posture | | Beat 4 | Illustrate transformative love | Joyful | Smile, warmth in voice, soft gaze | | Beat 5 | Convey need for validation | Passionate | Leaning in, urgent tone, varied pacing | | Beat 6 | Reaffirm commitment | Resilient | Firm stance, steady voice, slight smile at end |

Conclusion

This scoring method helps clarify Mandisa's character arc and objectives throughout the monologue. Regularly revisiting this score in your acting journal will keep her journey fresh and accessible as you prepare for your performance. By writing down these elements, you can deepen your understanding of Mandisa and effectively embody her complexities in your monologue.