Wrapping my tongue around Maricel's text (i)

Here I am, acting again. The last time I did text/character work properly was two years ago, and I am still very young in this area as a performer. (I've sort of been relying on the ability of my actors as a director to bring characters to life...)

In the upcoming play about a feral child, "The Foundling" (dir. Haruka Ashida), I play the role of a Filipino maid-narrator character. Not only am I playing something in character, but I have lines in both Tagalog and English. Plus, I'm trying to acquire an accent.

To wrap my tongue around the Taglish, I asked my grandmother's helper, Lin, to help me record my lines. I listen and mouth the words at any opportunity -- on the bus, on the MTR, at home. It brings back the days of learning to speak French or Polish... learning to listen, trying to imitate, and learning to correct oneself. I do this until my mind gets saturated, and then I take a break.

Hmm. I find that I can catch the "flow" of Taglish and do a fair imitation, but then, when I am in the rehearsal space, I find myself reverting back to my natural voice. It's as if I have two voices – the one with an accent, and the one where I am trying to access my feelings. Add to precise actions (like miming dishwashing)… oof. Not easy at all!

But it all comes down to practice. I realise that not only do I have to devote time to practising the accent, but also to practice the accent in space, and in full-voice. Memory is muscular as well as aural-emotional.