Shakespearean Text - Breath and Rhythm 

In my opinion there are two terrible mistakes made when approaching Shakespearean text. 

One - We sit down and read it first.

Two - We worry about the technicalities of the rhythm. 

Our first impression usually occurs in the classroom. We sit. We are young and nervous of making a mistake in front of each other. The words are long and hard. We tend to either read it in one tone or like a poem - but with little or no understanding of how to treat the rhythm and words. 

Then, we are asked to act it. With an outline of which emotion is appropriate for each paragraph, sometimes each sentence, we put on our best shakespeare voices and read to each point of punctuation, relying on the changes in rhythm to do the work for us. 

We forget that human beings do not deliver 'award winning' speeches every day of their lives and at every moment!

So, let us remind ourselves of our own breath. We do not breathe in and support our diaphragms every time we begin a sentence, nor do we rattle off our words in a rhythm like a machine gun. Sometimes we have to 'find' our words. Often, we have to breathe in the middle of a sentence because our emotions have taken over our technique. 

Remind yourselves again of the breath exercises. Play with where you place your breath, whether you breathe in or out; before, after or mid sentence? 

Remember that some words are heavier, uglier, softer or lighter than others, while sometimes we are so angry we forget what we were saying in the first place, or so happy we sound like we are 6 years old!

By all means let Shakespearean text and the changes of rhythm inform you as to how you should feel but don't let it carry you away in a dream or poem that doesn't sound real for today's audience.