ABSTRACT
Good actors should have a sense of tempo, rhythm, and pace, but they are not in the position to fully judge its effect. In music, tempo refers to the speed at which the music is performed; in theatre, tempo refers to how fast the scene is played. The director then combines the tempo and rhythm of all the action units to create the pacing and hence the energy of the play. This connection between pace and energy is exemplified in the world of sports by comparing baseball to soccer. If the director is using music as underscoring, the cast needs to rehearse with the music since the pace of the scene will be driven by the music. A speed run of the rehearsal certainly has energy and excitement, but given its frenetic speed it becomes impossible to understand or relate to the dramatic action in the scene.
