A reading is the time for testing, for listening, for molding, and for editing. The reading, which is not really a reading, since most of the cast know their lines, allows the director to hear the actors and the actors to hear each other for the first time. Regardless of the ideas an actor may have conceived in preparation for this moment, during the first reading he should closely follow the script. As the readings progress and the actors become more comfortable with the scene and with each other, suggestions can be made without arousing any shock, and only a little suspicion. The readings may reveal further redundancies, not only in those instances where actions or attitudes can replace lines, but more commonly on lines that are verbose. Rarely is there need at this stage for additional information through dialogue; deletion is usually the order of the day. The readings will also reveal the scene's viability or lack of it.