Give us the opening line of The Merchant of Venice.
Ian McKellen: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
Now that simple line can be said in an infinite number of ways. On the one hand you could go for the mood and the quality of it. Try it, for instance, sadly.
Ian McKellen: Do you mean by the mood or the quality, just painting over it with a color called sadness?
Yes, the feeling only.
Ian McKellen: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
Now try it humorously.
Ian McKellen: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
But now try and ask what is Antonio’s intention. Perhaps it’s to try to explain himself.
Ian McKellen: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
Yes, search your thoughts.
Ian McKellen: Make a connection between the mouth and the brain and then with the heart: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
Now try changing the intention to avoid explaining yourself
Ian McKellen: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
Or to make light of your sadness.
Ian McKellen: “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”
And one more: try to put an end to the conversation.
Ian McKellen (finally): “In sooth I know not why I am so sad.”