Maurice Benard, the aging mobster, Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital (GH), is a legend for a reason. As you know, he’s been around on the ABC soap for a very long time. So, by now, you might think it’s just another day at work. But, it turns out that it certainly isn’t the case. Read on to find out more.
The Hard Yards In Acting
On Thursday, Maurice took to his Instagram and revealed his secret about learning his lines. Actually, it’s hard work memorizing all those lines for the various scenes. Plus, add the pressure of super-fast filming for soap operas, and it seems monumental.
However, Maurice Benard perfected a way to learn over the years and he shared his secret with a reel set to What a Day for a Daydream.
The Musical Connection
In his reel, it looked as if Maurice Benard was learning his lines in his dressing room. And, it wasn’t a quiet space with a pot of coffee. Instead, he used the music to help him learn his lines. Not to mention that he also danced around to the music.
In his caption, the real-life Sonny Corinthos told his ABC fans:
I always like learning my lines with music. I like the connection.
Actually, that makes a lot of sense because music can tap into emotions. Obviously, for Sonny’s character, he’s always balancing a hair-trigger temper with deep loyalty. So, finding a “connection” through music seems like a brilliant way to keep the performance fresh. Even after so many decades in the role.
Back to Work
The General Hospital cast is officially back on set after their winter hiatus. That means the drama in Port Charles is about to ramp up again. New scripts. New schemes. More coffee at Pozzulo’s. And the best news is that Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones) is also back on the set.
Watching Maurice dance through his prep is a great reminder that professional actors find ways to make hard work fun. Clearly, it’s about the vibe and the energy.
‘GH’ Fans React
In the comments section, GH fans let Maurice know just how much they enjoyed watching him learn his lines. One of them penned, “I could watch this 100 times!!! Love it!”
Here are a few more reactions from the discussion:
- What a good song that is, for learning your lines!
- Please don’t ever leave the show. I’ve been watching you for 40 plus years.
- I always studied for tests with music when I was in school
So, next time you’re watching Sonny deliver a warning or an apology, just remember: there might have been a little bit of “Daydream” playing in his head while he uttered those words.
What do you think? Did you ever use music to help you learn for school or work? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.