Why are physical objectives so important?

Physical objectives are paramount to a truthful performance. As Mr. Rennison always says to us "the text should ride on the action not the other way around". The objective gives the line purpose for being spoken without it there is no meaning or reason for a character to even speak! There should be a burning desire for a character to want to communicate something. The true intentions behind speech can't be played believable unless there is action behind it to drive it forward. It also gives purpose for an actor to move in a space. If you have rehearsed a piece and always on the same line you walk downstage left and sit down you are only pretending. If you have a physical objective it allows your instincts to take over and you instead live and move through the text instead of merely saying it.

Breath is a key factor in using physical objectives. If you have properly marked your script you should have slashes for different thought changes. At the beginning of these thought changes you should inhale on the idea and exhale as you begin to speak so that your breath drives the line out make it resonate. You should breath into your diaphragm so that you get the optimum amount of air.

Your objective also helps you to live in the given circumstances of your character. Physical objectives make your performance 3 dimensional and real. If they are absent then there is no reason for your character to be saying anything. Your performance will be fake and "acted" instead of felt.